Hookworm (Ancylostoma)

Overview

A blood-sucking intestinal worm and, in warm, humid soils, a genuinely dangerous one — heavy burdens can bleed a puppy to death. Larvae are picked up from contaminated ground, or penetrate the skin directly (typically the feet and belly of a dog lying on infected soil), and can also pass to puppies in the milk. It is a leading cause of the severe anaemia seen in street and shelter puppies. Hookworm is zoonotic: larvae can penetrate human skin and cause an itching, migrating track, which is why children should not play barefoot where dogs defecate. Diagnosis is by faecal examination; treatment is an anthelmintic class the vet selects, with supportive care (including transfusion in severe cases), and prevention is routine deworming plus faeces removal.

What you would notice

• Pale gums and weakness from blood loss
• Dark, tarry, foul stool
• Poor growth and weight loss
• Itchy, inflamed skin between the toes (from larvae penetrating the skin)
• Sudden collapse or death in heavily infected young puppies

Sources

• Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com)
• WSAVA global guidelines (wsava.org)

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