Why Natural Heartworm Treatment Doesn't Work

Nowadays, you will see a lot of people looking for ways to lead a more natural lifestyle. And some pet owners want to include their animal companions in using green products. Your veterinarian may not frown upon an all-natural, balanced dog food. But he or she will likely take a dim view of using the same approach to your pet’s health. This is especially true in heartworm prevention or treatment. There may be a myriad of articles online about home remedies for this deadly disease. But you must understand that vet prescription is the only option found to be safe and effective.

No Sound Evidence on the Effectiveness of Natural Approach

Some people offer alternative medicine as an addition to the standard approach. It can also be a substitute when conventional treatments are ineffective or unavailable. This doesn’t mean you should consider treatments with no adequate testing, though. The American Heartworm Society emphasizes that there are no herbal remedies that have been proven safe and effective in heartworm prevention or treatment.

Some people push for the natural approach. They view it as an appropriate alternative for standard medicine. This kind of attitude is reprehensible when there is not enough proof to support such a belief. Worse, some people use irrational denigration of conventional medicine to create panic. They scare pet parents away from science-based treatments that could help their furbabies.

ProHeart 12 for Heartworm Prevention

There are effective treatments for dogs that became infected with heartworms. Medications for this disease are available only by veterinary prescription. The damage from heartworm infection can be permanent. For this reason, prevention is your best option. Like any medication, heartworm preventatives are not entirely risk-free. Side effects may be possible. But most are mild and infrequent. Besides, heartworm preventatives have been around for a while now. Many research studies also show their effectiveness.

Last year, the United States’ Food and Drug Administration approved ProHeart 12 (moxidectin). It’s a new heartworm preventive medicine that provides full twelve-month protection for dogs. ProHeart 12 was also approved for other deworming benefits. It has a very low risk of side effects and is usually administered along with annual vaccination.

There are other available heartworm preventive drugs that your vet may prescribe. These include ivermectin, milbemycin, and selamectin.

A few natural ways help diminish the risk that your pet will contract heartworm disease. These include avoiding mosquito exposure and eliminating standing water close to your home. Using mosquito-repellant tactics and immune-boosting methods are also an excellent option. But none of the known home remedies are significant enough for you to skip vet prescriptions.

We understand that overmedication is likely one of your concerns. At Sherlock Bones Animal Hospital, we only prescribe the right protection for your pet. We tailor our treatment plan according to the individual risk of the pet for other parasites. Do you want to learn more about how you can keep your dog safe from infections year-round?

Call our clinic today in Carmel, Indiana, at (317) 428-2530 for more information.