Hookworms

Hookworms are another of the common intestinal parasites that we see in small animals. The life cycle of hookworms is similar to that of roundworms with a few differences. Like the roundworm, hookworms live in the small intestine. They have sharp teeth that attach to and penetrate the intestinal wall where they are able to live off of the blood of their host. While in the intestine the adult worm lays eggs which are then passed out into the environment in the feces. Once in the outside environment, the eggs hatch and larva emerge. It is the larva that is infective to the dog or cat. The larva can enter the host in a couple of different ways: 1.) by being ingested while the pet is sniffing around outside 2.) penetrating the paw pads or skin of the host.

Once inside the the intestines, the larva can grow into an adult worm and complete the life cycle. Other larva may take an additional step of migrating out of the intestines and making their way to the lungs. They are then coughed up and swallowed to complete the life cycle in the intestines.

Just like roundworms, hookworms can also be passed on to unborn puppies and kittens in the placenta. During stressful events like pregnancy, larva that are dormant in the body can awaken and then spread to the puppies in the placenta. They are also passed in the mother's milk, so if puppies are not infected in the placenta they can be infected soon thereafter while nursing.

If left untreated (especially in the young animals) and the infection is heavy enough, infections can lead to malnutrition, anemia, and possibly death. The good news is that the parasite is readily treatable with common anti-parasite medications like Strongid (pyrantel) or fenbendazole. We recommend that all puppies be dewormed at least 3 times spread out every 2 weeks starting around the time they are 4 weeks old.

Similar to roundworms, hookworms can also be transferred to humans (either through ingestion of contaminated soil or penetration of the feet by larva). This can lead to a condition called cutaneous larva migrans where the larva migrate under the skin in infected people. This is why it is important to not only deworm puppies, but to also check an annual poop sample of your pet to make sure they are clear of parasites.

The next parasite up is whipworms. Stay tuned for more information.