by Rhonda Buffington

Created on: November 16, 2010

Heartworm is a serious condition that your dog gets from a mosquito bite. The parasites enter the bloodstream and travel to the heart where the larvae turn into adults. The heartworms multiply and will eventually block the flow of blood to the lungs and will start constricting the hearts passages. Since using a preventative and the actual treatment for a positive heartworm test are both risky, this article will cover the preventative and treatment for a dog with heartworms.

 Using a preventative

Most veterinarians recommend a monthly pill such as Heartgard or Interceptor. These drugs contain arsenic and chemical insecticides. Administered over a period of time, the side effects can be toxic.

Possible side effects include loss of appetite, diarrhea, depression, thyroid problems, autoimmune disorders, liver problems, aggressive behavior, vomiting, fever, paralysis, coughing, weakness, tremors, seizures, skin eruptions, dizziness, difficulty breathing, irritability, pneumonia, fertility problems and sudden death.

Martin Goldstein, D.V.M., author of “The Nature of Animal Healing” says “Only a small percentage of dogs who get heartworm die of it, especially if they’re routinely tested twice yearly for early detection. Even in untreated dogs, after a period of uncomfortable symptoms, the adult worms die.” Dr. Goldstein also says the microfilaria do not grow into adult worms on their own. He explains that in order to reach the next stage in their life cycle, they have to be sucked back out of the body by another mosquito. It has to go through the process again, within the mosquito, and then when the mosquito bites again the microfilaria re-enter the bloodstream with the ability to grow into adults.

The heartworm treatments are, simply put, poisons. They sweep through the body and kill the microfilaria, but they also have the toxic effects of poisons and can damage the liver. If you give your dog one of these pills, watch the area where the dog urinates and see if you notice that his or her urine burns the grass in that area. What can be happening internally if it has the big of an effect after it is in the dog’s body?

Treatments used after a dog tests positive for heartworms

Once a dog is heartworm positive, your vet will most likely discuss the treatment. The procedure the conventional veterinarians normally use (Immiticide) contains arsenic. If the dog is given this treatment, the dog must be kept calm for 30 days. If

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