Hookworms

Hookworms are intestinal parasites in dogs that live in the small intestine, where they feed themselves by sucking blood, and reproduce. Puppies and kittens are most likely to have them. They get infected

1. By the environment if it is contaminated by the hookworm larvae.
2. Even before birth, hookworms can cross the placenta.
3. Puppies or kittens on mother feed can get them through mother’s milk.

Hookworms may not show any overt sign even if they are present in the body and may found incidentally on routine fecal examination. If they are present in large numbers, they may cause anemia in the body, weight loss, and diarrhea due to a large amount of blood ingested by them. In severely contaminated areas, pets can develop skin inflammation due to burrowing of the skin by larvae to get into the body. Effective dog parasite treatment involves cleaning up the environment and administering medication for deworming. Preventing worms in dogs requires regular fecal testing and deworming practices. By ensuring worm prevention in dogs and addressing environmental contamination, you can keep your pet and family parasite-free.