What is Whipworm in dogs? Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Worms in dogs are not a pleasant thing to deal with no matter the type. Today, our vets in Marina del Rey discuss common types of worms in dogs, how they can be prevented, the signs of worms, and how they are diagnosed.

Dog Worms

No dog owner wants to think about their dog having worms crawling through its internal organs. That said, knowing the risks, symptoms, and treatment options for worms in dogs is an important part of keeping your canine companion healthy and free of parasites that can negatively affect their health.

Left untreated, various types of worms, including roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, whipworms, and heartworms - can cause serious health problems. Dogs can pick up worms from animal feces and become infected, then pass them on to other dogs. In some cases, humans can contract certain types of worms - one reason it's important to always clean up your dog's poop.

In this post, our Marina del Rey vets will share what you need to know about common types of dog worms, symptoms that your dog may have, and what to do if your dog has worms.

Symptoms of Worms in Dogs

While each parasite will affect a dog's system differently, there are some general warning signs that dog owners should keep in mind. Intestinal worms can cause:

If your dog has heartworms, you may notice respiratory symptoms such as weak pulse, weight loss, intolerance for exercise, coughing, and abdominal distension. In extreme cases, they may experience labored breathing and pale gums. Heartworms can even be fatal in a dog.

Common Types of Worms in Dogs

Types of worms commonly found in dogs include tapeworms, roundworms, heartworms, whipworms, and hookworms.

Whipworms

Whipworms live at the beginning of a dog's large intestine (cecum) and colon, where eggs can be passed into the dog's feces. A dog can get whipworms by ingesting an infested substance such as feces, animal flesh, water, soil, or food. 

Eggs can survive for up to five years in moist warm environments. In mild cases, you typically won't see symptoms. However, severe cases can cause symptoms such as weight loss, diarrhea, inflammation, and occasionally anemia.

Dogs can be diagnosed with whipworms when your vet takes a fecal sample, bug false negatives are not common as eggs are not easy to find on all samples. If you see blood in your dog's stool, repeat fecal exams are recommended. Often, three monthly treatments will be prescribed by your vet. 

For prevention, cleaning up after your dog is vital to health and sanitation. 

Heartworms

Heartworms are the most worrisome - but also the most preventable - a type of worms in dogs. The parasite is transmitted via mosquitoes. Since those insects are nearly impossible to avoid in most places, our vets in Marina del Rey recommend regular heartworm preventatives to help keep your dog safe.

These worms grow and multiply within the heart, leading to organ damage, heart failure, and severe lung disease. Left untreated, heartworms can ultimately lead to death. Dogs, wolves, foxes, and coyotes can be carriers.

Because treatment is lengthy, expensive, and can have severe side effects, prevention is the best approach when it comes to heartworms. Treating heartworm in dogs also typically requires exercise restrictions and confinement, which can be difficult for dogs and owners alike. Regular testing is recommended since heartworm preventives don't kill adult heartworms. They can even harm a dog that's already infected.

Hookworms

These intestinal parasites can cause anemia and may become fatal in puppies if left untreated. Dogs can fall ill due to several different kinds of hookworms. Though they are very small (about an eighth of an inch), they ingest large amounts of blood when they attach to the wall of a dog's intestine.

Dogs can get hookworms by ingesting hookworm larvae from the environment. In the case of Ancylostoma caninum, a mother dog can pass infective larvae to her puppies through her milk. Hundreds of microscopic eggs can be found in the stool of infected dogs, hatch, and stay alive in the soil for as long as several months. If a dog eats infected dirt, sniffs infected dog feces, or licks it from the bottom of its paws, it can pick up hookworms. Humans can also get them.

A veterinarian can diagnose hookworms by performing a test called fecal flotation, a microscopic example of a stool sample. The stool is mixed with a solution that will cause hookworm eggs to float to the top. Deworming medications can be used to treat the parasite and should usually be given twice - once to catch adult worms and then 2 to 4 weeks later to kill newly developed worms.

Roundworms

Another common intestinal worm in dogs, there are two types of roundworms: Toxocara canis (T. canis) and Toxascaris leonina. T. canis is more common in puppies and can be transmitted to humans.

Because many newborn puppies have roundworms, pups must receive appropriate veterinary care. Your vet can use a fecal sample to diagnose roundworms and treat them with deworming medications. Left untreated, this parasite can lead to poor growth and death in severe cases.

The raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) is a rarer type of roundworm that's found in parts of North America. Dogs can ingest infected eggs or infected hosts such as birds, rabbits, or rodents. Because eggs can spread from animals to humans, infections must be diagnosed promptly and that treatment is administered immediately and effectively.

Tapeworms

Dogs can contract this intestinal parasite by eating infected fleas or by consuming wild animals infected with fleas or tapeworms. Once a dog eats the flea, the tapeworm's egg hatches and sticks to the dog's intestinal lining. The most common type of tapeworm found in dogs in the United States is Dipylidium caninum. Because it can be passed to dogs from fleas, this is one more reason to stay on top of flea prevention.

Tapeworm segments can be passed in a dog's stool. If they are visible, they may resemble little pieces of rice. Some infected dogs may scoot their bottoms along the ground. If you notice scooting or see signs of tapeworm in your dog's stool, take a stool sample to your vet to be analyzed.

If tapeworm segments or eggs are found, your vet can prescribe a treatment regimen to eliminate tapeworms. Drugs can be injected or administered orally. Fleas will also need to be eliminated from your dog and home environment.

How to Diagnose Worms in Dogs

While we can often see tapeworms in a dog's stool, vets must usually diagnose other types of intestinal worms by performing a microscopic examination of a stool sample to look for eggs. If your dog shows any signs listed above, your veterinarian will request a stool sample so they can detect or rule out worms as a trigger for the symptoms. Even if your dog is not displaying any symptoms, it's wise to take a stool sample to your vet when you bring your dog in for an annual examination. 

We will usually use a blood test to detect heartworms. That said, in some cases, a radiograph, echocardiogram, or ultrasound will be needed. In the early stages of heartworm disease, many dogs show no symptoms or few symptoms, yet receiving treatment as early as possible increases the chance it will be successful. This is why it's a good idea to have your dog tested annually for heartworms. 

Prevention

When it comes to intestinal worms in dogs, flea control, regular testing, prevention, and good hygiene are the principles to keep. in mind. Your Marina del Rey veterinarian can recommend deworming medications to treat various types of heartworms and intestinal parasites, along with preventive medications. Since puppies are vulnerable to contracting heartworms via their mother's milk, they should also have regular stool testing. 

Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. Please make an appointment with your vet for an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition.