Natural Heartworm Preventative Tips - Heartworm Prevention the Natural Way

For most of us, we treat our pets like our own children; and it is painful to see them suffer through difficult sicknesses like heartworm. If left untreated, the infected dog will most likely die within a few months of contraction. Here are some natural heartworm preventative measures that will ensure the safety of your dog in this matter.

The most basic natural heartworm prevention tip is to provide your pet with a healthy diet. A healthy pet will have a better immune system to fight off infections and complications in his body. Processed food generally contain chemicals that may weaken the dog, so serve raw meat, fruits and vegetables instead. Do not use milk or food that contains artificial flavorings and sugar.

Mosquitoes are less likely to be drawn to healthy animals. Therefore, strengthen the factors that will improve your pet's immune system. The liver, specifically, is important because it functions to store glucose, vitamins and minerals as well as removes waste and toxins from the system. Aside from a good diet; keep your dog away from stress and synthetic medication that may introduce harmful chemicals to your dog's system.

Another essential natural heartworm prevention tip is to make sure your dog has regular exercise. Engage in fun physical activities with your pet. Not only will it give you quality time, it will be good for his health as well. What exercise does is improve their heart and circulatory system. The red blood cells take oxygen throughout the body while the white blood cells fight any infection that tries to latch itself on the host. If your pet has a healthy heart, adult heartworms will find it difficult to implant itself in it.

If you are in a place where there is a high risk of contracting heartworm, have your pet checked up regularly for sicknesses. A blood test will show if he has been infected with this parasite. Unless the vet strongly recommends a heartworm preventive medicine, do not administer synthetic drugs to your pet. This may cause damage to your dog's immune system in the long run.

It is better to have these natural heartworm preventative measures in place rather than find yourself in possession of a pet that already is infected with heartworm. Medicines that cure heartworm are actually a form of insecticide that when administered regularly, is highly toxic and will eventually lead to serious diseases to the dog's other organs as well.

Animals with heartworm exhibit symptoms like lethargy, a significant weight loss, coughing and difficulty of breathing. If this is your pet, visit the vet immediately as the sickness may already be in its progressive stages.

So what is heartworm? Heartworms are parasitic worms that are transmitted to the dog's bloodstream through mosquitoes. Although not all mosquitoes transmit heartworms, when a carrier does bite the dog its larvae will transfer into the canine's bloodstream reaching his vital organs. As you can imagine, this will be terminal for the dog when the contamination reaches the heart and lungs.

For some parts of the year, our dogs and cats are more susceptible to certain diseases like heartworm. Some may think this isn't such a serious disease, but that is because the gravity of this condition is not realized until after a few months. When nothing is done to treat heartworm appropriately, serious health risks arise that can lead to death. These heartworm prevention steps will help in keeping your pet safe from this.

Do you know what exactly is heartworm is and why it is so dangerous? Heartworm disease is what transpires when the larva of a parasitic worm enters a dog's system through a mosquito bite. A fully grown worm can be as long as 7 to 11 inches and when they develop, they migrate towards the heart. When this happens, critical passageways are obstructed, consequently causing serious damage to the heart and lungs.

We know now that mosquitoes are the main villains in this plot right? So it's only logical that to prevent heartworm, we should strive to keep mosquitoes possibly infected with this worm away from our pets. Sometimes vets prescribe drugs designed to kill off the worms before they reach full maturity. However, this may end up being worse for the animal because the chemicals in this mild pesticide will gradually weaken your dog's internal systems. A better alternative is a natural heartworm treatment.

A popular mosquito repellant is garlic. Yes, this humble bulb has driven many a parasite away with its less than appealing fragrance. Crush and sprinkle a few cloves of garlic over your pet's meals daily. If you don't like having a pet that smells like an over seasoned Italian meal, use aromatherapy extracts instead. A few drops of Peppermint, Cedar wood, Lavender or Tea Tree Oil mixed with water and sprayed all over your dog's coat will turn mosquitoes and ticks away.

The best medicine perhaps would be to provide your dog with a healthy diet. Remember, mosquitoes are not likely to bite the blood of a healthy animal and a diet rich in essential vitamins will make him really healthy. As much as you are able, don't give processed food. Opt for fresh meat, vegetables and fruits with natural vitamins and nutrients that will strengthen his immune system, equipped to fight off infections.

Also look for supplements that are complementary to your dog's diet. Tumeric Root, Spearmint and Wormwood are among some great natural heartworm treatment herbs that can be utilized. The anti-parasitic properties found in Black Walnut is beneficial and will help cure suffering pets. Find natural elements that serve to improve the liver and circulatory functions of your dog.

Make it a point to regularly visit the vet. This is an integral step in heartworm prevention-especially if you live in a hot and humid location where there are a lot of chances for mosquitoes to breed and congregate. Consult your vet for safe and effective natural products your dog can try. I know you just want your dog to enjoy an excellent quality of life so keep yourself updated on reliable pet-care sites for the best tips on improving your dog's health.

A good heartworm prevention program will help ensure your dog's best health. Find a safe and effective natural heartworm treatment and your dog will remain free from this very nasty, and potentially life-threatening parasite.