If a pregnant dog had hookworms in the past, the pregnancy may reactivate dormant larvae, which then enter the female's bloodstream and infect the puppies in the uterus (prenatal infection). Puppies may also become infected after birth through mother's milk (transmammary) during nursing.
How can canine mothers be prevented from passing hookworms along to their puppies?
Keeping your dog's environment clean and keeping your dog away from cantaminated areas are the best steps for prevention. Dogs and puppies should be examined regularly for hookworms. Your veterinarian can treat them if they are found. Humans can be infected by hookworm from dogs.
Are hookworms common in puppies?
Hookworms are a common intestinal parasite of puppies. Depending on the species, they suck blood or take bites out of the wall of the dog's small intestine, which can result in severe bleeding.
How long does it take to kill hookworms in puppies?
If caught early, it usually takes around 3-5 days for symptoms to resolve following medication, and a few weeks to completely eliminate the worms. In more serious cases, recovery will involve correcting and monitoring the peripheral symptoms that result from the condition, such as anemia and weakness.
How do dogs pass hookworms to other dogs?
These eggs are defecated into the environment. They are not immediately able to infect another dog, but after a few days, these eggs mature and can infect another dog if they are eaten. Hookworm infection causes disease through the worms eating and sucking blood from the dog's intestine.
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