Hookworm disease exists in tropical and subtropical areas of the world where there is sandy soil that contains lots of organic material, and rainfall adequate to keep the soil from drying out too much. Infective larvae are very susceptible to drying and to extremes of temperature; therefore, a person who has not lived in or traveled to such a region is very unlikely to have hookworms.
The hookworms appear quite frequent in dogs' diseases. In the majority of cases, the puppies are the ones that get infected. The hookworms are some small internal parasites which are able to cause death, especially in the puppies.
The diagnosis of hookworms must be made by a vet. They will be able to examine the feces of the dog under a microscope and make the diagnosis. Vets will usually prescribe a de-wormer medication for the dog that needs to be ingested. This will poison the worms but, if not administered in the proper doses, can end up making the dog sick as well.
In order to understand the symptoms of hookworm disease, it's important to understand how hookworm infection occurs (hookworm lifecycle). You do not catch this parasite through direct contact with another infected human. Rather, you pick it up when your skin comes in contact with soil contaminated with the feces of an infected person. Hookworm larvae, the stage that infects people, are present in warm moist soil where an infected person has defecated outside on the ground.
Ancylostoma tubaeforme, or the feline hookworm, Ancylostoma braziliense, or the canine and feline hookworm, Uncinaria stenocephala, known as the northern canine hookworm, and Ancylostoma caninum, or the canine hookworm (some authoritative sources state that this form of the worm only infects dogs, foxes, and possibly humans, but not cats).
Human hookworm infection is a soil-transmitted infection caused by two nematode parasites, Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale, according to the Center of Disease and Control (CDC), with the Necator version being by far the largest threat to humans.
One of the most common irritants a dog owner is going to have to deal with outside of fleas is that of the hookworm. Hookworms are an extremely common dog parasite. Their method of infection (as with most parasites) is rather unique, the symptoms that they give are obvious and the prevention of hookworm infestation is an ongoing battle. The solutions to a hookworm infestation are relatively simple however, and a hookworm infestation shouldn't be the cause for alarm.
Hookworms in dogs can be identified with a microscopic test of a stool sample. Any evidence of hookworm eggs indicates an infection. Adult hookworms are hard to detect in the feces as these worms are truly small in size.
Treatment:
Hookworms in dogs can easily be treated using deworming medication. The medication can be administered either orally or by injection. After the first treatment, some worms will grow from larvae into adults. Therefore, treatment will have to be repeated in approximately one month to kill the new adult worms. As mentioned earlier, canine hookworms can cause anemia. Therefore, some dogs may also need a blood transfusion.
Hookworm would not be so prevalent were it not for several persistent habits of human beings. The first is the habit of defecating outside on the ground, and the second is the practice of using untreated human sewage as fertilizer for crops. These two things, so ingrained in the cultural habits of many societies around the world, account for the majority of hookworm infection worldwide.
In the intestines, the adults attach and suck blood. The blood loss can be significant depending on the amount of worms present. A. duodenale drinks more blood per worm (0.2-0.3 ml) per day than N. americanus (0.03 ml), and are therefore more pathogenic.
Roundworms usually infest adult cats, and while they're not always serious in adults, they can be responsible for a variety of harmful conditions in kittens. These can include anaemia, under-nourishment as well as lowering resistance to other infectious diseases. If the mother cat is infected, her milk contains the eggs of the worms which then develop in the stomach and bowels of the kitten.
As with all dog worms, a hookworm problem in a dog is unlikely to disappear simply by deworming the affected dog(s). One needs to understand the worm's life cycle and all the possible routes of infestation before one can put together a simple yet sensible strategy that will minimize the health impact of dog hookworms on your dog and your family!
Cat worm symptoms aren't always obvious. First your cat has to get into something to get these parasites into her system. Cats become infected with cat hookworms when they eat an animal, like a bird or mouse or chipmunk, that is infected with the cat hookworm larvae. They can also get it off of plants or grasses that had feces with the larvae dropped on the plant.
Because Roundworm can be transmitted to humans, it is important to promote good hygiene, such as washing your hands regularly. Transmission of this dog worm to humans is usually through infected soil, which may be in your backyard or front lawn. Because the eggs are sticky and can easily adhere to hands or clothing, make sure children (and adults) wash their hands after playing outside (especially at a park or playground), after playing with the dog and before it's time to eat.
