Pets and Parasites Part 2 – Hookworms

Parasite control and prevention is a very important aspect of pet care. We are particularly concerned about parasites that are zoonotic, meaning that they can cause infection in people. One of the intestinal parasites that we see in our area, the hookworm, is considered zoonotic.

How do pets get hookworms?
Puppies can get infected from their mother’s milk. Dogs and cats of all ages can become infected by ingesting larvae (young hookworms) in the environment. The larvae can also penetrate the skin of dogs and cats and enter the body that way as well.  If your pet is a hunter, they can also get infected by consuming small animals like rodents.

How can hookworms harm my pet?
Hookworms attach directly to the lining of the small intestine and suck the blood from the dogs and cats that they infect, which can lead to anemia. These worms can cause diarrhea, which may be dark and tarry. These parasites migrate through the lungs during their development, and very rarely can cause respiratory signs.

Can hookworms harm my family?
Hookworm larvae can penetrate and wander under the skin of people. This is a process called cutaneous larva migrans.

How can we protect your pet from hookworms?
Similar to roundworms, it takes multiple dewormings to rid your pet of hookworms. At Kindler Animal Hospital, we recommend following the guidelines put forth by the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) to provide optimal protection. Here is a summary of their recommendations:

• Puppies and kittens should ideally be dewormed at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age.
• After that, they should be dewormed monthly using a heartworm prevention product that has coverage for hookworms.
• Fecal examinations should be performed 2 to 4 times in the first year of life and then 1 to 2 times per year thereafter. If a pet comes up positive for hookworms in spite of being on prevention, this tells us that they are getting re-exposed in between doses of prevention.
• To help decrease contamination of the environment, feces should be removed from the yard promptly. Try to prevent hunting and scavenging activity if possible.

Our knowledgeable staff can help you design a parasite control program for your pet during your wellness visit.