Usually the larvae will die in several weeks and the condition will disappear. In severe cases the larvae may make their way through the skin and enter deeper tissues. This may cause lung disease and painful muscles. There have been some reports of humans having intestinal infections with canine hookworms. Generally, these infected people do not show clinical signs of disease.
Diagnosis is made by finding the eggs in the feces.
In very young animals, severe disease may be present before the adult worms have started to lay eggs. Diagnosis must then be made by evaluating the signs of disease. The eggs of different parasites of horses and deer can easily be confused with hookworm eggs. Sometimes it s necessary to confine the dog away from any tempting manure or droppings for 24 hours and then repeat the fecal exam. If the eggs are still there, they re most likely hookworm eggs.