What are hookworms?
Hookworms (Ancylostoma caninum, Ancylostoma braziliense) are parasites that get their name from the hook-like mouthparts they use to attach to the intestinal wall. They are only about 1/8" (3 mm) long and so small that it is very difficult to see them with the naked eye. Despite their small size, they ingest large amounts of blood from the tiny vessels in the intestinal wall. A large number of hookworms can cause anemia. This problem is most common in puppies, but can occur in adult dogs.
How did my dog get hookworms?
Dogs may become infected with hookworms by four routes:
1. Orally
2. Through the skin
3. Through the mother’s placenta before birth
4. Through the mother’s milk
A dog may become infected when he swallows hookworm larvae. The larvae may also penetrate the skin and migrate to the intestine, where they mature and complete their life cycle. If a pregnant dog has hookworms, the pregnancy may reactivate larvae. These larvae will enter the female’s bloodstream and infect the puppies in the womb. Finally, puppies may be infected through the mother’s milk. This is considered to be an important route of infection for puppies.
What kinds of problems do hookworms cause?
The most significant problems appear related to intestinal distress and anemia. Blood loss results from the parasites ingesting blood from intestinal capillaries. Pale gums, diarrhea, or weakness are common signs of anemia. Some dogs experience significant weight loss, bloody diarrhea, or failure to grow properly with hookworm infection.
Skin irritation and itching, especially of the paws, can be signs of a heavily infested environment. The larvae burrow into the skin and cause itching and discomfort.
How is hookworm infection diagnosed?
Hookworms are diagnosed with a microscopic examination of a stool sample. Since there are many eggs produced daily, they are easily detected. One adult female hookworm may produce as many as 20,000 eggs a day!
In puppies, large numbers of worms usually must be present before eggs are shed into the stool. For this reason, fecal examination may be less reliable in very young puppies than in adult dogs.
How are the hookworms treated?
There are several effective drugs to eliminate hookworms. They are given by injection or orally and have few, if any, side effects. However, these drugs only kill the adult hookworms. Therefore, it is necessary to treat again in about 2-4 weeks to kill any newly formed adult worms that were larvae at the time of the first treatment.
A blood transfusion may be necessary in dogs with severe anemia.
Since the dog’s environment can be infested with hookworm eggs and larvae, it may be necessary to treat your yard with chemicals to remove them. Your veterinarian can offer recommendations for grass-friendly products.
Are canine hookworms infectious to people?
Adult hookworms do not infect humans; however, the larvae can burrow into human skin. This causes itching, commonly called “ground itch”, but the worms do not mature into adults. Direct contact of human skin to moist, hookworm-infested soil is required. Fortunately, this does not occur often if normal hygiene practices are observed.
In rare instances, the canine hookworm will penetrate into deeper tissues and partially mature in the human intestine. A few reports of hookworm enterocolitis (small and large intestinal inflammation) have occurred in the recent past.
What can be done to control hookworm infection in dogs and to prevent human infection?
All pups should be dewormed with a veterinary-approved product at 2 to 3 weeks of age.
Prompt deworming should be given when parasites are detected; periodic deworming may be appropriate for pets at high risk for infection.
Prompt disposal of dog feces should occur, especially in yards, playgrounds, and public parks.
Strict hygiene is important, especially for children. Do not allow children to play in potentially contaminated environments. Frequent hand-washing and bathing are essential in preventing human infections.
Nursing females should be dewormed with their pups. Nursing may reactivate hookworm infection in the female.
Most heartworm prevention products contain a drug that will prevent hookworm infections. However, these products will not kill the adult hookworms, so dogs must be treated for adult hookworms.
Based on material written by Ernest Ward, DVM. and modified with permission from Lifelearn Inc.
© Copyright 2005 Lifelearn Inc.
