Veterinary IV CFE Practice Test

Hookworms are blood-sucking nematodes that attach to the lining of the small intestine and feed on the host’s blood. In young animals, iron stores are limited and growth is rapid, so ongoing blood loss from the hooked mucosa leads to iron-deficiency anemia quickly. This makes pale gums, weakness, poor growth, and sometimes dark, tarry stools classic signs. The parasites transmit by larvae that penetrate skin or are ingested, and infected mothers can pass larvae to nursing pups, maintaining infection across litters. While other parasites can cause GI upset or malnutrition, hookworms are the ones most characteristically associated with anemia from blood loss.