Among the intestinal dirt ball that can chevy dogs , hookworms are less widely know than most . However , these petite worms can cause significant wrong to a dog ’s bowel . All firedog owners should understand the alarming direction ducky ( and humans ) can become taint with hookworms and how to address an infection .
What are Hookworms?
Hookworms are anintestinal parasitethat hold out within the digestive tract of a frump . These little worms have hook - like oral fissure parts ( hence their name ) that they use to latch onto the wall of the intestines . They feed on the bloodline of their boniface , and a single dirt ball can ingest up to0.2 milliliters(almost ¼ teaspoonful ) of line each twenty-four hour period . This may not seem like much , but when multiple worm feed over an extended period , this can have detrimental effects on a pawl . To facilitate feeding , hookworm also release an anticoagulant to keep the blood from clotting . This content in the area of adherence can make bleed ulcers , among other negative wellness gist .
How to Identify Hookworms in Dogs
Because hookworms attach themselves to the enteral wall of domestic dog , it ’s unlikely that you ’ll ever see one of these worms , even in significant infestations . They are not promptly eliminated in a dog ’s stool and can survive for several months or even yr within a host . These worms are also very small , ranging from 10 to 20 millimetersin distance , which is only around 1/2 inch . Despite being out of heap , you may notice a few or many of the symptoms of hookworm disease infection .
Symptoms of Hookworm Infection
Although it ’s possible for dogs carrying hookworm to show no signs at all , as the infestation onward motion and the worms wreak havoc on the intestines , you will belike see the following symptoms .
How do Dogs Get Hookworms?
hookworm have three life history stage : egg , larvae , and grownup insect . Once a dog becomes the host of an adult hookworm , the worm produces hundreds of eggs , which are passed in the dog ’s ordure . The bollock develop into larvae in the surroundings withina few days . These infective larvae can then survive in the land for up to four weeks and may either be ingested by a dog or tunnel into the skin between a dog ’s manus pads , then make their agency to the digestive tract . Once in the gut , the larvae mature into grownup worms , attach to the walls , feed in on blood , and multiply .
As cite , there are a few alarming ways that a frank can contract hookworm disease .
Can Humans Get Hookworms from Dogs?
The hookworm ’s power to dawn skin makes them a peril to humans , as well . When a dog has hookworms , they spill the eggs and larvae into the environs . Even if the ordure have been clean up , the larva can stay on . If a person spend time with their nude peel in this septic soil , for example , gardening without gloves , walk on a beach while barefooted , or playing in a sandpile , hookworm larvae can pervade the skin .
These canine larvae run to stay under the dermal layer of world ascutaneous larva migransor " crawl eruption . " They look like raised , twist rails which may switch with the movement of the dirt ball . In rare cases , larvae can migrate profoundly into tissue and may make their elbow room to the lungs or eyes . The best elbow room to protect your weenie and your home is through other treatment of any infections , prevention , and environmental decontamination .
Hookworm Treatment Options for Dogs
If a faecal test uncover that your dog has hookworms , an unwritten deworming medicament will be prescribed . You ’ll likely have to remedicate your pet at intervals to pour down all stage of the worm . However , other treatments may be recommended to address any symptom because of the contagion , such as diarrhea , ulceration , or dehydration . In terrible case with significant pedigree loss , most usually seen in puppy , hospitalisation with a blood transfusion may be necessary .
Preventing Hookworm Infections
Prevention is important to keep hookworm larvae out of your yard and protect your hotdog from any larva they might pick up in other environment .
Your Dog Isn’t Off the Hook
Hookworms are one of themost plebeian intestinal parasitesthat affect weenie . Even if your deary is n’t showing obvious signs of infection , they could be chivy by these flyspeck worms . Treating and keep hookworm will protect your dog and yourself from these blood - draw sponge .
