Vidhi Kapoor Roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and whipworms in dogs are all four parasites that damage the dog’s intestines. Whipworms called ‘Trichuris vulpis’ can cause many diseases. However, reports suggest that the preventive measures that have been developed for these diseases have resulted in a significant drop in mortality. They are small in size, 30 to 50 mm in length, and often live in a sac (cecum) attached to the intestines.
Whipworms stick to the lining of the cecum and survive by sucking on the dog’s blood. If their numbers are small, they are not harmful and dogs do not show any signs of illness. If their numbers are high, they can cause gastrointestinal (gastrointestinal) problems such as diarrhea with blood, weight loss, lethargy, and dehydration.
Whipworms mate and lay eggs in the large intestine. These eggs are passed out of the body during defecation. Once these eggs hatch, they are capable of infecting dogs within 10 to 60 days. They can survive on land for up to five years. This means that even after the stool has been cleared, the place may remain contaminated.
Dogs can also become infected by swallowing things that are contaminated with feces. Once the worm makes its way into the body into the large intestine, this process goes on again. At present, these parasites exclusively affect dogs and are not transmitted to humans.
It is difficult to make a clear diagnosis because whipworms, like other parasites that affect the intestines, do not lay many eggs, so the test results a negative. For this, a dog stool test can also be done, in which the stool sample is mixed with water and the eggs of the parasites are seen floating.
Its treatment is based on the symptoms of the disease. If there are signs of a problem with the small intestine (such as bloody stools), a veterinarian can treat it with deworming medicine. Fenbendazole is quite common in this.
Fenbendazole is a medication used to treat a variety of parasites (eg, roundworms, hookworms, lungworms, whipworms, and some types of tapeworms) in dogs. The effect of this disease does not recur, so deworming can be used again and again.
Signs Of Whipworm In Dogs
If a dog has whipworms, the following symptoms may appear:
Bleeding In Stools: Whipworms can impair the functioning of the large intestine, which can sometimes lead to blood in the stool.
Lethargy: Damage to a dog’s intestines affects its ability to absorb salt and water, which can lead to dehydration and lethargy.
Weight Loss: Frequent diarrhea and a blockage in the ability of the small intestine to absorb nutrients can cause a dog to lose weight.
Loss Of Appetite: The dog may feel sick due to infection, so he will not show interest in eating.
If ever blood appears in the dog’s stool or if he suddenly seems to lose weight, then he should be taken to the vet immediately.
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Causes Of Whipworm In Dogs
Whipworms infect dogs when they ingest anything that has been contaminated with whipworm eggs. Apart from this, when dogs try to clean themselves by licking their tongue, during this time these eggs reach inside the body and their number starts growing rapidly.
These eggs are passed into the body and move to the small intestine, where the whipworms hatch out of the eggs. After this, they move from there to the large intestine, after which they enter the cecum, where they live their lives. They reach breeding age about 80 days after dogs swallow them. Puppies and dogs that have poor immune systems are more susceptible to these types of worms, meaning they are more prone to this problem.
Damp, crowded, and dirty environments are related to whipworms. Therefore, dogs living in such environments are more prone to parasite infection.
Diagnosis Of Whipworm In Dogs
Whipworm infection in dogs is not easy to detect, as female dogs often do not release whipworm eggs. However, for this, stool can be examined with the help of a fecal float or a microscope. If whipworms are not confirmed, veterinarians can treat the dog based on the symptoms of the disease.
If a person’s dog has had a whipworm infection in the past or does not get it dewormed on time, it is more prone to infection with parasites.
Treatment Of Whipworms In Dogs
If dogs have severe anemia and dehydration, they may need a drip or a transfusion. Depending on the situation, fenbendazole (a kind of insecticide) can be used to treat it, which is also used in the treatment of deworming.
Deworming eliminates the problem of parasites in the dog and its health is also good. But it is important to make sure that these parasites are completely cured, this may require several times of deworming.
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Precautions For Whipworms In Dogs
Heartworm treatment is also known to prevent whipworm infection. Its medicine contains a moxidectin (a drug used to prevent parasites) chemical. Also, if a dog is diagnosed with whipworm, it becomes very important to keep its surroundings clean. Sweep his bedding regularly as well, a place where he mostly sits like carpet also needs a good cleaning. If an owner dresses her, she should also be changed and washed regularly.
If the whipworm parasites do not get moisture, they dry up and break down. So it is a good idea to keep the space around the dog dry. Although it does not completely prevent whipworms, it is effective to some extent.
At the moment, maintaining cleanliness with preventive medications is the best way to protect dogs from insects.
