HEARTWORM

This is a serious disease that primarily affects dogs. It can be treated with homeopathy, but this should be under the care of an experienced veterinarian.

In dogs, the “monthly” preventives are effective if given at six-week intervals, and possibly even at seven-or eight-week intervals. Heartworm preventive is very effective at protecting dogs against the disease.

These drugs kill any larvae that have been injected within the previous six to eight weeks, so the drugs protect for the prior period, not the future period. The “daily” preventives are almost a thing of the past, but these are usually effective if given every other day. Thus, it is correct to wait until about six weeks after the first mosquitoes appear and continue until you see no more mosquitoes, giving one dose after the end of mosquito season.

The homeopathic nosode that is made from heartworm larvae is employed commonly as a preventive to avoid the drug side effects. Many question its effectiveness, though I have several clients who use the nosode (apparently successfully) with animals in heartworm endemic areas. Although the preventive drugs are generally safe, they can initiate an autoimmune disease in susceptible animals.