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Whipworm and your pet!

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What is Whipworm?
by Dr. N.J.Hayes, DVM

Whipworm, or Trichuris vulpis, is one of the main internal parasites of dogs. The others are Hookworm, roundworm, Coccidia, and tapeworm. They are a parasite of the Cecum - a junction of the small and large intestine. whipworm drawings It has a whiplike shape, (with a thin front, long body and thick rear-end - like a whip!), and tiny size (30mm to 50mm). Because of the location where it lives, it's seldom seen and we depend upon finding the eggs for diagnosis.

Because cats are so clean and tend to avoid contact with feces, they seldom get whipworm and usually have lower counts when they do become infected. It is very rare for cats to get Trichuris serrata, the feline whipworm that is usually found in the United States.When they do become infected, they seldom have serious problems.

How does my pet get whipworm?

Whipworm can enter your pet's body if it licks its feet after walking on contaminated soil
if your pet eats some contaminated dirt or water while digging,
Some think that a pet becomes infected by eating feces, but the eggs need to remain in the soil for 2 to 4 weeks while forming embryos before they're capable of infecting a new host. They do swallow eggs, which then become larvae inside of their bodies.

What is the life cycle of the Whipworm and how do they eat?

When your pet swallows the eggs, they pass through the stomach without harm into the small intestine, where they hatch into a larvae and burrow into the walls of the intestine. After about a week, they come back out and pass into the Cecum - a space between the small and large intestine where they'll make their home.

It burrows its head into the tissue there for 75 to 85 days before it's ready to mate and lay eggs. It takes nearly 3 months before the eggs show up in a fecal sample. The females do not lay eggs continuously as other worm parasites do, but only periodically. This means that, unless your pet is heavily infested, your veterinarian may find the fecal sample negative for eggs. A test 2 or 3 weeks later may well find them positive. It's quite important for the fecal sample to be fresh and have as little environmental contamination as possible. Debris from the ground may interfere with the test.

After the eggs are laid, they pass through the large intestine and out with the feces. They need to mature in the moist, shaded soil for 2 to 4 weeks before they can contaminate another pet. The eggs are resistant to freezing, so the soil can remain contaminated for years; as long as the eggs don't dry out. There isn't any reliable way to sterilize the soil to get rid of the eggs.

Regular picking up of the feces will help to prevent re-infestation. So will washing the bedding and sterilizing all grooming tools. (Use a solution of 1 oz bleach to 32 oz water.) If possible, clean the walls and floor of the kennel with a bleach solution. Steam cleaning or treating surfaces with a flame is recommended, but not always possible. If the infestation is too severe, it may be necessary to fence your pets away from a contaminated area.

How do I know if my pet is infected? Are there symptoms?

The best way to assure yourself that your pet is whipworm free is to have your veterinarian check a stool sample on an annual basis. They'll also check for any other parasites.

There may not be symptoms if the infestation is light. Some symptoms of heavy infestations are anemia and gooey, bloody diarrhea that may be chronic. The intestinal lining may be so inflamed that it produces excessive mucous and cause your pet to lose its appetite and have weight loss.

How is it treated?

There are several prescription products available to deworm pets. Your veterinarian is familiar with all of the deworming products and will recommend the one that he/she feels is best for your particular pet. It's very important to enlist your veterinarian in the decision about what brand of treatment to use for this parasite. Your pet may have other health problems that need to be taken into consideration when the choice is made.

Because of the periodic egg-laying of the females and and long maturation of newly ingested eggs, most veterinarians suggest a follow-up treatment in 3 to 4 weeks and perhaps, a third treatment in 2 to 3 months.

This condition can be very persistant and difficult to treat. Your veterinarian may want to err on the side of caution and treat for Whipworm even without a positive fecal test. If your pet has tested positive, he/she will probably suggest more frequent fecal checks as a precaution.

Although there are Heartworm preventation products that also provide a control for whipworms, not all do. Your veterinarian can discuss the differences with you. Using a Heartworm preventative to prevent other parasites can also serve as protection for the families of these pets.

When cleaning kennels and bedding, it is important to wear gloves and carefully clean your hands afterward. Although there have been reports of humans being infected by the canine whipworm, T. trichiura - the human whipworm is usually responsible.

References:

Tilly, Larry.P.DVM, Smith, Francis Jr.DVM, The 5 Minute Veterinary Consult Canine and Feline,Williams & Wilkins, 1997
Canadian Veterinary Association, website, "Intestinal Worms in Dogs and Puppies »
American Animal Hospital Association, website, "WHAT IS WHIP WORM AND WHAT CAUSES IT?»