Natural Heartworm Treaments?

Question

I have a young (approx. 1 year old) lab mix that we rescued. He tested positive for heartworms but does not show symptoms yet. The cost for treatment is going to run about $500 plus 6 weeks of kennel confinement. I've heard of and have found a few natural treatments online, but am trying to decide if they are worth it. Has anyone else tried any of these? We've decided to go ahead with the vet's treatment, but I'm just looking for possible alternatives.

Thanks, Mrs. N.

Answer 1

The vet treatment is the treatment to do but you need to know just how dangerous it is. They will poisen the dog just enough to kill the worms but not kill the dog. The dog is kept confined so that the worms do not kill him as they die. An alternate treatment but has drawbacks is to use Ivermectin as a heart worm preventative. Ivermectin is serious stuff and must be used with care. It may be given to dogs that have heart worms. It will kill the, can't think of the word, but the very little worms, and some say some of the larger ones but not the adults. Since the worms live for 5 years, the theory is that after five years your dog is cured. The down side is that your dog will be suffering damage until the worms are gone. The down side of the vet treatment is that the treatment can kill the dog. I still recommend the vet care and treatment. I know of no other treatments that work but please email me if you find one. I'm in the dog rescue business.

Answer 2

i might get kicked for this, but we use a long term treatment for our dogs at the shelter.. it might take 6 montyhs or longer but it works and it does not have a 60 % chance of mortality like with the invasive treatment your vet it trying to make you do.. we use up a mixture and it has proven to work.. so good that vets in Flotida have started using it.. Email me and we will get you that mix you can get at any pet supplie or Jeffers.com

Answer 3

www.petalive.com has a natural cure for heartworms. I'd definitely talk to your vet first though. I have no idea how the natural cure works and how well it works.