Severe cases of whipworms are not common but, can require surgical intervention. Prophylaxis includes careful removal of feces and bleaching dog runs regularly. Signs of the disease is mainly severe diarrhea often bloody. The worm is quite serious in puppies and will cause death if untreated. The disease is diagnosed by microscopic fecal exam.
Infection occurs when contaminated feces are consumed or by skin penetration.
Treatment is with one of several drugs that include pyrantel pamoate, fenbendazole, thiabendazole and possibly ivermectin. Capillaria is a roundworm that resides in the lung of dogs and foxes. Infection is by ingestion of contaminated feces. The developing larvae migrate directly to the lungs. Adults lay eggs in the lungs which are moved out the lungs and coughed up, reswallowed and passed in the feces.