How Do Dogs Get Hookworms
Dogs are prone to be parasite central at times. They are the primary host for heartworms, a parasite that infects cats and even humans. Fleas and ticks adore them and they are a breeding ground for hookworms it seems. Dogs can easily get hookworms and they aren't as immediately detrimental to your pet's health as other types of parasites, but it is important to spot and eradicate hookworms as soon as possible or your dog could end up suffering and costing you a great deal of money in vet bills in the long run.
What are Hookworms?
Hookworms are small, worm-like parasites that live inside dogs and feed off of them – similar to a heartworm. The fact that hookworms and heartworms are parasites that live inside dogs is essentially where the similarity ends, because they do not look the same and they live in entirely different parts of the dog's body. Hookworms get their name from the small hook-like feature on their head that they use to dig into 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 problems in young dogs. In most cases hookworms are a puppy problem, 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 go through and for veterinarians, deworming young dogs is a standard practice and is advisable 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 imperative to get them treated as soon as possible.
The Trouble with Hookworms
Anemia is the primary problem that puppies go through 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, procreate 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 halt or contain without professional or medical assistance. Sometimes, when a large number of eggs are present it is possible to spot the infection through an examination of a puppies' feces, but not all the time.
Treating Hookworms in Your Dog
Lucky for you and your dog, hookworms are quite easily treated. 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 remnants that may have hatched. Your veterinarian may even have a dewormer that tastes great, so your dog will lap it up like a treat. This is one of the simplest pet related problems to treat and it is relatively 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. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nat_Williams |
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