Hookworms are parasitic microorganisms that attach to the walls of a dog's intestines with teeth-like protrusions. These parasites contribute to illness, malnourishment and sometimes life-threatening disease. They are zoonotic parasites, meaning they can be passed between dogs and other species, including humans. Treatment of your dog can prevent disease and cull the spread of hookworms to other members of your family.
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Parasite Identification
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Three types of hookworms affect dogs: Ancylostoma caninum, Ancylostoma braziliense, and Uncinaria stenocephala, according to the "Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians." Dogs are infected by eating the larvae embedded in contaminated water or soil, by eating an infected carrier animal, by the larvae penetrating their skin or in utero from mother to pup according to "Pathology and Parasitology for Veterinary Technicians." Hookworms live in the canine intestines and subsist on blood.
Treatment Options
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With the exception of piperazine, all drugs effective at treating roundworms are effective at treating hookworms. Some examples include a mixture of ivermectin and pyrantel pamoate, as found in Heartgard Plus, pyrantel pamoate as found in Nemex-2, a combination of pyrantel pamoate and praziquantel as found in Virbantel, milbemycin oxime under the brand name Interceptor, milbemycin oxime and lufeneron in the drug Sentinel, a mixture of imidacloprid and moxidectin as found in Advantage Multi, fenbendazole as found in the drugs Panacur-C and SafeGuard, a combination of febantel, praziquantel and pyrantel pamoate such as Drontal Plus, or ivermectin, pyrantel pamoate and praziquantel found in Iverhart Max, as outlined by "Applied Pharmacology for Veterinary Technicians."
Considerations
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Drugs are administered in two doses spaced a week or more apart since drugs intended for the treatment of hookworms only kill adult hookworms and not hookworm larvae or eggs. Animals under six weeks of age should see a veterinarian before being treated with over-the-counter or prescription medications for hookworms to avoid improper doses, according to the "Clinical Veterinary Advisor."
Time Frame
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Puppies should be treated at two weeks of age, four weeks, six weeks and weight weeks of age. After that, a monthly heartworm preventative with protection against intestinal parasites is ideal, though if not possible, puppies should be wormed monthly until six months of age. Nursing mothers should be dosed as often and at the same time as their puppies. Adult dogs should be treated with a year-round heartworm and intestinal parasite preventative product and be tested for hookworms once or twice a year, as recommended by the "Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians."
Expert Insight
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The American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Companion Animal Parasite Council all recommend regular de-worming treatments for dogs, approximately two to four times a year for adult dogs in good health and not already on a product designed to control heartworms and intestinal parasites.
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