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Natural
Heartworm Prevention Program
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
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. Learn
how to boost your pet's immune system here,
as appeared in the Whole Dog Journal, January 2004 Issue.
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 make their foods at home, use a commercial food that is free of
additives and preservatives." Read about Life's
Abundance Natural Pet Foods. A very strong defense against
heartworms, to begin with, is a strong immune system. Read about the
importance of a healthy immune system here.
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."
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
HealthyPetNet 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
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.
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