Insights on canine hookworm resistance

In this interview with dvm360 at the 2025 American Veterinary Medical Association Convention in Washington, DC, Jeba Jesudoss Chelladurai, PhD, BVSc, MS, DACVM (Parasitology; Immunology), a professor at the University of Auburn, shared her perspective on canine hookworm resistance in companion animals, including which parasites are showing to be the most concern and what veterinarians should do if they have a canine suspected of having hookworm resistance.

Below is a partial transcript, edited lightly for clarity.

Jeba Jesudoss Chelladurai, PhD, BVSc, MS, DACVM (Parasitology; Immunology): Veterinarians should approach every case on a case by case basis. As far as anthelmintic resistance is concerned, especially with hookworms, we feel…there are hookworm populations that are still susceptible, and without knowing if you have a susceptible or resistant population, it is hard to just give blanket advice.

So veterinarians should spend some time doing some diagnostics, confirming that they have resistant parasites before they go on to try to treat them with anything extra label. Veterinarians should try to use [on-label] drugs for these hookworms; very specifically, we have some combinations that can be used of just FDA-approved drugs at label doses. So by doing that, you are staying well within what the FDA wants you to be doing, instead of going extra label with unknown drugs.