ahallada
UKC Forum Member
Registered: Dec 2006
Location: California
Posts: 1867 |
Yep you are both right. These are some hardy creatures and difficult to prevent in some areas.
Whipworm
Whipworm (Trichuris Vulpis) is essentially a parasite of the large intestine and cecum, a large pouch that forms the beginning of the large intestine. (The cecum is the equivalent of a human's appendix.) Using its mouth spear much like a sword, it slashes and punctures its way through the intestine, feeding on blood and tissue fluids as it goes. Although it consumes less than the Hookworm, severe infections (> 2,000) can cause a significant anemia. The worms range in size from 1.75 to 3 inches. Canine whipworm is widely distributed throughout North America.
Life Cycle
A dog acquires whipworm by ingesting eggs containing infective larvae. When the eggs hatch in the intestine, the larvae burrow into the wall of the cecum and small intestine and remain there for 2 to 10 days. They then migrate to the large intestine where the adult worms develop.
Click here to view the life cycle of the whipworm.
1. Adult whipworms in cecum.
2. Adult lays eggs.
3. Eggs in feces.
4. Larvae develop inside eggs.
5. Dog ingests eggs.
6. Eggs hatch and larvae mature into adults.
The life span of the adult canine whipworm ranges form 5 to 16 months. Each female whipworm may produce 2000 eggs per day. In addition, eggs may survive in the soil for up to five years waiting to infect a passing dog. Once infected, the infective larvae mature to an egg laying adult in approximately 3 months. It is this long prepatent period and the resilience of the eggs in the environment that make whipworm so difficult to control. Unlike other worms, whipworm does not migrate through the dog's tissues as part of its life cycle. Ingested eggs hatch directly in the small intestine.
Clinical Signs
Generally a dog's response to a whipworm infection is relatively mild, although exceptions do occur. Heavy infections can result in bouts of diarrhea and feces may be streaked with fresh blood. Young dogs or dogs with a chronic infection can suffer severe weight loss, dehydration due to diarrhea, and anemia. Death can occur if the infection is severe enough.
Diagnostic Options
Whipworm is usually diagnosed by identifying its smooth-shelled, bi-polar, plugged eggs using fecal flotation. Diagnosis can be difficult, however, because the female produces relatively few eggs, and she produces them intermittently. Also, in dogs suffering from bloody diarrhea as a result of the infection, finding the eggs can be difficult. Zinc sulfate is a much more reliable method of diagnosing whipworm infection than traditional floatation methods employed by most clinics.
A minimum of four fecal exams over a four-day period should be conducted before a negative diagnosis is made. Because of intermittent egg-shedding, a whipworm infection may not be correctly diagnosed. A follow-up exam may be necessary to rule out the possibility of infection.
Treatment
Whipworm infections can be difficult to treat due to the high incidence of re-infection from contaminated environments. Eggs can remain in the environment for as long as 5 years , and in areas where whipworm is prevalent, it is almost impossible to prevent re-infection from the environment unless measures are taken to treat the dogs most frequented areas. Even then, the eggs are resistant to most cleaning methods and re-infection is likely. The long (3 month) prepatent period means that dewormers given at a 2 to 3 week intervals would not control the immature stages, and treatment for this worm must be long term if there is to be any chance of success.
Treatment and control for whipworm currently includes Milbemycin Oxime found in both SENTINEL and INTERCEPTOR. Both of these products offered by Novartis Animal Health are GUARANTEED to remove the adult worms with each monthly dose. (For more information on these products and their mode of action please follow the links) Depending on the situation and environment your dog is in, your veterinarian will be able to prescribe the appropriate medication to treat your dog for these parasites.
It is important to note that all canine dewormers currently available are labeled as being effective only against the adult stage of the worm. Within weeks or even days of deworming, immature larvae that were present in the gut, but unaffected by the medication, will develop into mature adults and begin laying eggs again. Although it is possible to see eggs on a fecal examination, regular monthly doses of INTERCEPTOR or SENTINEL are GUARANTEED to wipe out the new adults at the time of each dosing. The worms will not be able to establish themselves in a significant way within the pet, and the dog will not show clinical symptoms of whipworm disease.
Prevention
As in human medicine, veterinary medicine is shifting its focus from the treatment of diseases and symptoms, to the prevention of them before they have a chance to harm your pet. In the same way that vaccines prevent your pet from developing formerly common diseases, it is now an accepted practice to include deworming medication at regular intervals, to keep your pet healthy and free of parasites. Many dogs in Canada are treated with monthly heartworm medication such as INTERCEPTOR and SENTINEL. The active ingredient in these products is also effective in removing intestinal parasites from your dog with each dose, keeping your dog happy, healthy and parasite free all season long.
Allen
__________________
Dr. Allen Hallada (Doc Halladay)
Current:
PKC Ch. Gr.Nt.Ch. Cat Scratch Fever
(Gr.Nt.Ch. PKC Ch. Moonlight Aftershock x Gr.Nt.Ch. PKC Ch. Moonlight Outlaw Breanna)
2016 Finished to PKC Ch. in one week!
Dual Grand Champion CHKC Ch., PKC Gold Ch. All Grand Outlaw G-Man
(Gr.Nt.Ch.Glissens JJ Jr. x Gr.Nt.Ch. Outlaw Billy Jean)
4 Generations of All Grand Nite Champions!
Timber Jack 3X and Timber Chopper over 30X
2019 Southern National Redbone Days Champion
2016 National Grand Nite Champion Redbone
2016 CHKC Redbone Days Champion
2016 PKC Super Stakes Reserve Champion
2016 CHKC Elite Shootout Winner - Texas
CHKC All Time Money Winning Redbone
Bodacious
(Gr.Nt.Ch. Gr.Ch.PKC. Gold Ch.CHKC CH. Outlaw G-Man x Gr.Nt.Ch.Gr.Ch. CHKC Ch., PKC Gold Ch. Classy Cali)
Past:
Gr.Nt.Ch.Ch. Dawns Timber Jack
1988 American Redbone Days All Red Hunt Winner
1989 UKC World Champion Redbone
1989 Purina Outstanding Redbone Coonhound
#2 Historic Redbone Sire/ Top 20 All Breeds
American Redbone Coonhound Assoc. Hall of Fame
Gr.Nt.Ch. Bussrow Bottom Brandy II
1991 American Redbone Days Champion
1992 AKC World Champion Redbone
1992 ACHA World Champion Redbone
1992 Wisconsin State Champion
1994 US Redbone Days Opposite Sex
Produced 2 Nt. Ch. , 1 Gr.Nt.Ch. out of 2 litters and two Redbone Days Winners
Gr.Nt.Ch.Gr.Ch. PKC Gold Ch. Layton's Classy Cali
2012 UKC World Champion Redbone and 7th Place Overall
2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 UKC World Champion Redbone Female
2015 PKC Blue Ribbon Pro Hunt Winner - Goodsprings, AL
2015 PKC Blue Ribbon Pro Series Race - 3rd Place Overall
2016 PKC Blue Ribbon Pro Hunt Winner - New Albany, MS
2016 PKC Texas State Race Winner
2016 PKC Redbone Breed Race Winner
PKC All Time Money Winning Redbone
PKC Ch. Gr.Nt.Ch. Coffman's Smokin Red Buck
2016 UKC World Hunt 5th Place and World Champion Redbone
2016 National Redbone Days Overall Winner
Gr.Nt.Ch. Reinhart's Central Page
(Gr.Nt.Ch. Timber Jack x Gr.Nt.Ch. Brandy II)
Gr.Nt.Ch. Too the Maxx
(Gr.Nt.Ch. Timber Jack x Gr.Nt.Ch. Jenkins Crying Katie)
1992 National Redbone Days Champion
Gr.Ch.Nt.Ch. Ambraw River Rock
(Gr.Nt.Ch. Timber Jack x Gr.Ch.Nt.Ch. Hersh's Huntin Red Kate)
1992 US Redbone Days Opposite Sex
Nt.Ch. Tree Bustin Annabelle
1986 American Redbone Days All Red Hunt Winner
Nt.Ch. Timber Mace
(Gr.Nt.Ch. Timber Jack X Nt.Ch. Tree Bustin Annabelle)
Mother of Gr.Nt.Ch. Babb's Hazel
Nt. Ch. Timber Shock
(Gr.Nt.Ch.Timber Jack x Gr.Nt.Ch. Outlaw Jessie)
Gr. Ch. Nt. Ch. Squaw Mountain Goldie
(Direct Daughter of Gr.Nt.Ch.Smokey Mountain Brandy)
1990 Autumn Oaks Best of Show Winner
1988 Indiana State Champion
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07-15-2007 11:33 PM
