Hook Worms – Ancylostoma Caninum / Ancylostoma braziiense
 Although not as common as the previous worms we have discussed, the hookworm is a particularly nasty little critter. Their mouthparts have hooks, which allow them to attach to the intestinal wall of the cat or dog where they suck blood. The active worms often leave the bite site, which will continue to seep blood. The adult hookworm lays eggs that pass from your pets' faeces. The eggs hatch into larvae that are excellent swimmers and can travel in raindrops or dewy vegetation while waiting for a suitable host to come along.

How does my pet get infected?

• larvae burrow through your pet's skin and then migrate via the blood to the trachea and lungs where they are coughed up and swallowed.
• Once in the intestines, they settle down mature, mate, and produce eggs.
• larvae can be eaten in contaminated food or water. Most larvae will pass into your pet’s intestines where they will mature. However, some may migrate through tissue where they can encyst and lie dormant in muscle, fat and other tissue.
• in the female dog and cat, these dormant larval cysts migrate into the mammary tissue thus infecting her nursing young.

What are the symptoms?

Hookworm can cause severe disease in adult dogs and cats as well as puppies and kittens where it can be life-threatening.

• anaemia –pale gums   
• black tarry stool
• vomiting and diarrhoea
• coughing
• emaciation

Are Humans At risk?

Hookworm larvae can burrow into the skin (usually through bare feet) and can cause a disease called ‘cetaceous larva migrants’.

How should I treat my pet?

Visit your Veterinarian if you are concerned about your pet. Hookworms are very small and diagnosis of an infestation is usually done through microscopic examination of the faeces. So you may be asked to take in a stool sample. There are excellent dewormers for the treatment of hookworm. A prolonged course may be required to eradicate the infestation.

When deworming your pet it is advisable to visit your vet clinic or vet shop and purchase a good quality product. Here you will be able to receive informed advice and instructions. Try to avoid buying dewormers from the supermarket or pet shops. Many of these products have been on the market for years and contain outdated active ingredients that can have side effects such as vomiting or diarrhoea. When in doubt ask your Vet..... That is what we are here for.

The four most common types of worms that affect our domestic pets are:

HOOK WORMS	ROUND WORMS

TAPE WORMS	WHIP WORMS