Symptoms of Dog Hookworm Disease

When a dog is infected with hookworms, if the condition is mild, there may be no obvious clinical symptoms, only manifesting as weight loss, mild anemia, pica, and digestive dysfunction. However, if the condition becomes severe, the dog will exhibit symptoms such as pale mucous membranes, rough and dull fur, reduced appetite, vomiting, weight loss, and arching back. In terms of defecation, the dog may have alternating diarrhea and constipation, with dark or bloody stools. Skin-wise, the dog may develop dermatitis, itching, swelling of the limbs, and ulceration around the mouth.

Mild Infection

When a dog is mildly infected with hookworms, it usually only shows symptoms such as weight loss, mild anemia, pica, and digestive dysfunction, which are not particularly obvious clinical manifestations, making it difficult for owners to detect.

Severe Infection

However, when a dog is severely infected with hookworms, it will exhibit typical symptoms such as pale mucous membranes, rough and dull fur, reduced appetite, vomiting, weight loss, and arching back. In addition, the more obvious manifestations in defecation are alternating diarrhea and constipation, with bloody or dark stools, foul smell, and even tar-like appearance in severe cases. Lastly, when the larvae of hookworms invade the skin, they can cause dermatitis, itching, swelling of the limbs, and ulceration around the mouth.

Precautions

Hookworm disease is preventable. Dog owners should give their pets regular deworming treatments. If a dog has already been infected, owners should avoid direct contact with the dog's feces, perform emergency deworming promptly, and disinfect the environment.