DOG FLEA AND HEARTWORM MEDICATIONS | ANYTHING BUT NATURAL

In today’s world dog flea and heartworm medications contain insecticides in the medications. While you are smart enough to know that you have to provide some treatment you are also smart enough to know that insecticides can produce harmful side effects in our canine friends.  You like many concerned pet owners want to treat the flea and heartworm problem while also protecting your pet from the harsh side effects these medications can produce.

Imagine being able to effectively treat both conditions and save a little money in the process. We will first discuss heartworms and then fleas.

WHAT CAUSES HEARTWORMS IN OUR PETS

Heartworms are caused in our pets when our pets are bitten by mosquitoes which have become infected with heartworms from biting other infected animals.  A number of animals can be host to heartworms. They include dogs, cats, wolves, coyotes, foxes, ferrets, sea lions and even humans.  When the infected mosquito bites our pets the mosquito deposits larvae into the skin of our pets. The larvae are from the parasitic roundworm known as dirofilaria immitis. The larvae migrate to the heart and within 6 months they hatch or transform into worms that look like pieces of thread. The heartworms can in found in the chambers of the heart and in the two main arteries leading to the heart (Pulmonary artery and vena cava). From there they move to other parts of the body including the lungs and liver.

SOME INFORMATION ON FLEAS

• Adult fleas are 1-3 mm in length
• Brownish in color
• Adult fleas can be seen by the naked eye
• Dog fleas can be carriers of tapeworm
• Most flea treatment can be effective

The common thread between dog flea and heartworm medications the use of pesticides. In case of heartworms the pesticides contained in the medications kill heartworm larvae that are already in your dog’s bloodstream. Because both conditions (fleas and heartworms) are caused by insects (fleas and mosquitoes) pesticides are commonly used to treat our pets.

SIDE EFFECTS FROM HEARTWORM PREVENTATIVE MEDICATIONS

Side effects from use of heartworm preventative medications include diarrhea, convulsions, vomiting and general tiredness or weakness. Your pet’s body recognizes the chemicals in the heartworm pills as poison and uses their immune systems to try and fight off what they see as foreign bodies. Therefore, when on these medications your pets will have weakened immune systems which allow your pet to get sick easier.

THE USE OF GARLIC

Garlic has been used for fleas because if your dog eats garlic its skin then contains a pungent odor that fleas do not like. The same thing is being used for heartworms with the thinking being that mosquitoes will also not like the pungent odor and will avoid biting your dogs. Interesting most pet owners will not smell the garlic. Some people are saying that garlic is therefore a great alternative to dog flea and heartworm medications because it is all natural. Studies show there are more than 200 different beneficial substances in garlic which is why it is being used both for humans and animals.

ALTERNATIVE PREVENTION FOR HEARTWORMS

Because many veterinarians now recognize that long term use of preventative medications can cause side effects in our pets many people are turning to alternative methods to prevent heartworms. The methods will help overall but you should discuss using them with your vet.

• Provide a healthy diet. Many people are now avoiding commercial pet food and feeding their pets natural vegetables, fruits, and raw meat
• Boost your pet’s immune system
• Strengthen your pet’s heart and circulatory system
• In areas where heartworms are prevalent think about regular de-worming
• Black walnut extract and garlic are also being used as preventatives
• Prevention is much cheaper than treatment at the vet’s office

Take action today by getting great home remedies to use for various pet illnesses and ailments and save on vet bills. Every ailment does not require a vet bill. Read on through the last paragraph and click on the links to save some real bucks.