Resistant Hookworm Infection in Dogs

Resistant Hookworm Infection in Dogs

               Hookworms are common parasites in the intestinal tract of dogs and cats. Hookworms attach to the lining of the small intestine and feed on blood.  When they reproduce, eggs pass in the stool into the environment where pets can become reinfected when they ingest eggs or larvae in the soil or when larvae penetrate the skin.  Hookworms can cause diarrhea and anemia.  Young puppies and kittens may be severely affected if they have a large number of hookworms. In rare cases, very young animals may die due to blood loss. 

Humans can also be infected with hookworms.  The hookworm larvae can enter through the skin causing a rash and some species will also colonize our intestines. Common modes of transmission include walking barefoot on beaches or soil where pets have defecated or gardening/working in infected soil.  Keeping yards clean of dog feces can help prevent reinfection of pets and avoid walking barefoot in potentially contaminated areas.

               Common hookworms can be treated with various parasiticides (deworming medications) and infections can be prevented by using monthly heartworm products such as Heartgard, Sentinel and others.  However, some species of hookworms have become resistant to commonly used medications and have become very difficult to eradicate.

               Many racing greyhounds have been found to have resistant species of the canine hookworm, Ancylostoma caninum.  This has primarily occurred due to frequent use of common dewormers at greyhound kennels and racetracks.  Over time, the hookworms became resistant to the medications and are now more difficult to kill.  Due to greyhound adoptions, greyhounds infected with resistant hooks are common and these resistant hookworms are likely spreading to other breeds of dogs.  There are treatment plans available for resistant hookworm infections, but they are lengthy and involve drugs not necessarily approved for treating hookworm infection in dogs.  In addition, if you have a dog with resistant hookworms, environmental control and frequent fecal testing is extremely important for keeping infection and transmission under control.

               Hookworms are common intestinal parasites and most infections are mild though young animals may experience severe symptoms and in rare cases, death. The emergence of resistant hookworm species that are difficult to kill poses a threat not only to greyhounds but potentially to all dogs.  Do your part to prevent infection of the environment by cleaning up your dog’s waste, using routine preventatives and having routine fecal samples checked at least once or twice a year by your veterinarian.  Remember, people can be infected with hookworms, too.  If hookworms become more difficult to eradicate, this may limit treatment for people who become infected.  Ask your vet for more information on how to keep your pets parasite-free.

               This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.

https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/2019/06/articles/animals/dogs/resistant-hookworms-an-emerging-problem/

https://www.petsandparasites.org/dog-owners/hookworms/