Hookworms: Are They Deadly?

She was more shepherd than mix. Her perky ears were pointed, and her intelligence reminded me of a police dog through and through.

Her small body wiggled and shook as my mom and I passed the humane society cage. Her gaze was fixated on us, and it was easy to decide who she belonged with—us.

We signed the papers, got a new leash and drove her home. We named her Tanya, and for a street-found pup, she was affectionate, quick with new things, and obedient. For a thin three month old, she was more adorable than you can imagine.

One of Tanya’s first trips was to the vet. We wanted to make sure she was healthy, and her exam went well. She handled it like a trooper with face licks and a friendly wiggle. The vet told us she had a few worms, and handed us some medication to exterminate them. We went home and gave her the pill.

Tanya ate it with no complaints. For days, I checked each dark stool for signs of deceased parasites and was happy when I saw the pill working.

Our pup ate well; bounded around like the youngster she was and bonded with us quickly. Even my dad took to her, and one night I found her nestled in his lap, her exhausted frame slumped across his knees. It was a special moment for me, for as a child, even though dad never stopped me from having pets, he rarely showed favoritism. This pup was making her mark.

Our days went along with ease. I started teaching Tanya commands like sit and lie down. She seemed to get the concept quickly and by the third or fourth time showing her, she would do it without error. I was amazed and so proud.

A few weeks later we went back for Tanya’s follow-up vet visit. We took a stool sample and the results were not positive. She had hookworms, and a lot of them. Stunned by this news, we stared at the vet in bewilderment. He told us she had a pretty bad case, and that her treatment had to become more aggressive. He gave us more medicine and explained that hookworms live in the small intestines. The parasites have teeth-like apparatuses that attach to the walls of the intestine where they feed on blood. They damage the lining of the body cavity to which they are adhered, and cause anemia and loss of protein in the gut.

The news was disturbing. We brought Tanya home and within a day she stopped eating. We changed her diet to ground beef and rice. I handfed her, encouraging her with everything I had inside, hope, persistence and love. She began to eat little bits at a time. I was overjoyed with each bite she took. Eventually she ate from a dish again, still the ground beef and rice, but it was a meal. Her energy came back and she started playing again.

One sunny morning, a week later, I took Tanya for her bathroom break. She plopped in the yard and wouldn’t respond to my command. I called her repeatedly, and although she was looking at me, she was not moving. I was late for work, so I ran into the yard, scooped her up and carried her inside.

My mom called me a short time later. Tanya had collapsed and was unresponsive. The worms had eaten through her gut and she was in a coma. Tanya died that afternoon.

Hookworms can be easily controlled if caught early. If your pet is showing any of the symptoms below, it may indicate a hookworm infestation.

1. Diarrhea, can be bloody

2. Vomiting

3. Dark stools, may look like tar

4. Weakness

5. Pale gums

6. Poor growth in youngsters

7. No appetite or deceased appetite

8. General pallor

See your vet immediately if you suspect worms. There is no time like the present to rid your pet of these pesky destructive pests.