[1][2] Warm and moist conditions are important to allow survival of A. caninum during the free-living stages of its lifecycle, so it is largely restricted to temperate, tropical, and subtropical regions.

[3][7] In parts of the world where these climatic requirements are met such as Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and Malaysia, A. caninum is the main cause of hookworm disease in canines.

[1] A. caninum bends its head end upward (dorsally), which has been noted to be a potential source of confusion when determining how the hookworm is oriented.

[2][3] Esophageal and anal rings of A. caninum are the source of nerve fibres that extend throughout the body to innervate sensory organs, including amphids and phasmids.

[1][2] A. caninum is, therefore, largely restricted to warm, moist climates, though infections are seen in the United States and southern Canada where the temperature is suboptimal.

[2] Eggs are excreted from the host in the feces and typically hatch within a day on moist, warm soil into larvae with a non-living cuticle layer.

[3] Larvae of this stage have been shown to secrete a molecule (Ac-asp-2) related to venom allergens in response to host-specific signals; this is thought to have a possible role in helping with the infection process.

[9] A third and final moulting occurs, resulting in the mature form of A. caninum, which then feeds on mucosa and blood of the small intestinal wall.

[3] Larvae of an infected foetus move to the liver until birth, when migration continues with movement to the intestine via the circulation and lungs as previously described.

[12] A. caninum larvae cause damage to the host at the point of entry through the skin, leaving a wound vulnerable to secondary infections.

[13][14] These AcAPs are among the most powerful natural anticoagulants that exist and are a key reason for anemia being caused and blood being observed in the faeces of infected hosts.

[16] Signs and symptoms expected to be observed are lethargy, weight loss, weakness, roughness of the hair coat, and pale mucous membranes indicative of anemia.

[2][5] Females are typically checked prior to using them for breeding purposes for nematodes such as A. caninum and birth and suckling can be restricted to sanitised areas to lower the risk of health complications to the pups.

[4] Specifically the age-related resistance means A. caninum takes longer to reach sexual maturity in older animals and fewer larvae fully develop.

[22] Drugs used in treatment of A. caninum infections of dogs include: dichlorvos, fenbendazole, flubendazole, mebendazole, nitroscanate, piperazine, pyrantel, milbemycin, moxidectin, diethylcarbamazine, oxibendazole, and ivermectin.

[23][24] Since then, work has shown A. caninum can easily go unnoticed or fail to be preserved in specimens, making the true incidence of infection in humans likely to be higher than is officially recorded.