Frequently asked questions

Animals pick up hookworm larvae from contaminated soil — by swallowing them, by larvae penetrating the skin of the paws or belly, or, in the case of puppies and kittens, through their mother's milk. Warm, moist, shaded ground is the perfect environment for larvae to survive.

Some animal hookworm larvae can burrow into human skin and cause an itchy, winding rash called cutaneous larva migrans. It is preventable with basic hygiene: wash hands, wear shoes outdoors, and clean up pet waste promptly. If you think you've been exposed, see a physician — and never use animal medication on yourself.

Broad-spectrum dewormers such as fenbendazole, pyrantel pamoate, milbemycin oxime, or moxidectin clear hookworms. A repeat dose two to four weeks after the first catches larvae that matured in the meantime. Your veterinarian will recommend the right product and dose for your animal's species, age and weight.

No. Piperazine treats roundworms but is not effective against hookworms. If you're choosing a dewormer for hookworms, look for fenbendazole, pyrantel, milbemycin or moxidectin on the label, and check with your vet.

Adult worms begin dying within days of the first dose, but full clearance usually takes a course of treatment plus a repeat dose a few weeks later. Cleaning the environment at the same time is essential, otherwise the animal simply re-infects itself.

A veterinarian runs a fecal flotation test to find hookworm eggs under the microscope, often with bloodwork to assess anemia. Because eggs aren't shed constantly, a single negative result doesn't always rule infection out, so the test may be repeated.

They can be. In healthy adult animals a light infection may cause few signs, but in puppies, kittens and young stock the blood loss can cause severe anemia and can be fatal. Prompt diagnosis and treatment make the outlook very good.

Yes. Keep young animals on an early, frequent deworming schedule, put adults on a year-round preventive (many monthly heartworm products also control hookworms), pick up waste daily, and run routine fecal tests to catch problems early.