Dog Heartworm Guide

Heartworm is one of the worst diseases your dog can acquire. As such, you have to do everything that you can to lead your dog towards recovery. There are drugs that veterinarians have to inject and prescribe to your pet to help it recover from the disease. However, there are natural remedies that can also speed up your pet’s recovery.

The natural cure for heartworm is usually focused on keeping your pet from future mosquito bites.

Curing your dog and leaving it exposed to the carrier insects will make any medication therapy ineffective. As such, there are a lot of oils and herbs that you can use as repellants to ward away mosquitoes from further coming into contact with your pet.

Once your dog is diagnosed with heartworm, it has the possibility of infecting other dogs in the area if a mosquito bites it.

Mugwort is one of the most effective herbs against mosquitoes. Mugwort is a weed that can be found on the roadside and is very similar to wormwood.

The leaves of this herb should be crushed and applied onto the fur of your pet. It can also be burned, with its smoke used as a fumigant.

If mugwort is not available, tansy can be used instead. Tansy is otherwise known as bitter buttons. It is an herb used to discourage flies and similar flying insects. It can be used in the same way as mugwort.

The essential oils of herbs like yarrow, sweet Annie, German chamomile, hyssop, sassafras, bog myrtle, and sandalwood can be used too. The use of essential oils is the best alternative, as there are no preparations required. You only have to directly apply the oil on your pet’s body in order to repel mosquitoes. Sometimes, the oils have to be diluted in water or alcohol to decrease its scent and intensity. It is also possible to combine one or more herbs together to achieve a much better effect.

There are also herbs available in capsule form. Oregano capsules can help greatly in your pet’s recovery. However, fresh herbs such as peppermint, clove, and cinnamon can also be given to your pet in minute amounts so that it can attain relief from its disease faster.

If you want, you can also prepare an anti-parasite herb powder to give your pet. You will need cloves, wormwood, rue, and neem leaves to create the concoction. Make sure that you grind the leaves finely and evenly so it can simply be sprinkled onto your pet’s meal. Otherwise, you might have to put them inside an empty capsule and make your dog swallow it.

Other herbs that prove to be beneficial in helping dogs with heartworm are pau d’arco, chaparral, and garlic. You can add these herbs to the ones stated above to boost the effect of the natural medicine. Teas can also be given to your pet from time to time. Green tea and black tea are always the best. Be sure to cool them before serving. The juices of vegetables like cabbage, carrot, parsley, wheatgrass, dandelion root, potato, and corn are known to help as well.

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