How Do Dogs Get Hookworms

Dogs are prone to be parasite central sometimes. They are the primary host for heartworms, a parasite that infects cats and even humans. Fleas and ticks adore them and they are a hot spot for hookworms it seems. Dogs can easily get hookworms and they aren't as instantly destructive to your pet's health as other types of parasites, but it is important to spot and treat hookworms as soon as you can or your dog could end up suffering and costing you a great deal of money in vet bills in the long term.

What are Hookworms?

Hookworms are tiny, worm-like parasites that live within dogs and feed off of them - just like a heartworm. The fact that hookworms and heartworms are parasites that live within dogs is just about where the similarity ends, because they do not look alike and they reside in totally different parts of the dog's body. Hookworms get their name from the small hook-like feature on their head that they use to cling onto the wall of a dog's intestinal tract - it helps to keep them there. They draw blood from the walls of the intestines and have been known to cause severe anemic conditions in young dogs. In most cases hookworms are a puppy issue, but they can develop in adult dogs as well.

How do Dogs Get Hookworms?

Hookworms can be passed to dogs through a couple of methods. The primary causes of hookworms for dogs are through the mother's milk when nursing, through the top layer of their skin, through the mouth and even through the placenta before the puppy was born. It is a rather natural thing that many puppies experience and for veterinarians, deworming young dogs is a standard practice and is recommended for all newborn puppies whether they are known to be infected or not. The younger the dog is the more prone to hookworm-related anemia they are, so it is important to get them cured as soon as possible.

The Trouble with Hookworms

Anemia is the primary problem that puppies experience as a result of hookworm infection. This is because the hookworms attach themselves on the dog's intestinal walls and draw as much blood as they can, multiply and suck more blood. If you were losing that much blood, you would be infected too! One female hookworm can lay thousands upon thousands of eggs daily, so the problem of hookworms is virtually unimaginable to stop or contain without professional or medical help. Sometimes, when a large number of eggs are present it is possible to see the infection through an inspection of a puppies' excrement, but not always.

Treating Hookworms in Your Dog

Fortunately for you and your dog, hookworms are quite easily cured. Mostly an oral medication is all that is needed to cure the problem, but a follow up treatment a few weeks later to kill any leftovers that may have hatched. Your vet may even have a dewormer that tastes great, so your dog will lap it up like a treat. This is one of the easiest pet related problems to treat and it is extremely common and if detected early, hookworms can be a thing of the past.

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Natalie Williams is the founder of WormsInMyPet.com. Visit her site for more free tips on eliminating worms and preventing worms in your dog.