The Truth About Dog Hookworms
Hookworms are common parasites in dogs. Although relatively small measuring about three millimeters long, they are capable of sucking a lot of blood. After arriving in the small intestine, they use their teeth to attach to the walls. Hookworms usually target puppies and can even be fatal in some cases.
Transmission
Hookworms can be transmitted to your dog various ways. Some dogs ingest them by licking or swallowing infected soil. Hookworms are also capable of penetrating through your dog’s skin. Mothers can also pass these parasites to her puppies through the placenta. After birth, the mother can pass them along through her milk.
Symptoms
Dogs infested with hookworms will display various symptoms. Bloody diarrhea and weakness are two of the most common. As you already know, the skin can be penetrated by the larvae. This will cause your dog to start itching pretty badly. It’s common for dogs with a severe infestation of hookworms to develop anemia in canines. If anemia develops, your dog’s gums will be pale.
Diagnosis
These parasites in dogs are capable of producing a large amount of eggs every day. Females can produce up to 20,000 on a daily basis. Examining a stool sample should reveal the presence of the eggs. However, this will only produce an accurate diagnosis if the infestation of hookworms is severe enough.
Treatment
Hookworms in dogs can easily be treated using deworming medication. Dogs can receive the medication via injection or orally. After the first treatment, some worms will grow from larvae into adults. Therefore, treatment will have to be repeated in approximately one month to kill the new adult worms. If the infestation is severe enough, it can cause anemia. A blood transfusion may be necessary.
Your precious pet can be susceptible to many different health conditions. You can read up on many different potential health problems at dog-illnesses.com. So, come by right now to become informed.
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