Hookworm is an internal parasite that can cause symptoms ranging from gastrointestinal upset in healthy adults to serious complications in puppies. The good news is that it is preventable. Here, our vets in Yucaipa discuss the effects of hookworm infections on dogs and puppies and what you can do to protect your furry friend.
What are hookworm infections in dogs?
These intestinal parasites have hook-like mouthparts and are commonly seen in both dogs and cats. While they are only about 1/4" - 3/4" in size, they can ingest surprisingly large amounts of blood once they latch onto your pet's intestine. If your pet develops a significant hookworm infection, this could lead to anemia or inflammation of the intestine.
Hookworms are often found in moist, warm environments and in pets that live in poor conditions involving overcrowding or poor sanitation.
How does a dog get hookworms?
Dogs can become infected with hookworms in one of four ways:
- Larvae can penetrate your dog's skin leading to infection.
- A dog can easily ingest hookworm larvae when grooming their feet, or by sniffing at contaminated feces or soil.
- Unborn puppies can contract hookworms via the mother's placenta in utero.
- Once born, puppies can contract hookworms through the milk of an infected mother.
What do hookworms look like at each stage?
The hookworm lifecycle has three stages, including egg, larvae and adult.
- Adult hookworms lay microscopic eggs within a pet that's been infected. These eggs are then passed through the feces, where they hatch into larvae and contaminate the environment.
- Larvae can survive for weeks or even months before infecting an unsuspecting dog.
- Once the larvae make their way into your pooch's body, they migrate to the intestine, where they mature into adults and lay eggs. The cycle then begins again.
What are the typical symptoms of a hookworm infection?
Along with GI upset, your dog may experience other uncomfortable symptoms such as:
- Dry, dull coat
- Coughing
- Generalized weakness
- Pale gums
- Significant (unexplained) weight loss
- Failure of the puppy to grow or develop properly
- Bloody diarrhea
- Skin irritations (especially around paws)
If your dog is displaying any of these signs of hookworms, contact your vet right away. It's not uncommon for young puppies to die from severe hookworm infections.
What steps will the vet take to diagnose my dog with hookworms?
Hookworms are easy to diagnose through a fecal flotation test.
When performing a fecal flotation test, your dog's poop won't contain any adult worms but there will be eggs. The stool will be mixed with a solution that will cause the eggs (if present) to float to the top of the solution where they can easily be spotted.
Unfortunately, this also means that the eggs can't be found until the worms are producing them. Unlike some other worms seen in dogs, you will not typically see hookworms in your dog's poop because the worms stay securely latched onto your pet's intestinal lining until the condition is treated.
It takes 2-3 weeks for worms to reach maturity and begin producing eggs, for this reason, fecal floats may not be accurate in diagnosing hookworms in very young puppies.
Can dogs be treated for a hookworm infection?
A class of drugs called anthelmintics can be used to eliminate hookworms. These are oral medications with a low risk of side effects. That said, these medications are only effective at killing adult hookworms so it will be necessary to repeat treatment 2-3 weeks following the first treatment.
If your dog is suffering from severe anemia due to hookworms, they may require a blood transfusion to help replenish their blood cells and prevent serious and potentially life-threatening complications.
Is my dog able to pass hookworms to me?
Lying on infected ground can allow the hookworm larvae to begin burrowing into the skin leading to a condition called 'ground itch'.
In some rare cases, hookworm larvae can penetrate and damage internal organs including the eyes, which can cause blindness and complications.
You can help reduce your risk of hookworm infection by bathing and cleansing daily and keeping up with good general hygiene.
How to Prevent Hookworms From Infecting Dogs
There are a number of key approaches when it comes to preventing the spread of hookworms in dogs:
- Puppies should be dewormed at approximately 2-3 weeks of age, and if symptoms occur.
- Nursing female dogs should be dewormed when their puppies are also dewormed.
- Always clean up after your dog when at the park or out on walks, and keep your yard free of dog waste.
- Be sure to wash your hands frequently when around your dog, or after cleaning up dog waste. Also, ensure that your children wash their hands frequently.
- Keep your dog up-to-date on their parasite prevention. Many products formulated to prevent hookworm will also help to prevent hookworm. Speak to your vet to learn more about the right parasite prevention for your canine companion.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.