Signs & Symptoms of Hookworms

Often invisible to the human eye, hookworms can silently attack your pet, causing sickness and in some cases, even death. Just one hookworm is capable of sucking 0.1cc of blood from your pet each day. The good news is that hookworms are relatively easy to get rid of and even easier to prevent.

What Are Hookworms?

Hookworms are a parasite that can live in the intestine of your dog or cat. Hookworms are white, very thin and generally about 1/2 inch in length. With three sets of teeth, these invasive parasites attach themselves to the wall of the small intestine, piercing nearby blood vessels. Hookworms are bloodsuckers and if left untreated, can cause anemia and in some cases, can cause death in cats and dogs.

Symptoms

Signs that could indicate your pet may be infected with hookworms may include diarrhea--either a dark black in color or bloody, pale gums and mouth area, vomiting, loss of normal appetite, weakness or loss of weight, and a slower growth rate in younger animals. In severe cases of hookworm infestation, your pet may cough consistently, or even develop pneumonia, due to the hookworm larva that has passed through the lungs before settling in the intestine.

How Do Pets Get Hookworms?

Living in the canine or feline intestine, hookworm eggs are passed through fecal matter. The eggs generally will hatch in less than one week. Pets can pick up the parasites on their paws as they walk through infested grass. The parasites then pass through the skin to the lungs, where your pet will cough them up and swallow them before finally resting in the intestine.

Best Treatment

The best combatant for hookworms in your pet is an effective wormer, given by mouth. Although there are numerous over-the-counter varieties, your veterinarian might have the safest source of worming medicine and can adjust the dosage to your pet's weight, age and physical condition. In severe cases, where an animal has become anemic due to excessive loss of blood, transfusions may be required to save your pet's life.

Prevention

Most veterinarians recommend testing your pet for worms each year and twice yearly for younger animals. This procedure is done with a fecal exam. Many heartworm medications usually prevent many types of worms, including hookworms.