Friday, January 18, 2013

Natural Methods Used As Heartworm Prevention

By Geraldine Dimarco


Heartworm is a condition wherein a mosquito contaminates an animals, oftentimes with canines, bloodstream. While not every mosquito bite poses this danger, the infected mosquito that bites your dog will transmit larva into his bloodstream. If left untreated, the young insect will travel to the vital organs like the lungs and heart and reach maturity. When this happens, there is a high possibility that the dog will die.

It sounds scary doesn't it? Well, heartworm is a valid concern for all pet owners; however, there are simple heartworm natural prevention tips you can employ that will ensure that your dog will not have to suffer this condition.

The key to avoiding heartworm is to make your pet as healthy as you possibly can. You can do this through maintaining a good diet and regular exercise for the dog. Many commercial pet foods may contain chemicals that will be detrimental in your dog's health. A diet of raw meat, vegetables and helpings of fruit is a better alternative to feed him.

Regular physical activity also keeps the animal's heart and circulatory system in top working order. Healthy white blood cells fight infection effectively, further strengthening the dog's immune system. The liver is a vital proponent in having a good immune system so you can also consider using recommended supplements that encourage excellent liver function.

Common sense tells us that dogs will not contract heartworms if mosquitoes do not infect them. In line with this, there are heartworm natural prevention herbs that repel them. Some of these are: Black Walnut, Spearmint Herb, Turmeric Root and Garlic. Garlic and Heartworms will not go well together because the pungent smell of garlic is repugnant to mosquitoes.

Dogs under the 50 pound mark can have approximately half a teaspoon of garlic added to his meals daily. Heavier dogs can increase this dosage to up to 2 teaspoons but discuss with your vet or an animal expert before proceeding. Ingestion of excessive garlic is harmful to animals. You can also blend together crushed garlic and water to make a spray to cover your dog's fur or areas around the house that seem to gather most mosquitoes.

While the smell of garlic can successfully drive away pesky mosquitoes, we do not want to assault the olfactory senses of our family and visiting friends. Experiment with a more pleasant repellant by mixing together 10 ounces of distilled water with 10 tablespoons of rose geranium oil, 3 drops of lavender oil, 3 drops of citronella oil and a tablespoon of alcohol-based black walnut extract. Put this concoction in a spray bottle and apply around areas where there are plenty of mosquitoes.

These natural prevention measures are much better than having to use the conventional preventive medications. These medications kill the heartworms by poisoning them; consequently they too are toxic and harmful for the dog as a whole. Have regular bi-annual check-ups with your veterinarian to test for heartworms so it can be treated as soon as possible.




About the Author:



No comments: