AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to FacebookFacebookFacebookShare to TwitterTwitterTwitterShare to PinterestPinterestPinterestShare to MoreAddThisMore
Fortunately, with the increase in use of monthly heartworm preventative medication such as Sentinel or Heartgard, and/or natural herbal alternatives such as black walnut or quassia bark, the incidence of heartworm disease is decreasing. However, in stressful situations and/or in immune or nutritionally compromised patients, heartworm disease is still being diagnosed in a lot of states. In decades past, heartworm was usually treated with a strong arsenical compound known as Caparsolate intravenously in the veterinary healthcare facility setting. Side effects were common, including inflammation of the blood vessels (known as phlebitis) at the site of injection, as well as often systemic signs including vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, liver/kidney complications, and even acute sudden death.
In recent years, veterinarians are using a safer a lot more modern alternative known as immiticide which is usually given as a series of once-daily intramuscular injections over a few days. While the above side effects may still occur, the incidence of negative reactions is much reduced. During the month of treatment with immiticide, lots of heartworm positive dogs will also be treated with the antibiotic Doxycycline, which will kill other parasites known as Wolbachia, as well as decrease inflammation and the development of secondary bacterial infections.
In those family pets that are geriatric or sick with other illnesses, some veterinarians will use monthly Sentinel or Heartgard in not only stopping heartworm infection, but in stopping the additionally development of heartworm larvae and microfilaria (baby heartworms) in heartworm positive dogs. When used in this fashion, after a period of 1-2 years of continuous monthly heartworm prevention use, lots of heartworm positive dogs will become negative. During that time it is crucial to restrict exercise and to monitor for rare side effects that dying heartworms may have on the body.
On the other hand, holistic veterinarians will work on strengthening the immune system of the pet through diet and nutritional supplementation with herbs including quassia bark, black walnut and hawthorne. based on the individual constitution of the patient, homeopathic remedies also may be prescribed, which will help decrease susceptibility to secondary organ damage and systemic risk, in hopefully stimulating the pet’s ability to clear the heartworms on their own. No matter which technique is used, some form of conventional or natural heartworm preventative must be used to stop re-infection in the future.
Heartworm