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How Do Dogs Get Hookworms
by Natalie Williams
How Do Dogs Get Hookworms?

Dogs are susceptible to be parasite central at times. They are the main 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 instantly detrimental to your pet's health as other types of parasites, but it is important to spot and treat hookworms as soon as you can or your dog could end up suffering and costing you a great deal of money in vet bills in the long term.

What are Hookworms?

Hookworms are small, worm-like parasites that live inside dogs and feed off of them - just like a heartworm. The fact that hookworms and heartworms are parasites that live inside dogs is just about where the resemblance ends, because they do not look alike and they live in totally different areas of the dog's body. Hookworms get their name from the small hook-like feature on their head that they use to attach to the wall of a dog's intestinal tract - it helps to keep them there. They suck 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 transferred to dogs through a variety of methods. The main 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 has even made it into the world. It is a rather natural thing that many puppies experience and for veterinarians, deworming young dogs is a typical practice and is advisable for all newborn puppies whether they are known to be infected or not. The younger the dog is the more susceptible to hookworm-related anemia they are, so it is important to get them treated as soon as possible.

The Trouble with Hookworms

Anemia is the main problem that puppies experience as a result of hookworm infection. This is because the hookworms lodge themselves on the dog's intestinal walls and suck as much blood as they can, reproduce 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 practically 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 inspection of a puppies' excrement, but not all the time.

Treating Hookworms in Your Dog

Fortunately for you and your dog, hookworms are fairly easily treated. Mostly an oral medication is all that is required 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 uncomplicated pet related problems to treat and it is relatively common and if detected early, hookworms can be a thing of the past.

About the Author:
Natalie Williams is the founder of WormsInMyPet.com. Visit her site for more free tips on eliminating worms and preventing worms in your dog.
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Natalie Williams
Disclaimer: The information presented and the opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of Pampered Pets™.com and/or its partners.