Hookworms

• Roundworms

• Hookworms

• Tapeworms

• Heartworms

Hookworms are common parasites of the small intestine of dogs and cats.

 

How Hookworms are Transmitted

Cats can be infected through the ingestion of hookworms’ larvae from contaminated soil or from larvae actively boring through the cat’s skin.

Unlike puppies, kittens cannot get infected through the mother’s milk.

 

Understanding the Life Cycle of the Hookworm: The Key to Elimination

Adult hookworms live in the small intestine of cats and dogs, where they lay eggs that are shed in the environment through the dog’s feces. Within weeks, larvae hatch from the eggs, ready to infect the cat. After the infection, larvae start migrating, until they reach their final site, the intestine of the cat, where they develop into adult, egg-laying worms. Some larvae do not reach the gut: they remain encysted in various organs until a stimulus such as pregnancy, reactivates them and leads them to restart migrating, reach the gut and develop to adult worms.

 

Disease

Larvae boring through the skin cause a strong, itchy inflammation; migration through the respiratory system may determine inflammation and cough.

Adult worms attach to the intestinal wall with hook-like teeth and feed on blood and tissues, causing malaise, bloody diarrhea and anemia, which is worsened by their strong inclination to migrate on the internal gut surface, leaving bleeding wounds that are particularly dangerous to kittens.

 

Treating Hookworm Infection

Because of continuing infection by infective (3^rd) larvae from the environment, treatment should be started as early as possible and continued frequently to avoid or reduce egg shedding until the kittens are at least 6 months old. Fortnightly to monthly administration is therefore commonly recommended up to 6 months of age, and administration 2 to 4 times a year in older cats. As nursing queens may develop patent infections, they should be treated with their litters. Despite all treatment recommendations, Ancylostoma infection is still widespread, and many older cats shed eggs. Thus tighter control is indicated, particularly as Ancylostoma may cause zoonotic infection in humans.

Many drugs are provided for treatment and prevention. Some of them are also effective against all other common cat worms thus ensuring a complete protection of your pet.

Be sure to give to your pet the one that best satisfy his and your needs, in terms of ease of use, efficacy and safety (especially if young kittens are to be treated).