Animals get whipworms by ingesting worm eggs which develop into larval then adult worms. Eggs are passed in the feces of an infested animal and this contamination of the environment is the source of exposure for other animals.
How are whipworms transmitted?
How is whipworm spread? Whipworms live in the intestine and whipworm eggs are passed in the feces (poop) of infected persons. If the infected person defecates (poops) outside—for example, near bushes, in a garden, or field—or if the feces of an infected person is used as fertilizer, then eggs are deposited on the soil.
Can whipworms be transmitted to other dogs?
Unlike some other common intestinal parasites in dogs, whipworms cannot be transmitted via other species/hosts or between mother and offspring before birth or during nursing. Infection does not require direct contact with another dog.
How are whipworms transmitted in cats?
Cats can become infected by ingesting anything contaminated with whipworm eggs or larva. Whipworms can live in soil, food, and water anywhere from a few months to a few years. Their eggs can be found in feces and animal flesh as well.
What animals do whipworms infect?
Whipworms are intestinal parasites that are about 1/4 inch (6 mm) long. They live in the cecum (a pouch that forms the first part of the large intestine) and large intestine of dogs, where they cause severe irritation to the lining of those organs.
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