Hookworms' Symptoms

Hookworms are intestinal parasites that affect not only cats and dogs, but humans as well. A hookworm has hooked teeth or sharp cutting plates that attach to the flesh of the small intestine of its host. As the parasite matures, it begins to devour the lining of the intestines and sucks the blood from the tissue. If untreated, hookworm infections cause irrevocable damage to the intestines and may lead to sudden death in vulnerable hosts.

  1. Anemia

    • Hookworms have an anticoagulant in their saliva that prevents the blood from clotting on their feeding sites. The wounds do not heal and continue to bleed long after the parasite has moved to another location of the intestine. Because of this, anemia is an identifiable symptom of hookworm infection. Look for pale or yellow gums and mucous membranes. Other symptoms of anemia are rapid breathing, which occurs to increase oxygen levels lost through the loss of red blood cells that the hookworms consume; lethargy; decreased appetite and thinned blood, which results in heart murmurs. Animals may also have dull fur and dry skin. For young puppies and kittens that cannot regenerate blood cells and plasma fast enough, the rapid loss of blood is so severe it could lead to sudden death.

    Diarrhea, Tarry Stools, and Emaciation

    • Dogs and cats with hookworm infections suffer from diarrhea. Animals experience frequent and unstrained bowel movements. Stools may also be black or have a tar-like texture from the amount of blood lost through the hookworms' feeding sites. Because of the diarrhea, infected animals experience weight loss and become emaciated. Dogs and cats may also begin vomiting and may experience elevated gas and abdominal discomfort.

    Other Symptoms

    • An infected animal passes hookworms through its stools and can pass the infection to other mammals. The larvae can penetrate the skin and migrate through the tissues of the body seeking out the digestive tract. As the larvae spreads through the body, the animal experiences severe itching and possible legions or red lines. Animals also become infected with hookworms by digesting infected carcasses or feces, contaminated foods and water, and even from a pregnant or lactating mother to her litter. In some cases, larvae inhabit the lungs of the host animal. As the larvae grow in the lungs, the animal develops a cough and sometimes pneumonia. The animal coughs up the larvae, swallows them in the phlegm, and transports them directly to the small intestines where the cycle begins again.

    Treatment

    • Veterinarians test the animal's fecal waste for signs of hookworm eggs. If caught in time, most commercial wormers designed to treat roundworms are effective against hookworms. However, the worm medication only kills adult worms and not the larvae. It is important to administer subsequent treatments to ensure that all worms have been killed. If left untreated, the afflicted animal will need special supplements rich in iron and protein. In severe cases, some animals may require blood transfusions to replace the amount of blood lost because of the anemia.