Whip Worms: No Signs, No Symptoms.

"Being one of the four most common intestinal parasites in dogs" (Pets and Parasites), the whip worm resides in the cecum (where the small and large intestines meet) and can infect your pet for months before any clinical signs may be seen. As with the round worm and hook worm, the whip worm is found in your pets' stool.

Life Cycle of the Whip Worm

Whip Worm Life Cycle
(Novartis)

There are many similarities between the whip worm versus the round and hook worm. As with the round and hook worm, the whip worm spreads in animal feces and soil. The main way your pet can become infected with this parasite is ingesting or close contact with infected feces and substances containing it. Whip worms can live in the environment up to 5 years; by making sure you clean up your pets' feces, and their surroundings (dog park, local pet stores, etc) are clean, you can prevent your pet from becoming infected.

Whip Worm Egg seen in fecal flotation.
(Pet-Informed-Veterinary) 

Diagnosing Whip Worms in Your Pet
We (vet/vet tech) find the whip worm ova in the stool when we do a fecal flotation. This particular parasite is difficult to find as the female does not reproduce and lay eggs that often, which is why regular fecal checks are important to ensure your pet is at his or her utmost health quality.

Signs Your Pet Has Whip Worms
As stated earlier, a dog can be infected with whip worms for several months before you may see any signs. The most common signs seen in a pet with whip worms are bloody diarrhea, weight loss, dehydration and anemia. If your pet is experiencing any of these symptoms, visit your local veterinarian for a check up.

Adult Whip Worm
(Pixgood.com)

Whip Worms Inside the Intestines
The whip worm, as stated, lives in the cecum. There this parasite feeds on blood and tissue, matures into an adult and moves into the small intestines. The parasite received it's name from the "whip-like" movement that occurs when they maneuver through the intestinal tract.

Treating Whip Worms
As with round and hook worms, whip worms can be treated with an oral de-wormer that your veterinarian will feel is appropriate for your pet. This medication will treat the eggs and adult worms that are currently in your pets' intestines.

Whip Worms and Humans
Human infestation with the dog whip worm are very rare. However it is possible for humans to become infested with the human whip worm, T. trichiura. For more information on this particular parasite, you can visit CDC.gov.

(All About Goldens)

I hope you have enjoyed reading about the whip worm. Don't forget to bring your pet in for regular health and fecal checks to make for a happy (and healthy) pet!

What would you like to read about next? Send me your thoughts and comments via Facebook. Let me know that Tenth Street Times sent you!

Here's to a tail waggin' day!

Noelle

*Information for this blog was obtained from: Pets and Parasites, WebMD, and Pet Education
*Pictures obtained from the websites provided.

What's Living in My Pet's Gut?

Ever wonder what we (vet/vet tech) see under the microscope to determine if your pet has intestinal parasites or not? I will give you a run down on everything roundworm and hookworm related.

Life Cycle of the Roundworm/Hookworm
(AnimalGals.Wordpress.com)

It is not uncommon for pups and kittens to have certain intestinal parasites. There are several different types of intestinal parasites, but the most common are hookworms and roundworms. Both are very similar in the way they affect your pet: pot-belly appearance, diarrhea, weight loss or not gaining weight, and vomiting.

Life Cycle of the Roundworm and Hookworm
There are two routes of infection that your pet can get these intestinal parasites: from the mother and ingestion. If the mother of your puppy or kitten is infected with round or hookworms, it will more than likely be passed through the milk to her babies. Ingestion of infected feces is another common way for your pet to become infected. This route is more common in adult pets.

Hookworm Egg Under the Microscope
(CDC)

Getting a Definitive Answer
A stool sample will provide the answers we need to definitively diagnose your pet with hook or roundworms. We look under the microscope to find the presence of the parasites' eggs. However, in some cases we will not find the eggs because the parasites isn't shedding at that time. This is why it is important to do a yearly fecal float to ensure the utmost healthiness of your pet.

Roundworm Egg Under the Microscope
(Pet-informed)

Once Inside My Pet, What Do These Parasites Do?
Once the round or hookworm has infected your pet, it will feed on its' intestinal lining. Hookworms will suck the blood of your pet, and "can cause serious blood loss" (Pets and Parasites) if the infection goes untreated. Roundworms can "move into the lungs if the infection is severe, therefore your pet may cough up spaghetti-like worms." (Pets and Parasites)

"Spaghetti-like" Roundworm
(The Life Tree)

Signs That Your Pet May be Infested. 
As stated before, the most common signs that we see in puppies and kittens are diarrhea, swollen belly, weight loss or not gaining weight and vomiting. In some cases, no signs at all are seen. This is normally at the beginning of an infection. If the infection is severe your pet may vomit or defecate the parasite. Owners will commonly report their pet has vomited or defected what looks like spaghetti. This is a definite sign that your pet has one of these two intestinal parasites.

How Do You Treat and Prevent Round and Hookworms?
Deworming can and should  be started at your pets' first visit. There are a few products that target these intestinal parasites that can be given if an infection is present. Keeping your pets' environment clean will also help decrease the spreading of round and hookworms.

(Animal Pet Doctor)

Can Humans Get These Intestinal Parasites?
Hookworms and Roundworms are zoonotic- meaning that humans are able to get these parasites. It is very rare, however it can happen. As a tech, I do like to educate clients on this. I do not want to persuade anyone from getting a puppy or kitten, but you do need to be aware of everything that can happen if your pet has become infected. Luckily, these parasites are easily treatable in pets, which is why human infection is rare. Contact with infected feces or soil is the main route of infection. Hookworms can also penetrate the skins barrier if one is exposed to infected ground. This can cause an "itching sensation at the site penetrated as well as visible tracks of the parasite on the skin." (Pets and Parasites) Both internal parasites are easily treatable in humans if the infection is seen in the early stages but may cause discomfort.

I hope that you have enjoyed (if you that's the right word for this topic) learning about these two intestinal parasites. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call Tenth Street Animal Hospital! We will gladly help you out in anyway that we can!

This is a picture of actual roundworms seen in a puppy at TSAH!
Don't worry she was treated and will get better in no time!

Here's to a tail waggin' day!

-Noelle

*Information for this post was obtained from: Petsandparasites.org and Petmd.com
*Pictures can be found at the links listed in caption.