This inflammation can not only worsen any diarrhea or vomiting present, but it can cause significant abdominal pain. Hookworms latch onto a dog’s intestines with their hook-like mouths, causing damage to the intestines at each spot of contact. Not only can hookworms cause anemia in puppies, but they can cause irritation of the intestinal lining over time.

Anemia is a term used to describe a decrease in circulating red blood cells within the vessels, causing an array of life-threatening complications to follow. Why Are Hookworms Such A Serious Issue In Puppies?Īny type of intestinal parasite can lead to severe GI upset in puppies, but the presence of hookworms is especially concerning for two reasons.įirst, a hookworm infection in puppies can lead to significant anemia in the puppy affected. Just one hookworm can take in a large amount of blood and cause inflammation to the intestinal tissue, so you can imagine how serious a parasitic infection can be. Not only do they make themselves at home within the intestines, but they ingest blood from the surrounding vessels. Unlike other intestinal parasites, hookworms have a hook-like mouth that allows them to latch onto a dog’s intestinal lining. Canine hookworms ( Ancylostoma caninum) are an intestinal parasite that wreak more havoc than the average parasite.

Hook worms