Hook worms

[Boing]

Cincinnati and Daisy each had a routine fecal sample examined, and it was found that they had hook worms!  They got their first treatment tonight.  They were given fenbendazole.  They have to go back for more later.  Is this hard to cure?  I have no experience with this, and find it rather alarming, especially since it would seem that people can get it simply from walking on them!?  Does anyone know anything about this?  I come from a cold climate where such things are rare.

[blubudgie]

My bunny had pinworms once and it was super easy to get rid of after medication..maybe hookworms is similar? I just made sure to wash my hands after handling her or her cage.

[Bam]

If one anti-parasitic doesn’t do the trick, there are several others. Worms can develop resistance to de-wormers, so sometimes the first med you give won’t get rid of the problem. I think Ivermectin can be used, but fenbendazole is first choice.

All herbivores (grass-eaters) that graze outside get worms and need to be de-wormed several times a year. That goes for horses and sheep and cattle as well as rabbits. Worms is not very common in house rabbits that’s never been outside, but the greens they eat come from the outdoors.

Here’s an answer from Dana Krempels (rabbit vet and very trusted expert) to a question about hookworms in bunnies: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Rabbits-703/HOOKWORMS-RABBITS.htm

[Sr. Melangell]

Yes if you get some medicine from the pharmacy, there is something a tablet once and sometimes another a few weeks later, but talk to the pharmacist, I had worms a few years back and the medicine gave me very bad hallucinations, same thing happened when I was 5, but I’m allergic to a lot of medicines, so talk to a Doctor or a Pharmacist first, so they can find the right tablet for you, also the right one for the family because everyone will need treatment too, worm eggs can be picked up under the nail and we don’t know because they are tiny, when you are in the bathroom using paper towels can stop the spread, but your doctor or pharmacist will advise you what to do, worms are usually hand to mouth, there are worms that get in your skin and make you ill, but mainly in poor countries where it is very very hot and the water is not clean and cannot see a doctor, keeping the floor clean is a good way to stop any bugs and fresh bedding, I remember at school there was a lot of people saying they had worms and thought it was from me because I was from a poor family, how wrong they were, even better how surprised they were when they found out that the worms were in the sandpit at the really posh children’s house, I hadn’t got them, I hadn’t been there.

[Boing]

Thanks for your replies! I’ve made an appointment with my doctor and will have the cat checked too. I gather them greens in the summer outside, so it was likely that. The paper towel tip is very helpful.

[Boing]

Well, it has been awhile, but I think that they are finally over the hook worms.  Holly (the cat) and I were both tested and were negative for all parasites.  The bunnies will be checked again in a week, but they shouldn’t have them any more either.  I’m looking forward to a parasite free home again.  

[LittlePuffyTail]

Glad to hear the positive update!

[Author]

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