In many areas of North America, April is the time of the year when veterinarians begin to check dogs and cats for exposure to heartworm organisms that may have occurred during the previous mosquito season and to get pets on their seasonal heartworm prevention medication. Most veterinarians will recommend giving a daily or monthly pill to prevent heartworms, but in actuality you’re not preventing them; you are administering the cure on a regular basis. This cure for heartworm is toxic. It contains a chemical insecticide. The chemicals are capable of causing disease. The dosage is much smaller than the actual treatment, but when it’s administered month after month, the toxic side-effects become a serious health risk.
Side effects listed for heartworm preventative drugs are: vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, and weakness. These pills weaken your pet’s immune system which recognizes the chemicals as poison. The body works hard to eliminate the toxins and major organs, like the liver and kidneys, are taxed. For this reason, the pet’s body is not able to handle contact with the normal bacterial or viral substances in our world, so it gets sick more easily.
Part of the veterinary industry has acknowledged these dangers. These “alternative vets” are open to natural, safe and effective alternatives. Many of these vets believe that the long-term use of heartworm prevention drugs are a link in the chain of diseases such as arthritis, liver and kidney diseases, skin allergies, and many types of degenerative problems.
What is Heartworm?
Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) is a parasitic worm which infects mostly dogs. However, more vets are realising that cats may also be infected with heartworm. Although all internal parasites can be harmful to the health of your pet, heartworm infestation is serious and can be fatal unless treated in time.
What causes Heartworm?
Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes. Not all mosquitoes carry heartworm, but when an infected mosquito bites your pet, it can transfer larvae to the animal’s tissues. These larvae then migrate through the body, until they reach the animal’s heart and lungs. There the adult worms will grow. They can grow to 7″ - 11″ long and cause a great deal of damage to the heart and lungs. If untreated, the animal could die.
How do I know whether my pet has Heartworm?
Heartworm can be diagnosed by means of a simple blood test. In areas where heartworm is common, we recommend that your pets be regularly tested for heartworm in order to prevent problems before the animal is too ill. Symptoms of heartworm disease include coughing, weight loss, lack of energy and breathing difficulties. However, during the early stages of infestation, there may be few, if any, symptoms.
How is Heartworm treated?
Conventional veterinarian treatment includes preventative medication as well as treatment aimed at eradicating the adult worms from the heart and lungs if the infestation reaches an advanced stage.
While conventional prevention and treatment of heartworm is very effective, it is increasingly being acknowledged in the veterinarian profession that there are a number of health risks associated with this form of treatment. Preventative medication used for heartworm is not really preventing the infestation - it is a way of killing off the larvae circulating in your pet’s body during the early stages - before they get to adult stage and cause damage. The chemicals used in these drugs are pesticides. Although they are used preventatively in small amounts, because they are administered regularly month after month, the damage to the animal’s system is cumulative. Some side effects listed for heartworm preventative drugs are weakness, vomiting, convulsions and diarrhea. More importantly, regular use can weaken your pet’s immune system and place strain on kidneys and liver. This can result in greater susceptibility to infection and other diseases. Many holistic vets are of the opinion that long-term use of heartworm prevention drugs is one of the factors in the development of diseases like skin allergies, arthritis, liver and kidney diseases and even some forms of cancer. So while conventional ‘preventative’ treatment against heartworm may help to keep your pet heartworm free, it can also cause other problems, some of which are potentially just as serious as heartworm disease.
When an animal has an advanced stage of heartworm disease, a much stronger dose of the medication is administered in order to kill off the adult worms which have lodged in the heart and lungs and which are posing a grave risk to the animal. The treatment carries great risk as the dead heartworms may be dislodged from the heart and lungs and obstruct blood vessels, which can lead to immediate death. For this reason, conventional heartworm treatment must be closely monitored and the animal must remain quiet and confined 3-4 weeks. In some cases, surgery may be used to remove the adult worms.
Whether or not to prevent and treat heartworm according to conventional veterinarian methods or to follow a natural treatment program is a decision that you should only make in conjunction with your vet. There are many holistic and homeopathic vets who will very successfully treat heartworm and many other medial conditions without making use of synthetic drugs. There are also many integrative vets who are conventionally trained but who are increasingly making use of herbal, homeopathic and other natural treatment programs in the interests of promoting the health of their patients and not only curing conditions in the short term. Heartworm disease is a serious condition and should not be taken lightly. However, it is important to know that there are options and alternatives to conventional treatment. As always, risks need to be weighed up against benefits before informed choices are made.
Alternative treatment and prevention of heartworm
Preventing and treating heartworm using alternative medicine and natural means is not as simple as swallowing a pill - whether or not this is a herbal or a synthetic pill. In order to protect your pet properly, there are a few steps that you need to take. However, these measures will also benefit your pet in many different ways and protect against a wide variety of illnesses. The following steps may be used under veterinary supervision as an alternative to conventional treatment and prevention of heartworm or may be used together with the conventional treatment for further protection.
1. A healthy diet is the best medicine!
Holistic vets agree that processed commercial pet foods are one of the factors undermining pet health. A diet consisting mostly of raw food and fresh water is one of the best things you can give your pet to protect him against all sorts of infection, including heartworm. Dogs will thrive on raw meat, raw bones and chopped raw vegetables. Many dogs will also eat fruit willingly (especially if they see you eating it too!). Cats are largely carnivorous so need a diet of mainly raw meat. Include soft raw bones like chicken neck and add chicken giblets whenever possible. A little bone meal can be added to the food as well as small amounts of grated or chopped vegetables. For cats and dogs, avoid milk and food containing sugar, as well as artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. We recommend Life’s Abundance.
2. A healthy immune system will protect animals against parasites like heartworm
An animal with a healthy immune system will be less likely to become infected with internal parasites, including heartworm. Mosquitoes are less likely to bite healthy animals. In addition, the healthy animal’s own defense system is able to kill off the larvae of any heartworm that may enter the bloodstream, thus preventing them from reaching maturity and causing harm. Factors that will weaken your pet’s immune system include frequent vaccination, commercial pet foods, incorrect diet, stress and even conventional heartworm and other synthetic medication. Discuss this with your vet before making changes in any of these areas.
A healthy liver is one of the foundations of a healthy body and helps to prevent the animal against illness and remove waste and toxins from the system. The liver performs many important metabolic functions and also stores glucose, vitamins and minerals. Regular use of Immunity and Liver Support will help to ensure healthy liver and strong immune system function for both dogs and cats, protecting against heartworm and a host of other diseases.
3. Protect and strengthen the heart and circulation system
The adult heartworm lodges in the heart of the animal and a healthy heart and circulatory system is another measure that you can take to protect your pet. Healthy circulation ensures that red blood cells carry sufficient supplies of oxygen throughout the body to provide vitality, while white blood cells are able to fight infection. Diet and exercise play an important role in maintaining a healthy heart and circulatory system. Regular use of Heart and Circulation Tonic will also benefit your pet in the fight against heartworm and many other problems.
4. Regular de-worming in areas with high risk of heartworm infestation
If you live in a high risk area for heartworm, it is advisable to take precautions and to have your pet regularly checked - prevention is better than cure. By speaking to a vet who practices integrative medicine or a holistic or homeopathic vet, you can tailor-make a prevention plan for your pet.
Regular use of PetAlive Parasite Dr can help to prevent infestation by heartworms and also improve the health of your animal. Because the herbs in Parasite Dr contain bitter principles, this has the added benefit of making the animal less attractive to pests like mosquitoes, ticks and fleas, thereby reducing the risk of being bitten by a heartworm infested mosquito. The ingredients in Parasite Dr also have natural anti-parasitic properties and can help to kill and expel the worms from the body. Parasite Dr can be used regularly in order to prevent heartworm and other parasite infection and kill any larvae existing in the blood. Under veterinarian supervision, it may also be used as part of a treatment program for the treatment of advanced heartworm disease. Always consult your vet if your animal appears unwell and do not attempt home treatment of an unwell animal with suspected heartworm disease.
Regular use of Parasite Dr will help to:
* Expel and protect against internal
parasites like heartworm, roundworm and tape worm
* Restore digestive health after parasitic infection
* Calm and soothe the digestive system
* Reduce parasite-related problems like restlessness and malnutrition
* Cleanse and detox the digestive system and improve digestive functioning
* Reduce the symptoms of flatulence, nausea and bloating
* Protect against bacterial infection
* Reduce yeast overgrowth in the digestive tract
* Act as a tonic for the entire digestive system
5. Lastly, let's just keep mosquitoes away to begin with
Now doesn't this make sense? If we could just keep them away from our pets to begin with, then we'd probably have a much better chance at preventing heartworms in the first place! Daily use of Flea Free, an all natural alternative to chemicals, during flea and tick season works to keep all pesky bugs away from our pets, including mosquitoes! Flea Free can also be taken internally by us humans for the same protection and health benefits! Yes, it is that safe and effective! We do recommend, in addition to using Flea Free daily, a natural heart preventative (see below), as well as yearly heartworm testing done by your vet!
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We also recommend the
NSP Natural
Heartworm Prevention Program,
which consists of
three products:
Artemisia
Combination -
This is used like a monthly de-wormer.
HSII - This is used to keep the heart strong. It can be given every
few days or at least once a week.
Black Walnut - This is a great nutrition booster helping metabolism
and keeping the animal less desireable by parasites [fleas, ticks, and
mosquitoes].
|
Artemisia Combo
Ingredients: |
Black
Walnut
Ingredients:
|
HSII
Ingredients: |
Heartworm prevention requires a multi-faceted approach which includes not exposing your dog to mosquitoes as much as possible. I've been successful with a preventative program, but would not recommend this for dogs who are kept outside because they have increased exposure and are thus at higher risk.
I do not recommend people go off their heartworm medications unless they agree to do so with their vet. There are plenty of alternative or holistic veterinarians for you to consult with.
Prevention
Program
Guideline for weight:
*Under 5 lbs
- 1/4 capsule Artemisia, 1/8 ml of Black Walnut Liquid Extract (2 to 5
drops) and ½ capsule HSII
*10-25 lbs - 2 capsules Artemisia, 1/4 ml Black Walnut Liquid Extract
(5 to 7 drops) and 1 capsule HSII
*25-50 lbs - 2-3 capsules Artemisia, 1/2 ml Black Walnut Liquid
Extract (10 to 15 drops), and 1 to 2 capsules HSII
*50 lbs and over - 3 capsules Artemisia, 1 ml Black Walnut (20 to 25
drops), and 2 to 3 capsules HSII
*100 lbs and over - simply double the *50 lbs and over instruction above
During the first
week of each month [for 7 days]:
Based on a 12-15 pound dog (adjust
accordingly)
One (1) Artemesia first thing in the morning and one (1) in the evening [as close to 12 hours apart as possible] on an empty stomach [as much as possible] so the properties have a chance to kill parasites without having to be blended with a full meal. Most dogs have no problems with this formula on an empty stomach. If your dog does, you can give as much food as necessary with it, but this is a rare necessity. This is like a monthly de-wormer.
One (1) HSII every few days or at least once a month. This is used to keep the heart strong.
1/4 ml Black Walnut Liquid Extract (5 to 7 drops), sprinkled over food, daily or given orally!
Given all month long:
Four to five (4-5) days each week, I put 1 to 1-1/2 ml Liquid Black Walnut in their drinking water.
On the average, the heartworm prevention program should last approximately 2 to 3 months for a 50 lb. dog! There are 100 Capsules of Artemisia Combination; 100 Capsules of HS II, and 59 ml Black Walnut Extract.
I've found that most pets like Black Walnut Extract. A little bit of Black Walnut goes a long way, so be sure to adjust this according to weight like the rest of the program.
Another thing to consider is if you are in a climate area that has a winter and a period of time where there are no mosquitoes. Vets generally do not tell you to use heartworm medication at that time of the year. I don't bother to use the spritzer at that time of the year, but I still do the herbal program because Black Walnut is such a healthy supplement and the Artemisia keeps keep them parasite free.
Please use wisdom and common sense in deciding whether the natural approach is for you and your pet family. Since the herbal way is less expensive than the drugs, please be sure you make the investment to have your dog tested annually.
In summary, the treatment and prevention of heartworm disease in dogs and cats is a complex subject which requires owners to be well informed about the risks and benefits of both conventional and alternative approaches. Whichever options you choose, following the guidelines above to ensure a healthy pet, with a strong and well functioning immune system, heart, liver and circulatory system can help to keep your animal free of heartworm and many other health problems.