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A hookworm is a parasite that lives and feeds inside its host’s body. The larvae of hookworms are usually picked up by dogs because they tend to eat them unknowingly or the worms are contracted through the paws. Dogs have the habit of digging mud and the hookworm always is found in contaminated soil. They can also be transferred through the mother's milk, and some veterinary doctors believe that they can be transferred through the placenta into the unborn pup. |
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Once the hookworm enters the body, it works its way up into the lungs and from there into the digestive system. It goes down the stomach and reaches the small intestine. There it hooks itself onto the walls of the small intestine. It feeds on the dog’s blood from the walls of the intestine and also grows into an adult. It breeds right there and lays eggs. These eggs pass into the rest of the digestive system and when excreted they develop into larvae. The most number of eggs are laid by a single hookworm and the count can be anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000.
Hookworms in dogs are also known as Ancylostoma caninum and this species is one of the most common types of hookworms to be found in them. It can cause severe anaemia because its main food source is the host’s blood. There are some classic symptoms and signs of hook worm infection in dogs. The dog will show signs like pale mucosa in eyes and the mouth. The dog shows severe lack of energy and the stools will be black or tarry. It can also have diarrhea due to the severe blood loss.
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Parasites :
What Do Hookworms Look Like In Humans ?
 Hookworm is a parasite that attaches itself to the insides of the intestinal wall and then it literally drains the blood from its host, be it an animal or a human. However gruesome this may sound, it is even more shocking to know that it is the most common parasite to infect humans. It is extremely common in the people and causes diarrhea, vomiting, or bloody stools. Sometimes people can also suffer from anemia and die, though rarely. More..
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