Canine hookworms are intestinal parasites which tend to be more prevalent in areas of high temperature and humidity. The worst infestations tend to be limited to puppies up to two months of age. So the health of the mother is paramount in preventing this in her puppies. By adopting a system of natural dogs health, you can prevent such infestations.
Canine hookworms suck blood and nutritious tissue fluid from the host. This can lead to various levels of malnutrition and blood loss, and so dehydration. Although older dogs can be affected, it is not usually as serious as in puppies, who can die from this.
The symptoms of canine hookworm are tarry or bloody stool, anaemia (indicated by pale mucous membranes), weight loss and weakness. These symptoms may not appear for some time after infestation.
Diagnosis of the presence of the worms is through the eggs found in a faecal sample. However, it can take a couple or more weeks after infection, for the eggs to appear.
The most common treatment for canine hookworms is with an anti-parasitic medication. Although this certainly kills off the hookworms, the drugs are also damaging to your dog. They are liver toxic and lower the immune system. They upset the gut flora of your dog, making digestion less effective and perhaps even troublesome.
The alternative to canine hookworm medication is to adopt a system of natural dogs health care which raises your dog’s immune system so these parasites can never gain entry. This has at least a two pronged process. The first, and most important, measure to take is to feed your dog a quality, natural diet. This, by virtue of its daily consumption, will have the biggest impact on your dog’s health.
Commercial dog food, regardless of the price tag, tends to be of poor quality ingredients (the best goes to the more lucrative human market). It is also packed to the gills with various chemical flavourings, colourants, texture mondifiers, synthetic nutrients to try to make up for the shortfall, appetite stimulants and those that allow for a long shelf life. None of these allow the promotion of a healthy immune system.
The second alternative measure is to adopt a system of natural therapies, such as homeopathy. Homeopathy works by stimulating the immune system, rather than suppressing it as do veterinary medications.
