Treating Whipworms in Cats and Dogs

Whipworms are an intestinal parasite much more prevalent in dogs than cats, but require both animals to receive treatment when an infestation takes place. Animals are infected by the whipworm when they ingest the eggs of the parasite, which may come from a wide-range of sources. Whipworm eggs and larvae are found in dead animals, dirt, soil, feces, and are passed by close contact with other animals infected with whipworm. While there is plenty of worms control measures to consider, there is no guarantee your pet will not be infected by whipworm.

In the event you need remove worms from your pet, familiarizing yourself with some of the common worm treatment products on the market is a must to consider. Whipworms reside in the large intestine, attacking surrounding tissues and leaching off of the blood supply of their host. Without appropriate attention, the whipworm will continue to lay eggs, which are either passed through the stool or mature within your pet.  You dog or cat becomes very sick when infected. Seeking proper treatment services and products is a must because whipworms cause pain and discomfort to your pet and when left untreated – may even lead to death.

When paying a visit to the veterinarian, he or she will recommend several worms treatment options that typically include the following ingredients: fenbendazole, milbemycin oxime and febantel. These types of treatments are quite effective in treating a whipworm infestation without producing many side effects. A veterinarian will generally suggest to space out treatments every two to three months throughout the year to decrease the risk of reinfection since whipworm eggs may remain active for five years.

The administration of such medications is easy for pet owners to complete at home since they often come in the form of a tablet. Sometimes whipworm treatments are available in heartworm products, but overall, there are a small number of products that effectively treat the parasites.

When looking for popular whipworm treatments, the market offers Drontal Plus, Sentinel, and Interceptor ; Depending on the size of your dog, you will find varying costs for whipworm treatments. This is because larger dogs require higher doses of the medication than smaller breeds. For example, Interceptor flavor tabs for dogs weighing between 51 and 100 pounds cost on the average of $65 for a 12-month supply. These tablets are white in color. A dog weighing between 11 and 25 pounds will receive green flavor tabs, where a 12-month supply costs about $32. Another popular brand, Sentinel typically costs between $50 and $135 for 6-month and 12-month supplies.

When giving whipworm medication to a pet, it is important to note that adverse reactions may take place. It is not uncommon to see a dog that receives milbemycin oxime or lufenuron in their worms treatment suffer from vomiting, depression, lethargy, diarrhea, weight loss, convulsions, excessive salivation, and weakness. It is also important to avoid treating puppies less than four weeks of age or weighing less than two pounds.

Why spend the time, aggravation and money to treat whipworms, when you can prevent whipworms in the first place.