Conventional heartworm treatment for dogs can be harmful for your pet’s health as such a treatment can cause serious side effects. Traditional treatment relies on the use of chemicals and some of these are very toxic. In some cases, your pet might never be able to recover from the toxicity of such chemicals.
Heartworm Disease in Dogs
A pet can be infested by heartworms subsequent to his being bitten by an infected mosquito. Heartworm larvae from the mosquito can enter your pet’s bodily tissues and migrate through these tissues to ultimately reach the heart and lungs. These larvae then grow into adult worms and cause damage to these organs. Heartworms, also known as Dirofilaria immitis, are parasitic worms that generally infest dogs, although other animals can also get infected.
Infestation by heartworms can be fatal for your dog. The best way to prevent heartworm disease in your pet is to minimize his exposure to mosquitoes. Since this is not always possible you will have to rely on certain medications to prevent and treat heartworm disease in your pet.
Risks Associated with Conventional Heartworm Preventative Medication
Although heartworm medication has to be administered in small dosages, it has to be administered every month so that it effectively prevents and treat heartworm disease. This repeated exposure can cause severe side effects and even toxicity in the dog’s body.
Natural Heartworm Treatments for Dogs
Natural heartworm treatments include the use of herbs or homeopathic remedies to rid your pet of heartworms. Such treatments kill the larvae before they can reach the heart and lungs of your pet. The herbs used in these treatments such as garlic, black seed, sorrel and grapefruit seed extract are anti-parasitic agents. Other herbs like hawthorn and licorice that are also used are nutritive or responsible for boosting the immune system.
Garlic
Garlic is an anti-microbial and anti-parasitic antioxidant that regulates the blood pressure and boosts the immune system.
Black Seed
Black seed is an anti-parasitic tonic that boosts the immune system. It is beneficial to the respiratory, digestive and circulatory systems.
Sorrel
Sorrel is anti-parasitic in nature and cleans the blood vessels of parasites.
Grapefruit Seed Extract
It is anti-parasitic, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral in nature.
Hawthorn
Hawthorn is a tonic that improves heart function, regulates blood pressure and is nutritive as well.
Licorice
Licorice boosts the immune system, cleanses the blood, is beneficial for the lungs and acts as an anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial agent.
Homeopathic Remedies
Homeopathic medicines rid your pet of the parasites that cause heartworm infections and also detoxify your pet’s digestive system. They include herb extracts that have anti-parasitic properties.
Benefits of Natural Remedies
The herbs mentioned above are readily available in your kitchen and can be easily administered to your pet without the risk of any side effects. Conventional medications kill adult worms in your pet’s body. These dead worms can clog your pet’s blood vessels and lead to organ failure and death. Natural remedies on the other hand, kill the larvae of the worms and allow the pet to recover gradually.
A nutritious diet and regular de-worming in conjunction with natural herbal or homeopathic remedies can help rid your pet of heartworms and ensure that he lives a long and healthy life.