Hookworm infection is a disease caused by several species of parasites. The symptoms of animal hookworm infection depend on how the infection is acquired. Painful and itchy skin infections often occur when animal hookworm larvae move through the skin.
Steps to prevent hookworm infection include deworming puppies and kittens at an early age, learning to recognize and avoid possibly contaminated soil, and keeping your pets on a preventative drug program that controls these worms.
Hookworms can cause dangerous effects in dogs, and they can be lethal to small puppies. Some of the most common symptoms of hookworm infection that dog owners may notice in their dogs include: pale gums, black tar like stool, and lethargy.
There are a variety of medications that are used to treat hookworm in dogs. Some of these treatments can be given in a one-time shot under the skin, as is the case with ivermectin, diphosphenol, or butamisole treatments, or they can be given in the form of oral medications.