People infected with whipworm can suffer light or heavy infections. People with light infections usually have no symptoms. People with heavy infections can experience frequent, painful bowel movements that contain a mixture of mucus, water, and blood.
What can whipworms cause?
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. Whipworm infection results in watery, bloody diarrhea, weight loss, and general debilitation.
What happens if you don't treat whipworms?
The more whipworms, the greater the irritation, which can lead to weight loss, diarrhea, bloody stools, and anemia. This causes a decrease in quality of life and body condition score and can be dangerous in puppies, senior dogs, and dogs with compromised immune systems.
Are whipworms harmful?
Dogs that are infected with a few whipworms may not have any signs of infection. More severe infections can cause bloody diarrhea. If an infected dog is not treated, then severe whipworm infection can cause serious disease and even death.
How long can whipworms live in humans?
The adults attach to the wall of the caecum and the ascending colon. The female adult worm starts to produce eggs 60 to 70 days after infection, and sheds between 3,000 and 20,000 eggs per day. The adult worm usually reaches 3-5 cm in length and has a lifespan of 1-3 years.
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