Hookworm Infection in Dogs and Puppies
A Canine Intestinal Parasite Which Causes Serious Disease in Puppies
Apr 18, 2009
Hookworms are one of the more common intestinal parasites or worms found in dogs. They are particularly common in puppies and can cause serious, even fatal, disease for very young puppies.
How is a Hookworm Infection Acquired?
Dogs can become infected with hookworms when they ingest hookworm eggs or larvae which are present in soil. Hookworms are also capable of penetrating the skin of the dog and causing infection by migrating through the skin and eventually finding their way to the intestinal tract.
In puppies, hookworms can be passed from the mother to the newborn puppies before birth or through the mother's milk while the puppies are nursing.
What are the Symptoms of a Hookworm Infection?
Once the hookworms find their way to the intestinal tract, hookworms attach themselves to the inside of the intestinal tract and feed by sucking the dog's blood. Before maturing and attaching to the intestines, immature worms may migrate throughout the infected dog's body.
Blood loss results from the worms which are sucking the dog's blood. This can be an extremely severe problem for young puppies where blood loss may lead to anemia and other deficiencies, including iron deficiencies. Puppies infected with hookworms may have diarrhea as well. They are typically weak with pale gums.
How is a Hookworm Infection Treated?
There are a number of medications which are effective in killing hookworms. These include:
- fenbendazole
- mebendazole
- pyrantel pamoate
While these medications are effective in killing the hookworms infecting the dog or puppy, additional supportive care may be necessary to save the life of the dog.
Supportive care may include:
- fluid therapy
- blood transfusions
- iron supplementation
Treatment for hookworm infection may need to be ongoing until the puppy or dog is able to eat and drink normally again and until the infected animal has regained some of his strength.
Treatment with medications to kill the hookworms will likely need to be repeated in 3-4 weeks in order to kill any developing larvae which have matured into adults since the previous worming.
Hookworm Infection in People
Hookworms are also contagious to people and people are usually exposed through contact with infected soil or sand. This exposure to hookworm infections usually occurs when people go barefoot in hookworm-contaminated areas. The danger of hookworm infestation is one of the reasons that many beaches will not allow dogs on the beach and many others have very strict rules for cleaning up after your dog.
In people, hookworm infection is often referred to as cutaneous larval migrans. This infection generally results in a rash on the skin which is extremely itchy for the infected person. In some cases, hookworm infection in people may progress to anemia and other clinical signs similar to those which puppies might suffer.
Besides exposure to hookworms through bare skin, people can also be infected with hookworms by eating unwashed vegetables which have been retrieved from contaminated soil.
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