Treating your dog for “whipworms”

When it comes to making sure that your loving dog is healthy, both inside
and out, then it is important to understand how dangerous dog parasites can
be. And in order to understand this topic of being a dog owner, then you
must be educated in the many different types of parasites that are out
there just waiting to use your dog as a host for its feeding.

Today's article we are going to cover a particular parasite that you may
not have heard of, but one that is definitely a danger to your pet dogs.
They are called “whipworms”. Whipworms are such hearty organisms that they
can survive outdoors for very long stretches at a time. The reason why
they are called whipworms is because they actually resemble a whip in that
they are thin on one end and thicker on the other end.

Like other internal worm feeders, they get into the dog's body when the dog
ingests the eggs or the immature form of the whipworm. The whipworm then
reaches maturity as it moves through your dog's digestive system.

The adult worms will fasten themselves and draw blood from the cecum, which
is a pocket between the small and large intestines. The mature female lays
her eggs inside of the host. The eggs are then excreted through the feces.

Typical symptoms that your dog may show signs of if being a host to
whipworms include loose and bloody stool, a dull coat, severe weight loss,
vomiting yellow-green, and anemia.

Treatment for your dog to get rid of whipworms should always start at your
veterinarian's office. Your veterinarian will be able to determine the
presence of whipworms by examining your dog's stool specimens. Of course
several attempts may be necessary because whipworms are sometimes very
difficult to detect.

Afterwards, your veterinarian will administer a potent deworming agent.
Also, since you may be combating worms around the house then ask your vet
for a product that will help you aid in these household whipworm problems

As a preventative measure against whipworms, if your dog is an outdoor dog,
then be sure to keep him in dry quarters that are regularly exposed to the
sun. The reason for this is because whipworms require moisture in order to
survive.