By far the most common species in Canada is Ancylostoma Caninum with rare incidents seen of the other two.

Life Cycle

Click here to view the life cycle of HOOKWORM.

1. Adult hookworms in small intestine.
2. Adult lays eggs.
3. Eggs in feces.
4. Eggs hatch and larvae develop.
5. Infective larvae penetrate skin or are ingested through mouth.
6. Larvae migrate and become adults.

Most infective larvae enter through the feet of the pet and migrate to the lungs. Here they grow for a short period of time before they migrate up the windpipe, are swallowed, and develop into adults in the intestine. A small number of larvae that are swallowed directly, mature quickly to adults in the intestine without migrating. In some cases, hookworm larvae may halt their migration to lie dormant for long periods of time until they are stimulated to continue their migration by a developing fetus, milk production, or removal of adult worms from the intestine by deworming. The time from infection to adult may be as little as 14 days.

Clinical Signs
Hookworm larvae that enter through the skin cause lesions to form where the dog comes into contact with the ground. Foot pads may become soft and spongy or separate completely, causing the claws to deform.

When larvae reach the intestine, regardless of their method of entry into the dog, they become fully mature in as little as two weeks and begin producing eggs by the 14th day after infection. The worms “graze” their way through the intestine, leaving a bloody trail in their wake. At low levels of infection there may be a mild inflammation of the intestines. In heavy infections, anemia is likely, followed by circulatory collapse, severe and hemorrhagic diarrhea, shock and death. Many pups require a blood transfusion to survive.

Diagnostic Options
A diagnosis of hookworm infection can be made by finding eggs in the feces, either through a direct smear or a fecal flotation procedure, combined with the dog showing clinical signs of an infestation such as bloody mucoid diarrhea, lethargy and possibly anemia. Although it is easy to determine their presence, it is more difficult to judge the size of the population. A female hookworm produces about 20,000 eggs per day, although this output is reduced by half in heavy infections and reduced still further as the population grows older. On the other hand, with very light infections, the egg output can be significantly increased and cause the worm burden to be overestimated.

Treatment
A blood transfusion may be necessary for a severely ill pet before any effort is made to eliminate the worms. Once the dog is stabilized, however, Milbemycin Oxime found in both SENTINEL and INTERCEPTOR produced by Novartis Animal Health, is GUARANTEED to treat and control adult hookworms with each monthly dose. (For more information on these products and their mode of action please follow the links) Depending on the situation and environment your dog is in, your veterinarian will be able to prescribe the appropriate medication to treat your dog for these parasites.

In areas where hookworm is prevalent, it is almost impossible to prevent re-infection from the environment unless measures are taken to treat the dogs most frequented areas. The hookworm larvae move actively and may survive in damp ground and shady spots for many months. It is important to note that all canine dewormers currently available are labeled as being effective only against the adult stage of the worm. Within days of deworming, immature larvae that were migrating or present in the gut, but unaffected by the medication, will develop into mature adults and begin laying eggs again. Although it is possible to see eggs on a fecal examination, regular monthly doses of INTERCEPTOR or SENTINEL are GUARANTEED to wipe out the new adults at the time of each dosing. The worms will not be able to establish themselves in a significant way within the pet, and the dog will not show clinical symptoms of hookworm disease.

Prevention
As in human medicine, veterinary medicine is shifting its focus from the treatment of diseases and symptoms, to the prevention of them before they have a chance to harm your pet. In the same way that vaccines prevent your pet from developing formerly common diseases, it is now an accepted practice to include deworming medication at regular intervals, to keep your pet healthy and free of parasites. Many dogs in Canada are treated with monthly heartworm medication such as INTERCEPTOR and SENTINEL. The active ingredient in these products is also effective in removing intestinal parasites from your dog with each dose, keeping your dog happy, healthy and parasite free all season long.