How to Prevent Heart Worm in Dogs

The scientific name for heartworm is Dirofilaria immitis. Heartworms reside in the right ventricle of a dog's heart. According to Pet Education, heartworms resemble roundworms and are transmitted mainly by mosquitoes. When mosquitoes suck the blood of an infected dog and then bite a healthy dog, some of the infected blood is injected in the healthy dog. It is much easier to prevent your dog from getting heartworms than it is to treat a dog that's already infected.

Things You'll Need

  • Lavender essential oil
  • Peppermint essential oil
  • Geranium essential oil
  • Preventative heartworm medication
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove any mosquito breeding grounds from your property. This means making sure you don't have any stagnant water. It is especially important to re-check areas where water tends to collect after it rains.

    • 2

      Create a homemade mosquito repellent for your dog. Paw rescue recommends using peppermint, lavender, and geranium essential oils because they repel mosquitoes. Just drip 10 drops of one of these oils between your dog's shoulder blades before it goes outside.

    • 3

      Make an appointment with your veterinarian to have your dog tested for heartworms. Your dog must be free of heartworms to take a preventative heartworm medication.

    • 4

      Administer a preventative heartworm medication as directed by your veterinarian. The medication should be given monthly for the rest of the dog's life.