Hookworm Infection in Dogs
Introduction
Hookworm Infection in Dogs Guide: Veterinary reviewed information that explains Hookworms in dogs. Get started and see what choices you and your vet can make to successfully manage Hookworms in Dogs.
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Hookworms – Definition
Hookworms are parasites of the gastrointestinal tract of dogs. They spend most of their lives inside the small intestine, where they latch onto the sensitive intestinal lining (mucosa) and feed on the dog’s blood and tissues. The main hookworm species that infect dogs are Ancylostoma caninum, Ancylostoma braziliense and Uncinaria stenocephala. Adult hookworms, which can reach upwards of 9 inches in length, are voracious blood-suckers. A heavy hookworm infection can cause a dog to suffer anemia, weakness and stunted growth. It can also be fatal.
Puppies can become infected with hookworms before they are born, because the larvae of these parasites can pass through the placenta of infected bitches. Newborn puppies can also get hookworms through their mother’s milk, if she is infected. Not all pregnant female dogs carry hookworms, especially if they are on a regular de-worming program. Hookworm eggs, and newly-hatched hookworm larvae, can be picked up in the environment from the feces of infected animals. They can
Hookworms live most of their lives inside of a dog’s small intestine, where they latch onto the intestinal lining and feed on the dog’s blood. They leave raw, weeping sores at the sites of their bites. Dogs with a heavy hookworm load suffer abdominal pain. In other words, they have bad belly-aches. They also have digestive problems, develop diarrhea, become weak and generally feel lousy. When hookworms penetrate a dog’s skin (usually through its paws),
When a dog that is doing poorly comes to a veterinarian, it will be given a thorough physical examination. The vet will probably also take blood, urine and stool samples, to evaluate the dog’s overall health and to look for the presence of parasite eggs or larvae. Dogs with a heavy hookworm infection usually are anemic, which means that they have an abnormally low number of circulating red blood cells. This happens because hookworms feed
Hookworms are parasites in the genus Ancylostoma, which in their adult and 4th-larval stages live and breed inside of the intestines of companion animals. They are voracious blood feeders, and they attach (or “hook”) onto the intestinal lining of dogs and cats, causing blood loss and subsequent anemia. If left untreated, hookworms can cause severe illness, and even sudden death, especially in young puppies who acquire the parasite by transmammary infection – that is, from