Hookworms are tiny parasites that attach to a dog's intestines and infect his body. A hookworm infection can happen to just about any dog, but puppies are more likely to get them. Dogs get hookworms from other animals that have hookworm infections. If one dog in a kennel has a hookworm infection, hookworm eggs can spread to the other dogs easily. If you think that your dog has hookworms, follow the steps below to have him diagnosed for treatment.
Instructions
Recognize the symptoms of a hookworm infection in your dog. Your dog may seem depressed or lethargic. He may have diarrhea or vomiting fits. Some dogs may even cough incessantly because the hookworms have traveled to the dog's lungs.
Take your dog to the vet. The vet will look at the medical history of your dog, if available. Hookworms are transmitted through exposure from infected sources. Your vet will ask you if it is possible that your dog has had any contact with sick dogs. He will also complete a general exam to make sure that there are not any symptoms of another condition. A general exam includes taking the temperature and giving him a reflex test. The vet will also thoroughly physically examine your dog, including his face, fur and genitals.
Collect a stool sample from your dog. If your vet cannot detect another reason for the symptoms or see any obvious problems from the exam, the next step is a fecal flotation test. He will ask that you take the dog home and wait for him to make a fresh stool sample. You will collect the stool sample and take it the vet's office. Then the vet will have the stool sample tested for hookworm eggs. Even though a female hookworm can lay up to 20,000 eggs a day, you vet may need more than one stool sample to definitely diagnose your dog depending on the situation.