Whipworms are parasites

Some interesting Trichuris vulpis facts:

• Whipworm infections are seen in dogs, foxes and coyotes
• A female whipworm can produce more than 2000 eggs a day and whipworm eggs, which are thick walled and highly resistant to heat and drying, can live in the environment for years
• A dog with a whipworm infestation may show clinical signs before eggs are shed in feces; eggs can be shed sporadically

What Exactly Is a Whipworm?

Whipworms are parasites. The whipworm gets its name from its shape. Adult whipworms have a whip-like form -- the front end is narrower than the back end.
Full grown whipworms are no more than three inches in length. Males are quite a bit smaller than females.
The whipworm lives in the large intestine of dogs and can cause serious irritation to the lining of the colon. Adult worms dig their heads (at the thin end) deep into the intestinal mucosa and feed on material secreted by the tissues. There is often blood leakage as a result of whipworm tunneling and feeding activity.
Unlike other internal parasites, whipworms are very host-specific, meaning they rarely occur in species other than canines. They present no risk to humans. Feline whipworm infections are rare in North American domestic cats, and appear to be caused by a different species than Trichuris vulpis.
Whipworms occur in dogs worldwide, and are fairly common in shelter dogs in the U.S.