Updated: Aug 13
Even the most pampered dogs can pick up hookworms. These common parasites are surprisingly easy to catch, but with prompt treatment and the right preventive care, most dogs recover well.
Key points
Hookworms are intestinal parasites that feed on your dog's blood and can cause anemia, dark tarry stool, weakness, and weight loss, which is especially dangerous in puppies.
Dogs can get hookworms by swallowing hookworm larvae from areas where infected dogs have pooped, through the skin on their paws or belly after contact with contaminated ground, or from their mother while nursing.
Treatment involves deworming medication given in multiple rounds, since the drugs kill adult worms but not larvae.
Hookworms can spread to humans through contaminated soil, so prompt cleanup and good hygiene protect your whole family.
What are hookworms in dogs?
Hookworms are small intestinal parasites that attach to the lining of a dog’s digestive tract and feed on blood. The blood loss they cause can lead to anemia, weakness, weight loss, and other health problems, especially in puppies or dogs with weakened immune systems.
They're one of the most common parasites in dogs, especially in warm, humid climates.
Types of hookworms in dogs
Several hookworm species affect dogs in the United States:
Ancylostoma caninum – the most common species of hookworms in dogs and the one most likely to cause serious anemia, especially in puppies.
Ancylostoma braziliense – another species that infects dogs, and the most common cause of the itchy skin infection (cutaneous larva migrans) hookworms can pass to people.
Uncinaria stenocephala – generally causes milder infections in dogs than Ancylostoma species.
Your vet can identify the specific type through fecal testing, though treatment is generally the same for all species.
Symptoms of hookworms in dogs
The first signs of hookworms often relate to blood loss and digestive upset. Some dogs may show no symptoms at all, but puppies and dogs with heavy worm burdens can get very sick, very fast.
Watch for these symptoms of hookworms in dogs:
Pale gums
Unexplained weight loss
Weakness or lethargy
Poor appetite
Dull, dry coat
Itchy paws or skin irritation (from larvae burrowing)
Coughing (if larvae migrate through the lungs)
Stunted growth in puppies
If your puppy has pale gums, bloody stool, or seems unusually weak, call your vet right away. Severe anemia from hookworms can be life-threatening in young dogs.
Symptoms at a glance
What it looks like | Urgency
| |
Pale gums | Gums appear white or very light pink instead of healthy pink | Urgent – call vet immediately |
Tarry/bloody stool | Black, sticky feces or visible blood in stool | Urgent – call vet same day |
Weakness/lethargy | Unusually tired, reluctant to move or play | See vet within 24-48 hours |
Weight loss | Losing weight despite normal eating | Schedule vet visit soon |
Itchy paws | Excessive licking or chewing at feet | Schedule vet visit soon |
How do dogs get hookworms?
Hookworms have multiple ways to infect your dog, but understanding how dogs get worms can help you reduce exposure.
By swallowing hookworm larvae
Dogs can swallow hookworm larvae when they:
Lick or eat dirt or grass where an infected dog has pooped
Groom contaminated paws
Drink contaminated water
Eat infected prey, such as rodents or birds
Eat feces from an infected animal
Through the skin
Hookworm larvae can enter your dog’s body by burrowing through the skin, usually on the paws or belly after your dog walks or lies on contaminated soil.
From their mother
Puppies can become infected by nursing from an infected mother. This is one of the most common ways young puppies get hookworms.
How vets diagnose hookworms in dogs
Your vet will typically diagnose hookworms using a fecal flotation test. This involves mixing a stool sample with a solution that causes parasite eggs to float to the surface for microscope identification. Some clinics also use fecal centrifugation or fecal antigen tests.
Important for puppy parents: Puppies can become seriously ill before fecal tests show positive, since it takes 2-3 weeks for larvae to mature into egg-producing adults. If your puppy has symptoms but a negative test, your vet may still recommend treatment.
Treatment for hookworms in dogs
Hookworm treatment involves anthelmintic (deworming) medications that kill adult parasites.
Medication | Commonly used for | What pet parents should know |
Pyrantel pamoate | Puppies and uncomplicated hookworm infections | Kills adult hookworms but doesn’t kill migrating larvae, so additional doses are usually needed. |
Fenbendazole | Hookworms plus other intestinal parasites | Often chosen when a dog may have more than one type of intestinal worm. |
Monthly parasite preventives | Preventing future hookworm infections | Many heartworm preventives also protect against hookworms, helping stop infections before they start. |
Your vet will typically prescribe at least two rounds of treatment, spaced 2-3 weeks apart. Deworming medications kill adult worms but don't affect migrating larvae, so the second dose catches any that have matured.
When puppies need extra care
Puppies with severe infections may need more than deworming medication. Heavy blood loss can cause anemia requiring supportive care, including:
Blood transfusions for severe anemia
IV fluids to maintain hydration
Hospitalization for monitoring in critical cases
With prompt treatment, even severely affected puppies can make a full recovery.
How to prevent hookworms in dogs
Your dog should feel better within days of starting treatment, but recovery doesn't end with the last dose.
Prevent reinfection after treatment
Once your dog has been treated, these steps can help prevent another infection:
Pick up feces promptly. Wear gloves and dispose of waste daily.
Clean contaminated areas. Hookworm larvae can survive in soil for weeks to months.
Follow up with your veterinarian. A fecal test 2 to 4 weeks after treatment helps confirm the infection has cleared.
Continue preventive medication. Year-round parasite prevention helps protect against new infections.
Help prevent future hookworm infections
Even if your dog has never had hookworms, these preventive measures can reduce their risk:
Schedule routine fecal testing. An adult dog should have routine fecal testing twice a year and up to four times a year for puppies and newly adopted dogs.
Follow your puppy’s deworming schedule. Cornell’s Riney Canine Health Center recommends starting deworming at 2 weeks of age and repeating it every 2 weeks until about 8 weeks old.
Use year-round parasite prevention. Many monthly heartworm preventives also protect against hookworms and other intestinal parasites.
Clean up after your dog. Pick up feces from your yard daily to help reduce environmental contamination.
Avoid high-risk exposure. Keep your dog away from areas with poor sanitation and don’t let them drink from standing water.
Keep your yard dry and well maintained. Hookworm larvae thrive in warm, moist environments, so trimming grass and reducing damp areas may help lower the risk of exposure.
Are hookworms in dogs contagious to humans?
Yes. Hookworms are zoonotic, meaning they can spread from animals to people. However, the infection looks different in humans than in dogs.
When hookworm larvae from contaminated soil penetrate human skin (usually bare feet or hands), they cause cutaneous larva migrans, sometimes called "ground itch." The larvae create raised, itchy, red tracks on the skin. According to the CDC, this typically resolves on its own but can be treated with antiparasitic medication.
To protect your family:
Wear shoes outdoors, especially in areas where dogs defecate
Cover sandboxes when not in use
Wash hands thoroughly after gardening or handling soil
Don't let children play in potentially contaminated dirt
Clean up after your dog immediately
A note on drug-resistant hookworms
Researchers have increasingly documented drug-resistant hookworms spreading across dog breeds in North America since at least 2023. These resistant strains, primarily Ancylostoma caninum, don't always respond to standard deworming protocols.
This is a relatively new concern for veterinarians. Drug-resistant hookworms were once thought to be largely limited to retired racing Greyhounds, but recent research shows they’ve spread into the general pet dog population across North America.
A 2025 review concluded that certain hookworms have now developed resistance to every major class of deworming medication approved for dogs in North America, making it one of the most significant emerging parasite threats in companion animals.
Most hookworm infections still respond well to treatment. However, this growing resistance makes follow-up fecal testing more important than ever.
If hookworm eggs are still present after treatment, your veterinarian may recommend a different medication, combination therapy, or additional testing to make sure the infection has been completely cleared.
Hookworms in dogs FAQs
What are the first signs of hookworms in dogs?
Early signs include dark, tarry stool, pale gums, weight loss, and lethargy. Puppies may also have a poor coat or stunted growth.
How long does it take to get rid of hookworms?
Treatment typically takes 2-4 weeks, with at least two rounds of deworming medication.
Do I need to clean my house if my dog has hookworms?
Not usually. Hookworms spread through infected feces and contaminated soil, not indoor surfaces. Instead, focus on picking up your dog’s feces promptly, keeping your yard clean, and following your veterinarian’s treatment plan to prevent reinfection.
Can humans get hookworms from dogs?
Yes. Larvae in contaminated soil can penetrate human skin and cause cutaneous larva migrans. Good hygiene and prompt cleanup protect your family.
Can you see hookworms in dog poop?
No, not usually. Adult hookworms are small and stay attached to the intestinal wall. You're more likely to notice dark, bloody stool.
How often should dogs be tested for hookworms?
Typically once to twice a year for adults and more frequently for puppies and high-risk dogs.
Keeping hookworms away from your dog
Hookworms can happen to any dog, regardless of how well they’re cared for. Knowing the signs, staying current on preventive care, and working closely with your veterinarian can help your pup recover quickly and reduce the risk of future infections. As veterinarians continue to monitor emerging drug-resistant hookworms, routine follow-up and preventive care are becoming more important than ever.
