Iron Deficiency in Dogs Due to Hookworms

Hookworms rely on the dog's blood for nutrition. They attach to a dog's intestinal wall and inject an anticoagulant into the dog's tissue to feed. Dogs can develop anemia from this feeding and ulcers caused by the hookworms moving in the intestine.

  1. Hookworms and Infestation

    • Dogs pick up a hookworm infestation from infectious larvae in their environment. Larvae may penetrate the dog's skin and may be swallowed when the animal washes itself. Female dogs nursing puppies may pass hookworm infestations through their milk. Stressed and malnourished dogs are more likely to develop symptoms of anemia, or iron deficiency, than are happy and healthy dogs. Hookworms may live for up to two years in a dog's intestine.

    Hookworm Infestation: Blood Suckers

    • Once hookworm larvae have been ingested, they attach to the inside of the dog's intestine with their sharp teeth. The hookworm injects anticoagulant into the dog's tissues in order to feed on the dog's blood more effectively. Each time a hookworm moves its position the previous attachment sites continue to bleed. Nursing puppies that ingest hookworms from milk may bleed to death from undetected hookworm infestations.

    Anemia Symptoms and Treatment

    • Infested dogs will show the pale gums, low weight, and poor hair coat associated with anemia. According to Doctors Foster and Smith, anemic dogs will become weak and puppies' growth may be stunted. The same intestinal bleeding causing the anemia may produce "tarry" stools due to the presence of blood. Anemia from hookworms must be treated by removing the infestation. Dogs also must be treated for the iron depletion and blood loss.