What is Heartworm?
Heartworm is a disease that mainly affects dogs, cats, and ferrets. Although not as common, it can also affect other mammals, including humans. Heartworms are foot-long worms that wreck havoc on the heart, lungs, and blood vessels of the body. It can cause damage to a number of organs of the body as well as lead to heart failure. This parasite is transmitted to its host through the bite of an infection mosquito.Dogs: Heartworms in a dog’s body will develop into adults. Once they become adults they have the ability to reproduce. A dog could potentially carry hundreds of heartworms in their body if the issue is not addressed.
Cats: Cats are not ideal hosts for heartworms. Most heartworms in cats do not develop to the adult stage. However, these smaller, immature worms can still cause health issues for cats.
How Is Heartworm Transmitted?
Dogs, coyotes, wolves, and fox can all be potential carriers of heartworm. When the adult heartworms produce young worms, the young worms are microscopic and can be found in the bloodstream of the animal. When a mosquito sucks blood from an infected animal, it is also sucking up the microscopic young heartworms. When that mosquito bites another animal, the microscopic heartworms are transferred. It will take about 6 months for the worm to become an adult.
Signs of Heartworm Disease in Your Pet
Dogs: Dogs typically do not show signs in the early stages of heartworm disease. After some time a dog may show a lack of interest in exercising, a mild cough, a decrease in appetite, and weight loss. Late signs include heavy, labored breathing, dark colored and/or bloody urine, and pale gums. This will then typically lead to blood blockages and cardiovascular failure, which will lead to death.
Cats: Signs that a cat has heartworm disease include breathing troubles, coughing, occasional vomiting, a decrease in appetite, and weight loss. Signs in cats tend to be more subtle than dogs, therefore go unnoticed until it is too late.
How to Prevent Heartworm Naturally?
The best ways to naturally prevent heartworm is to make sure your pet has a strong immune system by reducing or eliminating the toxins being put into their body, and by feeding them a nutritionally balanced diet.
There are also a number of herbs that can help in the prevention of heartworm. These herbs include: Mugwort, Clove Flower Buds, Garlic (in small doses), Spearmint, Turmeric Root, Black Walnut, and Wormwood. None of these herbs should be taken for extended periods of time and they should be taken in moderation. For more information, contact a holistic veterinarian or PetMedella. A natural mosquito repellent can also be applied topically when your pet goes outside. Mix a combination of essential oils with witch hazel or apple cider vinegar for a pleasant, safe repellent alternative. Some great essential oil options are: Lavender, Citronella, Lemongrass, and Cedarwood. **Do not use essential oils on cats.
To find out if your pet is affected by heartworms, have your veterinarian do a heartworm test which consists of a small blood sample from your pet.
Has your pet been affected by heartworms? Following an infestation of heartworms, an animal’s body can experience much weakness. To find out which systems or organs are weak and need the most support call PetMedella at 612-812-9121 for more information or order a PetMedella Hair & Saliva Analysis Kit at www.PetMedella.com.