Mosquito bites are a troublesome nuisance for humans, but potentially lethal for dogs. Through mosquito bites, a dog can contract heartworm, a potentially fatal disease that can only be cured via a fairly large vet bill. However, there are natural heartworm home remedies that are fairly inexpensive and have a good rate of success in treating this deadly disease.
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What are heartworms?
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Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes carrying heartworm larvae. Following the bite, the larvae make their way through the skin and into the bloodstream where they are carried to the right side of the dog's heart. It is there that the worms develop into maturity. If left unchecked, the worms can multiply, eventually blocking bloodflow into the heart, causing heart failure.
Preparing a home remedy
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The suggested home remedy for heartworm consists of a variety of herbs designed to ferret out and destroy the infestation. That is coupled with a spray designed to prevent future mosquito bites.
The herbs used in treatment are: wormwood, mugwort, hawthorn berries, capsicum, garlic, and black walnut hulls. Those herbs are chosen for their heart-strengthening and anti-parasitic properties. It is also recommended to add in a Coenzyme-Q supplement for its heart-healthy properties.
The mosquito repellent consists of lavender and tea tree oils mixed in a ratio of four drops of each to one cup of water.
Yucca is also prescribed to treat dogs suffering from heartworm-related coughing.
Administering the home remedy
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The recommended doses vary depending on the weight of the dog. More specific recommendations can be found by clicking the "Heartworm Dosage" link in the References section of this article. In the event that you have ordered a cleansing kit for parasites, it should also include a dosage guide.
Generally, the dog must be treated at both morning and evening meals, along with providing yucca to treat a cough as required. Ensuring a balanced program of nutrition is also crucial to success of the treatment program, so refrain from overfeeding the dog or providing poor food choices. Limit exercise and attempt to reduce stress on the dog during the initial few weeks of treatment.
The treatment program will need to be maintained for four to 12 months, with a further maintenance program of another 12 months to ensure all traces of the worms are eliminated.
Prevention
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Use the mosquito repellent described in Section 2 to prevent heartworm. Talk to your veterinarian about various heartworm-prevention medications. They are expensive, and some may cause adverse reactions in dogs, including seizures. But in rural areas where heartworm is a persistent problem, it might be worth the expense and risk to prevent your dog from suffering from this serious infestation.
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