Hookworms attach themselves to a dog's intestinal walls and survive on the dog's blood. The worms are considered one of the most common internal parasites in dogs. There are three types of hookworms: Ancylostoma caninum, Ancylostoma braziliense and Uncinaria stenocephala.
Instructions
Look for signs of anemia, such as pale gums, weakness and tar-like stool. Anemia is one of the signs specific to hookworms (the only other internal parasite that has anemia as a symptom is whipworms), as opposed to signs of other parasites.
Pay attention to your dog's outward appearance; look for signs of poor health, such as a dull coat and weight loss. Puppies often stop growing.
Watch for vomiting and diarrhea. Though these symptoms alone are seen in several infections that affect dogs, the symptoms combined with those above can indicate hookworm infection.
Listen for coughing. This can mean the hookworm infection has become especially severe and that the hookworms have entered the dog's lungs.
Have your veterinarian perform a fecal exam to look for hookworms.