Hookworms affect both cats and dogs, although they are more common
in dogs. Puppies and kittens are also at greater risk than
full-grown animals.
Hookworms are dangerous for three reasons:
• They suck blood, potentially leading to anemia or even
death.
• They can infect unborn animals in the womb.
• They can be passed on to humans.
What Hookworms Do
Hookworms are very small (about a half-inch long), thin worms.
As
their name suggests, these worms use hook-like teeth to attach
to
the small intestine, where they suck blood and eat tissue. They
also secrete a chemical that stops blood from clotting. When
they
leave one spot in the intestine and move to another, the initial
site
continues to bleed. This blood loss is the most damaging part of
the infection. If not treated, animals can also suffer from
diarrhea,
weakness, weight loss, and blood loss. Young animals that only have
a small amount of blood can get very sick very fast. In extreme
situations, or when the pet is young, the animal can die.
When hookworm infection is caught in time, however, cats and dogs
that receive proper treatment will make a complete recovery.
Pregnant cats and dogs infected with hookworms can be treated
before giving birth. Their newborns can also receive treatment,
which will last until they are 12 weeks old. Transfusions are
also
sometimes needed to fight anemia.
How Infection Occurs
Pets become infected in several ways. Hookworm eggs are shed in the
feces of infected animals and then hatch into larvae in the soil.
The animal then ingests the larvae from the soil. Once inside the
dog's body, larvae travel to the small intestine, mature, mate,
and lay eggs, and then the cycle repeats. Hookworms can also burrow
through intact skin or be passed through mother's milk to
kittens and puppies.
Humans can also become infected with hookworms when they do not
wash their hands after handling infected dirt, from eating
improperly washed vegetables, or by walking barefoot in
contaminated soil or sand. Infection in people occurs when the
hookworm burrows into the skin. The result is a bumpy patch of skin
that is itchy but treatable.
Children are more susceptible than adults because they often play
in dirt and put their hands into their mouths.
Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Hookworms are diagnosed when your veterinarian examines your
pet's feces under a microscope for characteristic parasite
eggs. To treat the infection, your pet will receive a dewormer to
kill the worms in the intestine. Treatment often is repeated 30
days later.
The best way to avoid infection in the first place is to keep
living areas clean of waste material, especially kennels and
outside recreation areas. It is also a good idea to have your
veterinarian test your pet routinely for worms and to start him on
a regular deworming schedule.
Recent Pet News
View RSS Feed
