What is canine whipworm?

Question

Is it contagious? Do they get it from birth or does it develop?

Answer 1

Wow..I can answer this question for sure! (from experience)

When we first got my 6 month old black lab mix we noticed she was skinny. We thought it was just because she was an animal shelter dog. We took her to the vet for her check ups and they obviously missed the worms. We got home one evening after seeing a movie and my poor puppy had basically exploded out of both ends. She was throwing up and suffering from diareha at the same time. She would finish throwing up and start pooping. She didn't have anything left in her (energy wise) and she wouldn't eat. The first thing i though of (i was going into preveternarian medicine at school) was Parvo which its symptoms were similar to what Blue was going through. I tried to coax her into eating a little something or at least drinking to no avail...my husband and I had to take her straight to the emergency vet's office in town. Thank goodness they were there because she was dehyrdated and had canine whip worms. They explained to us that she could have contracted the worms from her mother at birth or from another dog that could have lived in our home before. The worms could lay dormant or active in our backyard and when our dog licks her paws they could have been transfered to her that way. Whipworms can be passed from mother to puppy or from a dog licking its paws when its walked on an area that has worms on it (from previous dog stools or existing stools that haven't been cleaned up..etc). It might sound gross but it is also common to see dogs eat other dogs stools. That is a sure way for them to contract any type of worms. Dogs eat stools when they are lacking proper nutrients from their own diet. That is why it is so important to have your dog tested for worms right when you get them. Also its very important to clean up after your dog. The best advice i can give to you is to get your dog(s) started on monthly worming medicine as soon as your vet recommends it. Usually heartworm preventitive medicine takes care of round, hook, and whip worms as well. You get more bang for your buck. Left untreated certain worms like whip worms and heart worms can be DEADLY. An early sign of worms can be a dog that doesn't seem to put on any weight no matter how much it eats...a dog with a soft unshaped stool (diahrea counts) or even blood in their stool. Worms are definitely nothing to fool around with...the condition if left untreated can get worse.

I hope my experience and knowledge helps you. Our dogs are our pals...we want nothing but the best for them.

:)

Answer 2

It is an intestional parasite. It is transmitted from one dog to another through the feces. It can live in the ground for a long time depending on the climate. If one dog in a household has it, soon they all will!!!!! You have to treat all dogs in the house and then keep them on something like Interceptor to keep them from getting it back.

The dude below me is on drugs.....you don't need blood work for whipworm, you need a WORMER!!!!!

Answer 3

Go to PetEducation.com I just went there and found alot of info on whipworms.

Answer 4

It's a parasite and it is VERY contagious! Sterilize everything and get the dog to the vet for some blood work ASAP!