1) Heartworms are parasitic worms transmitted to dogs through mosquito bites that can damage the heart and lungs. 2) A healthy diet with raw meat, fruits and vegetables instead of processed foods can boost a dog's immune system to fight off infections. 3) Regular exercise is important to improve heart and circulatory health making it harder for heartworms to implant. 4) Checkups can detect infections through blood tests, and natural prevention is safer than synthetic drugs which can do more harm.
2. 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.
3. First of all, what is heartworm? Heartworms are
parasitic worms that are transmitted to the dogs
bloodstream through mosquitoes. Although not all
mosquitoes transmit heartworms, when a carrier does
bite the dog its larvae will transfer into the canines
bloodstream reaching his vital organs. As you can
imagine, this will be terminal for the dog when the
contamination reaches the heart and lungs.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Another essential natural heartworm prevention tip is to
make sure your dog has regular exercise. Engage in fun
physical activities with your pet. Not only will it give you
quality time, it will be good for his health as well. What
exercise does is improve their heart and circulatory
system. The red blood cells take oxygen throughout the
body while the white blood cells fight any infection that
tries to latch itself on the host. If your pet has a healthy
heart, adult heartworms will find it difficult to implant
itself in it.
7. If you live in a place where heartworms are more
common than average, have regular check-ups with the
vet to see if your pet has contracted any kind of
sickness. You can find out if the animal has been
infected through administering a simple blood test. Do
not give synthetic drugs of any form to your pet unless
your vet strongly recommends that he does. Otherwise,
the chemicals will do more damage in the long run.
8. These natural heartworm preventative measures will
ensure the safety of your pet, and is infinitely better
than having to remedy the already infected dog.
Medicines that are given to cure heartworm infections
are really insecticides that kill the worm. These curative
drugs are actually poisons in small doses and may lead
to eventually destroying the other organs and systems of
your dog.
9. Symptoms of heartworm include lethargy, weight loss,
coughing and labored breathing. If you find that your pet
is exhibiting these symptoms; it may be that the
condition is at the more advanced stages and you need
to visit your vet as soon as possible.