Natural Ways To Help You And Your Dog Prevent Heartworm

For people who own dogs, these precious pups are usually treated like children more than the animals that they are

. As such, it is a difficult ordeal to watch them suffer sicknesses like heartworm that when left on its own for long, can result to serious complications, even death. Here are simple natural heartworm preventative measures that will help you in this matter.

Before anything, let us define what heartworm is. Heartworms are parasites that are transmitted to the dog through mosquito bites. Not all mosquitoes will contaminate the canine; but when an infected mosquito does latch onto the dog, its larva will enter into his bloodstream, eventually reaching the vital organs. When the larva matures and implants itself in the organs, it will kill the animal.

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 do not bite healthy animals. Hence, it will do your dog well to improve on the factors that will boost his immune system. Take care of the liver especially-- it functions to remove waste and stores essential vitamins and minerals. Other than a healthy diet, keep away from any form of synthetic medication that will introduce chemicals that are detrimental to your dogs system. Moreover, avoid stress inducing situations for the canine.

Another very important natural heartworm prevention tip is exercise. Make sure that your dog engages in regular physical activities. Doing so will give you quality time with your pet as well as further improve his health by building up his heart and circulatory system. The red blood cells carry oxygen to all the organs of the dogs body while the white blood cells helps protects the immune system by fighting infection. A healthy heart will prevent heartworms from making its home in your dog.

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 definitely better to employ natural heartworm preventative measures than have a pet infected with heartworm. Medicines that are known to cure this infection are highly toxic because they serve to kill the heartworms, not prevent it. Because it is a form of insecticide, frequent doses of it, however small it may start with, will be bad for the other organs of the dog 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.

by: Geraldine Dimarco

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