Is there a natural heartworm prevention for dogs?
Missouri Schuster
2025-08-08 10:21:40
Count answers
: 13
While there are drug-free strategies owners can put in place to reduce a pet’s exposure to mosquitoes, there’s no such thing as a “natural” heartworm preventives. Heartworm preventives come in different forms, including monthly chewable pills and topical “spot on” medications, as well as an injectable medication that is given every 6 or 12 months. Heartworm preventives are available only by prescription from veterinarians. Some preventives only prevent heartworms, some protect pets from heartworms and intestinal parasites, and some protect pets from many different parasites, including heartworms, intestinal worms, fleas, ticks and mites. Because veterinarians know which parasites are common in the area in which they practice, owners should talk to their pet’s doctor about what product or products will be best for their pets.
Nakia Johnston
2025-07-30 16:14:30
Count answers
: 16
But natural therapies can reduce your dog’s risk of being infected. Anecdotal evidence suggests that herbs such as garlic, black walnut and wormwood, and the homeopathic heartworm nosode, may actually prevent as well as treat infection. Reduce the frequency of vaccinations, feed your dog a healthy diet, and use antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids to reduce inflammation and oxidation. This will improve your dog’s overall health and make it less likely that infection could develop into heartworm disease. Limit your dog’s exposure to mosquitoes. They can be controlled naturally with citrus oils, cedar oils, and diatomaceous earth. In my practice, monthly oral heartworm preventives combined with minimal vaccines, a natural diet, and a sound nutritional supplement regimen work very well to prevent infection. Dogs needing conventional treatment may benefit from herbs such as milk thistle and homeopathics such as berberis; these minimize toxicity from the medications and dying heartworms.
Read also
- Do dogs actually need heartworm prevention?
- What is the best heartworm prevention for dogs?
- Do dogs need heartworm medicine in the UK?
- Can I get heartworm prevention without a vet?
- How common is heartworm in dogs in the UK?
- What are the first signs of heartworm in dogs?
- What dogs are high risk for heartworm?
- Is heartworm injection better than tablets?
- Does Amazon sell heartworm medicine for dogs?