Arrrooo fellow pets and humans! Well it’s that time of year: the time to think about heartworm prevention and maybe treatment. Or is it? Really, all year round we should be in prevention mode but NOT with those nasty pharmaceutical pesticide poop commonly known as heartworm prevention. Nope, we’re gonna share a natural protocol with you today. This was written by our good friend Jeannie Thomason.
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By Jeannie Thomason

Prevention is by far the most important part of medicine. As you all know by now, I am convinced that having a very strong immune system is of the utmost importance to your dog. I believe that a strong healthy dog will throw off parasites and illness all on it’s own.
With that said, dogs that are not at thier peak of health should be first started with a good diet, ( I recommend a raw diet or a chemical free, grain free healthy food), supplementation and general remedies for a period of time to strengthen thier immune system. Then, the wonderful, natural treatment effects will kick in! (See my articles on the immune system).

Whichever end of the scale holistic veterinarians place themselves on, they all agree about the first step toward heartworm prevention and treatment: A dog must be essentially healthy in order to resist succumbing to heartworm (or its treatments). This is more than an idle observation – it is the principle that ensures the survival of wild canines, who suffer far greater exposure to heartworm-carrying mosquitoes but succumb from the parasites in far lesser numbers than domestic dogs.

“More and more I’m coming to think that heartworm is really a man-made disease,” states Dr. William Falconer, a veterinarian with a homeopathic practice in Austin, Texas. “The heartworm has been out there forever as far as we know, but we don’t read reports of wolves and coyotes being wiped out by heartworm, and yet domestic dogs are falling prey to it.

Dr. Falconer, a veterinarian for 24 years (the last 18 with an exclusively holistic practice), thinks it comes down to three common dog-keeping practices: “We’re vaccinating our dogs too much, we’re feeding them poorly, and we’re using too many pesticides to kill their fleas. It all helps weaken their immune systems, and their immunity is really what’s going to save them.” Foxes, coyotes, and wolves, on the other hand, go unvaccinated, eat only raw meat, bones, and a few plants, and are never exposed to the dozens of toxic chemicals we use to kill fleas on our dogs and in our homes. Some seem to be able to “fight off” heartworm infestations; many others host the parasite, but in small enough numbers that the heartworms don’t threaten their hosts’ lives. That’s nature’s plan for parasites, says Falconer.

Natural Heartworm Prevention Program

Most veterinarians (that are not holistic practitioners)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 cancers.

The cause of heartworms is mosquitoes. For dogs, and sometimes cats, they can cause life-threatening problems because they transmit heartworms. These are parasites that enter the bloodstream as larvae and migrate to the heart. Six months after reaching the heart, the larvae turn into adults, and that’s when problems begin. Full-grown heartworms eventually fill the heart, blocking flow of blood to the lungs and doing damage to the heart. By the time you see symptoms, they’ve already done damage to the heart.

Mosquitoes still bite animals on heartworm pills. The key is to get the blood of the pet in a healthy enough condition that the mosquitoes won’t want it. Mosquitoes are a parasite. Herbs that have anti-parasitic properties will discourage not only mosquitoes, but fleas and ticks also.

Herbs such as Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), Clove Flower Buds (Eugenia caryophyllata), Garlic (Allium sativum), Spearmint Herb (Mentha spicata), Turmeric Root (Curcuma longa), Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), and Wormwood (Artemisia annua) are examples of what can be used to formulate an effective preventative and as part of a treatment program.

Dogs and cats have their own way of protecting themselves from mosquitoes. They instinctively avoid the hot, muggy places where mosquitoes congregate and spend time in the cool, dry areas. They will also roll in the dust or even mud to remove moisture from the skin and change their scent, to be less attractive to mosquitoes.

I believe prevention comes from a good diet, meaning a strong immune system. Dr. Pitcairn mentioned in his book that a few worms will not kill dogs. They will die eventually. But I believe when you have a low immune system, they are more likely to reproduce and infest.

Dr. Michelle Tilghman, D.V.M. says, “Strengthen [your pet's] resistance with whole foods. Dogs and cats are more likely to resist heartworms when they are given all-natural foods, which help keep the immune system strong. If you don’t want to feed them a natural raw diet or make their foods at home, use a commercial food that is free of grains, additives and preservatives.”A very strong defense against heartworms, to begin with, is a strong immune system.

Dr. Mona Boudreaux, D.V.M. says, “Give [your pet] garlic. This pungent herb repels mosquitoes, cleanses the blood, and strengthens the immune system. Dogs over 50 pounds can have as much as two teaspoons of garlic a day, and smaller dogs can have 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon a day. Garlic can be a problem for cats, so don’t give them too much. A safe limit is 1/8 teaspoon or less a day for up to two weeks at a time.”

Important Disclaimer: The stories and information on this site are not meant to diagnose or prescribe for you. If you or your pet has a medical problem, you should consult your medical doctor or veterinarian. The ideas and information on this site have not been endorsed or approved by the FDA. In no event shall the owners of this website be liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from any action arising in connection with the use of this information or its publication, including any action for infringement of copyright or defamation. The decision to use, or not to use, any information is the sole responsibility of the reader. Opinions expressed here are those of individual contributors. This web site does not verify or endorse the claims of contributing writers.
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