Hookworms in Dogs: Symptoms and Deworming

Hookworms are intestinal parasites named for their hook-like mouthparts, which anchor them to the gut wall. Only about an eighth of an inch long, they are hard to see, yet they drink large amounts of blood from tiny vessels and can inflame the gut, cause anemia, and threaten life, especially in puppies. Dogs catch them by mouth, through the skin, or from mother to pup via placenta and milk. Signs include pale gums, weakness, weight loss, and bloody diarrhea. Diagnosis is a fecal float, and treatment is regular deworming plus a repeat dose to kill newly matured worms.