Alternative Heartworm Prevention

After having my dogs’ blood taken for their heartworm screen, I was on pins and needles once again as I awaited the results. Getting the call that says our dogs are heartworm- and tickborne disease–free is always such a relief—especially because we don’t use our vet clinic’s recommended preventative medication.

We had put our beloved previous dog on Revolution every year, believing it to be the most responsible thing for us to do for her health). But when we adopted two dogs from TAGS, we learned about the risks of giving our dogs these medications, and after doing independent research online, we decided not to put our dogs on them. For the past two years, we have instead taken the following nonmedicinal (nontoxic) precautions:

• Feeding a high-quality food and supplementing with fruits and vegetables
• Using Natural Defense spray (or a homemade spray—recipe below) to repel mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks
• Giving them garlic and brewer's yeast tablets daily
• Putting black walnut drops into their food three times a week, as recommended by Dr. Marty Goldstein in his book The Nature of Animal Healing
• Installing a Mosquito Magnet in the backyard to keep the bug population down
• Avoiding buggy trails and woods, particularly in the early morning and at dusk

Scary displays and photos like this in vet clinics
frighten pet owners into doing whatever is
recommended to prevent heartworm. And rarely
are owners told heartworm is treatable.

Last year, a colleague who had given her two beautiful English bulldogs their Revolution doses faithfully every month the previous summer learned that one of her dogs had contracted heartworm regardless of the preventative medication. The cure? Much larger doses of the same active ingredient that’s in the prevention and six weeks’ crate rest except for very brief leashed excursions outside just to attend to “business.” Her experience of the prevention not working has made me feel even better about my decision not to use it.

Nevertheless, I admit, I will be on pins and needles once again next year as I await the results of my dogs' heartworm tests. Until then, we'll keep on doing what's worked so far: focusing on good nutrition and using homeopathic options.

Have any of you had experiences—good or bad—with heartworm preventatives or homeopathic options? If so, please share in the comments!

Homemade Bug Repellent for Dogs

Ingredients:

Lemon

2 cups boiling water

Branch of fresh rosemary

3 drops tea tree oil

Method:

Thinly slice lemon and place the slices in a large bowl. Pour boiling water over lemons. Add branch of fresh rosemary and tea tree oil. Let sit for 24 hours. Strain into a spray bottle. Avoid spraying in eyes or on mucous membranes. 

Note: I keep the bulk of this solution in the fridge and only small amounts in a spray bottle because it has grown mould when not refrigerated.