Whipworms

The whipworm is a small worm with a whip-like body about 1-2 inches long and no thicker than a needle. It inhabits the colon and cecum of a host animal where it attaches itself to the cecal wall. Eggs that the worm produces then leave the host animal’s body with the feces and other animals that ingest the eggs become infected. Many hosts show no signs of being infected; others show evidence of chronic diarrhea and poor nutrition. Your veterinarian can perform a fecal exam on your pet to detect the presence of whipworms. If the worms are present, your veterinarian can administer medication to aid your pet in eradicating the worms from their body.