Hookworms have either teeth-like structures or cutting plates with which they attach themselves to the wall of the intestine and feed on the animal s blood.
Hookworms can cause a skin disease in humans called cutaneous larval migrans.
The common names of the hookworms and animals they infect are shown below. The adult worms live in the small intestine where they attach themselves and feed on the host s blood. The adults lay eggs that pass out in the feces. In 1-3 weeks the eggs have hatched and the larvae are released. These larvae are excellent swimmers that travel through raindrops or dew on leaves and vegetation and wait for a dog or cat to come along.