Hook Worms

HOOKWORM (ANCYLOSTOMA CANINUM)

"Hooks" are a tropical to southern temperate nematode that have canids as their definitive hosts. In adult dogs, a fairly large worm load may be tolerated, but in puppies, hookworms can be life-threatening. Puppies exposed to hookworms generally grow up with some degree of immunity against future infections.

Symptoms in puppies include dermatitis, pneumonia, enteritis, bloody diarrhea, blood loss and anemia.

Treatment is with fenbendazole, pyrantel, ivermectin, milbemycin and oxibendazole.

Because eggs are passed in the feces, the control measure is to keep dogs, especially puppies, off contaminated grounds.

There is a public health concern because hookworms also can infest humans, causing enteritis. Human infection is common in the southeastern United States, particularly where people come in contact with moist, sandy soil (e.g., beaches, children's sand piles) contaminated by dog or cat
feces.

Prevention involves decontaminating the environment. For gravel/clay dog runs, use 10 pounds of sodium borate per 100 sq.ft.; for cement dog runs, use a 1 percent sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution.

Submitted by Joy - excerpts from Dog World Magazine

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