When a dog is infected with hookworms, it is not always obvious to a veterinarian or pet owner that this is the cause of the displayed symptoms. Since the symptoms of a hookworm infection are relatively general, they may also be indicative of other unrelated medical condition. In addition to this, many other parasitic infections may cause similar symptoms to those of a hookworm infection.
To obtain a positive diagnosis for a hookworm infection, a veterinarian will have to perform several different diagnostic procedures in order to ascertain if a dog is infested with hookworms.
This is an integral part of every veterinary appointment, but it is still very important for helping a veterinarian to discern the nature of a dog's health problem. This general examination usually includes a temperature reading, facial-area inspection (eyes, ears, nose, mouth), reflex test, examination of the fur, paws, genitals and any other area that a veterinarian wishes to examine. This may seem like a general procedure, but it may help a veterinarian to better understand the general impact of a medical condition on a dog's overall health.
In the instance of a hookworm infection, the patient history becomes extremely important. A veterinarian will attempt to obtain information about a dog's habits, experiences, frequently visited areas, behavioral changes, and other related topics. Since hookworms are primarily transmitted by exposure, it is very important to tell your veterinarian if your dog has recently been in contact with other animals that may have been infected with hookworms. It is very important to be honest, since your veterinarian will be using this information to help them obtain a positive diagnosis.
If a veterinarian suspects that your dog has been infected with hookworms, a fecal flotation test will most likely be performed. This test is very important for helping a veterinarian to identify any hookworm eggs that may be present in your dog's feces. It's essential to obtain a fresh stool sample for this test, as this will provide more definitive results. A female hookworm may lay around 20,000 eggs in a single day, so the fecal flotation test will usually produce positive results if a dog has been infected.
However, in dogs with advanced hookworm infections, female hookworms may not be producing as many eggs in order to maintain the current population. In this case, more than one fecal flotation test may need to be performed.
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