Canine whipworms, also known as Trichuris vulpis and Trichuris campanula, are intestinal parasites which latch onto a dog’s intestines and feed off of the nutrients in the blood passing through the intestines.
Most of the signs and symptoms of worm infestation in dogs mimic symptoms of malnutrition. These symptoms include: unexplained weight loss, increased appetite, poor coat quality, dandruff, lethargy, and depression.
Once a dog has been diagnosed with whipworms, the dog is treated with the oral de-worming medication fenbendazole or a combination de-worming oral medication containing milbemycin oxime and febantel. These medications effectively kill the adult stage of whipworms, and they have little to no side effect risks for dogs.