Does Your Dog Really Need to Be On Heartworm Medication? The Truth about Heartworm Prevention, Conventional Preventatives, Natural Safe Alternatives

 

★10 min read

In this article:      

1. Risk Assessment
1. Are You Really in a High-Risk Zone?
2. Does Living in a High-risk Zone Mean You Have No Choice?
3. Pressure To Use Conventional Heartworm Preventatives
2. How Does Infestation Occur?
1. Conditions Must be Perfect for Infestation to Occur
3. How Do Conventional Preventatives Work?
1. What Conventional Preventatives Do
4. Consequences And Adverse Side Effects
1. Adaption of Mosquitoes and Heartworm Larvae To Conventional Preventatives
2. Risk of Adverse Effects To The Individual Dog 
3. Examination of an Example Product, HeartGard
4. Why Did My Dog Spit It Out?
   
5. A Model of Natural Immunity
5. Use a Layered Natural Approach To Prevention  
6. Examples of Conventional Insect, Parasite Preventatives and Adverse Side Effects
7. Learn More About Conventional Preventatives and Natural Alternatives

 

How do you know if your dog really needs to be on a heartworm preventative?  

Should you take your veterinarian's advice or should you double-check on the advice you received?

 

If you put your dog on conventional heartworm prevention products are there steps you need to take to ensure the safety of your dog?

 

If you don't know the answers you are putting your dog's health at risk despite your best intentions.

 

This article will:

1. Answer those questions.
2. Expose the truth about conventional heartworm prevention products. 
3. Provide you with the opportunity to learn about natural alternatives.

1.0 Risk Assessment for Heartworm

1. Who is defining the area you reside in as a 'risk area' for heartworm 
2. What are they defining the risk, low, medium, high?
3. How is the risk level actually defined and estimated?
4. What is the actual source of information the assessment is based on? 
5. Who is funding the assessment?

1.1 Are You Really in a High Risk Zone

If you're in the USA, locations that are truly high risk are:

1. Florida
2. Hawaii 
3. Some locations along the Gulf Coast (i.e. New Orleans).  
4. Some parts of Texas
   

Can you trust the maps generated by the American Heartworm Society (AHS)?

 

The answer is NO. 

 

Why? 

 

Because AHS is heavily sponsored by 8 (eight) of the major pharmaceutical companies who produce conventional heartworm preventatives.  

 

You can find-up-to-date maps on the AHS site. However the data which the maps are based on is designed to boost sales of heartworm products. The maps are not reflective of actual reality. 

 

1.2  Does Living in High Risk Zone Mean You Have No Choice?

 

If you live in a high-risk zone for heartworm...

 

You may feel there's no choice. That conventional heartworm preventatives are your only choice.  

 

You do have a choice.

 

There is an alternative for dogs in high risk, medium and low risk zones.

 

I have all of my high-risk zone client dogs on natural heartworm prevention protocols.  Over the many years I've NEVER had any of my client dog's get a heartworm infestation.

 

This includes all my client dogs in Florida, Texas, etc.

1.3 The Pressure To Use Conventional Heartworm Prevention

 

 

In North America, many veterinarians, (including those located in very low risk areas for heartworm infection), continue to push use of synthetic-chemical pesticide-based heartworm prevention products. 

Why?

The big pharmaceutical companies (i.e. Pfizer) aggressively market conventional heartworm products to veterinarians. 

 

The marketing campaigns base their 'facts' on:

1. Skewed data
2. Incomplete reporting (on, e.g. side effects, testing results, comparisons and alternatives).  

Unfortunately the pharmaceutical companies’ objective is not the health of your dog. Their focus IS profit. 

Some veterinarians are not aware of the truth about these products specifically that these products:

1. Don't provide 100% protection from heartworm.
2. Cause serious acute and long-term health issues, including (a partial list): 
1. Endocrine system damage.
2.  Gut issues and conditions.
3.  Immune system damage.
4.  Kidney damage
5.  Liver damage.
6.  Neurological system damage, leading to:
7.  Seizures.
8.  Death.

Some veterinarians ARE aware of the side effects, but don't inform their clients.  

 

Why?

 

Some veterinarians simply don't care.

1. They profit from the sale of conventional heartworm prevention products.
2. They profit from 'looking after' your dog when the toxic pesticides (in the conventional products), destroy your dog's health.

And, some veterinarians simply don't know any better. Which is NO excuse for the damage they are doing.

1. They can choose to educate themselves about better alternatives.
2. They choose not to...which is equivalent to not caring.

Sadly they fail to be true to the oath they took to "do no harm."
 

2.0 How Does Heartworm Infestation Occur?

2.1 Conditions Must be Perfect For Infestation to Occur

Ambient air temperature conditions must be perfect for the heartworm larvae to:

1. Survive in the mosquito.
2. Then survive under the dog's skin.
3. Then survive L-1 thru to L-4 of larvae development. 

At stage L-5 when the larvae enters the dog's blood stream, the conditions must be right for the larvae to survive:

1. The larvae do not survive in a dog with a properly supported immune system.
2. Dogs on highly processed food diet, taking conventional pesticides, and toxic personal care products:
1. Do not have a properly supported immune system.
2. Do have an acidic blood and urinary pH.
3. These dogs are the perfect host for heartworm larvae.

During larvae development within the mosquito, the ambient air temperature must remain above 57 degrees Fahrenheit - day and night for a minimum of two weeks. If at any time during this stage in the larva's life, the temperature drops below 57 degrees F, development of the larvae is stopped and must start all over again if and when the temperature increases. The larvae must reach the L-3 development stage before it can infest a dog.

At stage L-3 of development heartworm larva are left in a tiny droplet of mosquito saliva which is deposited next to the mosquito bite location on the dogs skin. 

Once again the ambient air temperature must be right, and the humidity content in the air must be sufficient to avoid evaporation of the saliva droplet. The larvae cannot enter the dog's body without the saliva. To enter into a dog's body, the L-3 larva must swim through the droplet and thereby makes its way into the actual hole made by the mosquito bite. 

 

Once inside the dog the L-3 larva spends the next 2 weeks developing into an L-4 stage larva. At L-4 the larva is still living just under the dog's skin, were it will remain and continue to develop into L-5 over the next 3 to 4 months.  

 

At L-5 stage of development the larva then enters the dog's blood stream, where it migrates to the heart and pulmonary arteries.  

 

Five to seven months after entering the dog's body the larva will mate if both female and male larva is present. The mating of the larva results in the production of the heartworm (the microfilariae). 

 

3.0 How Do Conventional Heartworm Preventatives Work?

3.1 What Conventional Preventatives Do

Heartworm preventatives don’t stop your dog from being:

1. Bitten by a mosquitoes.
2. Infected by heartworm.

Instead, synthetic-chemical pesticide-based heart worm preventatives poison and subsequently kill the larvae once it (the larvae) is in your dog’s system. 

 

The pesticide also poisons your dog's system.

 

Blood tests are recommended prior to your dog taking heartworm preventative because:

1. If your dog is already infected with larvae, ingesting the preventative will not kill the worms  
2. A different treatment will be required if your dog is already infested.

Blood testing is typically recommended at least two times a year:

1. Because conventional preventatives are NOT effective. 

 

4.0 Consequences and Side Effects of Conventional Preventatives

4.1 Adaption of Mosquitoes and Heartworm Larvae To Conventional Preventatives

Due to long-term extensive use of conventional preventatives, mosquitoes and their larvae adapted to the pesticides in the original conventional preventatives.

The response from the pharmaceutical companies - develop products with stronger synthetic chemicals to combat the immunity of the mosquitoes. This makes the products on the market today, even more dangerous for your dog.

As the mosquitoes and their larvae continue to adapt to the stronger chemicals, the new generation of conventional preventatives will lose more efficacy.  A vicious circle which will see a dog's health further impacted.

The real key to preventing heartworm is to make your dog's skin and blood undesirable to a mosquito. 

 

A healthy dog's blood has a bitter taste that parasites do not like. The bitter taste indicates to the insect that the intended host (your dog) is not a hospitable place for the mosquito larvae. The larvae will be attacked and killed by the host's body.

 

A dog with an unbalanced blood and urinary pH has a sweet taste that attracts parasites. The sweet taste indicates to the insect that the hosts body is the perfect environment for the parasite to survive and thrive.

4.2 Risk of Adverse Effects To The Individual Dog

Pesticide-based heartworm preventatives contain very strong pesticides.  According to the American Veterinary Medical Association:

1. 65% of adverse drug reactions, and;
   
2. 48% of all reported deaths - resulting from drug interactions are caused by conventional pesticide-based heartworm preventatives.

For example the active ingredient in Heart Guard is Ivermectin. Ivermectin has many adverse side-effects, including:

1. Aggressive behaviour (sudden aggressive behaviour)
2. Autoimmune disorders
3. Depression
4. Diarrhea
5. Difficulty breathing
6. Dizziness
7. Fertility problems
8. Fever
9. Lethargy
10. Liver problems
11. Loss of appetite
12. Nose bleeds
13. Paralysis
14. Pneumonia
15. Thyroid problems
16. Tremors
17. Seizures
18. Skin eruptions
19. Sudden death
20. Vomiting
21. Weakness    

The active ingredients in other chemical-based heartworm preventatives have many of the same or similar side effects.  

 

At the bottom of this article there's a list of various conventional parasite prevention products, and examples of their side effects and cautions. 

4.3 Wash Your Hands, Why?

 

Have you thought about why the labels on conventional heartworm preventative products warn you to:

1. Avoid contact with your skin.
2. Wash your hands directly after touching the product.

It's because the active ingredients are very toxic pesticides. It only takes a small amount to enter your blood stream via contact with your skin, and cause you harm.

The active ingredients are poisons that:

1. Weaken your dog's immune system.
2. Damage your dog's gut, endocrine system and nervous system.
   
3. Force your dog's liver and kidneys to work over-time to eliminate the toxins.

While on these chemical-based preventatives, your dog's natural system is not at its normal efficacy level. This makes your dog more vulnerable to bacteria, microbes and viruses that would not normally be able to harm a healthy dog. 

   

4.4 Examination of an Example Product, HeartGard

Active Ingredients of HeartGard 30 Plus Chewable for Dogs:

 

Ivermectin and Pyrantel. 

 

For more information on the adverse side effects of ivermectin and pyrantel:

1. See the chart in section 6 of this article.
2. More in this article.
   

A quick look at *Merial's HeartGard material data safety sheet should make you question use of this and similar products.

Section 2 of Merial's HeartGard material data safety sheet:

 

"Risk Phase (Hazard):

HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED (R22)
Safety phrase(s)): KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN (S2)
(Precautionary statements) KEEP AWAY FROM FOOD AND DRINK (S13)
DO NOT EMPTY INTO DRAINS (S29)
IF SWALLOWED, SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE IMMEDIATELY AND SHOW
THE CONTAINER OR LABEL (S46)"

 

"Local Effects of Product:

Poisonous if swallowed. Symptoms following over-exposure to the
ivermectin ingredient may include: drowsiness, nausea, vomiting,
tachycardia, somnolence, blood pressure variations, slow breathing, dilation
of pupils, tremors, and incoordination."

 

"Chronic Effects of Product:

Unknown for product mixture. 

Pure ivermectin is a reproductive toxin in mice and rats only at doses that cause toxicity to the mother; however, in rabbits foetotoxicity and teratogenicity were noted at doses not toxic to the mother. Rats exposed in utero through lactation, and for an additional three
months, showed signs indicative of intravascular haemolysis"

 

Note, there's NO information or study provided on the adverse chronic effects in dogs.

 

Section 13 of Merial's HeartGard material data safety sheet:

 

"As the active ingredient is toxic to aquatic organisms, care is required to ensure that the product does not reach drains or waterways."

 

Its also toxic to your dog. 

 

As well:

1. When your dog urinates residue of the ingested toxin ends up in the environment.
2. As noted in this article, the use of these synthetic chemicals have and continue to cause the adaption of mosquitoes to the chemicals. 
• End result, increasing lack of effectiveness in killing heartworm.
3. However your dog's body does not evolve to manage the toxic ingredients.
• End result, your dog's health and wellness is significantly harmed.
• Risk increases with repeated and long-term use.
  

*the pharmaceutical company that makes HeartGard.

4.5 Why Did My Dog Spit It Out?

The pharmaceutical industry uses flavoring to mask (cover-up) inappropriate ingredients.

 

Your dog's taste receptor system is responsible for detecting chemicals present in the oral cavity. The taste receptor system evolved to ensure dogs self-selected safe and appropriate substances to consume in their natural setting.

 

When given a conventional heatworm preventative chew, many dogs will do one or a combination of the following:

1. Hesitate to take it.
2. Refuse to take-it
3. Take it and immediately spit it out.

A dog does this because the dog's taste receptor system (which includes the nose), senses the toxic synthetic chemicals in the heartworm product. The dog is seeking to protect herself by self-selecting to decline the heartworm product.

 

If you 'hide' the product in something your dog likes to eat, you are forcing your dog to consume a poison her body knows is harmful to her health. Listen to your dog. 

 

Sadly, many other dogs instinctive detection system is so damaged by long-term exposure to masked toxins, the flavoring in the heartworm chewables is sufficient to trick the dog.

 

Flavoring (a toxin)

• Learn more about flavoring in this article.

Self-Selection:

• Learn more about self-selection in this article.

4.6 A Model of Natural Immunity

Coyotes, foxes and wolves are a good example of how a species appropriate diet (meat, fat, some berries, grasses and herbs) protects healthy animals from heartworm infestation.

 

Coyotes and foxes have been identified as having the capability to:

1. Fight-off infestations of heartworm and/or;
2. Manage a heartworm infestation so the host fox, wolf or coyote is never in mortal danger. from the heartworm larvae. 
   

This is a natural response by a healthy immune system. A healthy dog's immune system functions the same way.

So why are our domesticated dogs at such high risk? 

 

Domesticated dogs today:

1. Are exposed multiple times daily to toxins - ingested, inhaled, injected, etc.
   
2. The result is an:
1. Acidified body.
2. A weak immune system.
3. The body is attractive to mosquitoes.
4. The body cannot kill the larvae.
   

In general dogs that die from heartworm are dogs that are:

1. Fed highly processed food diets (kibble and canned food).
   
2. Over-exposed to conventional medication (injected, ingested, topical).
   

The infestation is not the trigger for death of the dog.

1. The weakened immune system that leads to the infestation.
2. The weakened immune system that cannot perform it;s normal task of killing the larvae.... 
   

Is what kills the dog. 

 

The key is to keep your dog's immune system healthy.

 

5.0  Use A Layered Natural Approach to Prevention

Your dog's first defence against parasites and disease is a strong immune system.

5.1 Don’t Expose Your Dog to Unnecessary Conventional Medications

Ten of the top ten reasons for bringing a dog to the veterinarian are diet related.

Inappropriate diet is the primary cause of:

1. Acid reflux and other gastrointestinal issues
2. Diarrhea
3. Ear infections
4. Food allergies
5. Kidney, liver and heart issues 
   
6. Metabolic Issues
   
7. Oral health issues
8. Urinary Tract Infections 
9. Urinary Tract Stones
10. etc.

5.2 Avoid and Reduce Your Dog's Exposure to Toxins and Carcinogens

Avoid exposing your dog to harmful chemicals in their food and immediate environment, including toxins in:

1. Dog food. 
2. Household cleaners. 
3. Pet shampoo. 
4. Pet toothpaste.
5. etc. 

Make healthy personal care choices for your dog. 

 

There are many articles on this blog site for natural options.

5.3 Use Safe Non-Toxic Topical Alternatives to Repel Parasites and Insects

You'll find many natural insect repelling recipes and recommendations on this blog site.

 

For example:

Recipes for natural insect repelling sprays:

• Go to this article.

For more natural recipes and recommendations go to 'insects' in the blog labels or use the search function on the blog site.

5.4 Get Your Dog on a Species Appropriate Diet

Transition your dog to a species appropriate raw diet. 

A species appropriate raw diet is the foundation for a healthy immune system. A species appropriate gently cooked diet is the next best choice.

There are  many articles on fresh raw foods and homemade food recipes on this blog site. Search the blog labels on the side bar, or use the blog search function.

 

6.0 Example of Conventional Insect, Parasite Preventatives and Adverse Side Effects

The following chart includes examples of the synthetic compounds typically found in off-the-shelf and veterinarian prescribed parasite preventative medications. 

 

Active Ingredient	Target	Side Effects	Used In (examples)	Cautions
Amitraz	Ticks, Mange, Scabies	Can cause high blood sugar (hypoglycemia), low blood pressure (hypotension), low body temperature (hypothermia), sedation	Proventic	Commonly used in mange dips and tick collars. Do not use on dogs under 12 weeks of age, do not use on aged, sick, medicated, pregnant or nursing dogs
Arylheterocycles (most common - Fipronil)	Fleas, Ticks	Can cause irritation - I was unable to find details on what was meant by ‘irritation’…i.e. skin irritation?	Frontline	Do not use on dogs under 8 weeks of age, sick, medicated or aged dogs
Dinotefuran	Fleas	Can cause immune system toxicity.	Vectra	Do not use on debilitated, aged, medicated, pregnant or nursing dogs, or dogs known to be sensitive to pesticides, aged, sick, pregnant or nursing
IGRs (methoprene, fenoxycarb, pyriproxyfen) IDIs (lufenuron, diflubenzuron)	Fleas	Can cause vomitting, diarrhea	Program, Preventic	Read the label - age of puppies products can be used on varies, do not use on aged, sick , medicated, pregnant or nursing dogs
Imidacloprid		Can cause drooling, skin irritation and may cause miscarriages and skeletal deformities.	Advantage II	Do not use on dogs that are: aged, nursing or pregnant, sick or under 7 weeks of age.
Ivermectin	Heartworm,	Neurotoxicity - depression of the nervous system followed by ataxia. Dogs with defects in P-glycoprotien can suffer severe poisoning	Heartgard,	Most Collies cannot tolerate this substance and should not be given meds that include Ivermectin. Do not use on dogs under 6 weeks of age, aged, sick, medicated or underweight
Milbemycin oxime	Roundworms, Hookworms	Can cause stupor, tremor and ataxia	Interceptor, Sentinel	Not to be used on Collies or other herding breeds. Often used in products that include Ivermectin. Check the label of the specific product for puppy age restriction. Do not use on breeding, pregnant dogs or dogs with epilepsy
Nitenpyram	Blow Flies, Fleas, Maggots	Can cause Lethargy/depression, vomiting, itching, decreased appetite, diarrhea, hyperactivity, lack of coordination, trembling, seizures, panting, allergic reactions including hives, vocalization, salivation, fever, and nervousness	Capstar	Should not be used on pregnant and nursing dogs
Pyrantel pamoate	Roundworms, Hookworms	Can cause facial swelling, hives, scratching, sudden diarrhea, vomiting, shock, seizures, pale gums, cold limbs, or coma.		Usually used in combination with Ivermectin, i.e. used in Heartgard
Pyrethrins	Fleas, Ticks, Lice, Mites, Misquitoes	Can cause tremors, depression, convulsions, death	Bio Spot Flea and Tick Spray or Spot on Flea Control	Do not use on dogs that are aged, sick, medicated, pregnant or nursing.  Do not use spray on puppies under 12 weeks of age, do not use oral tablets on dogs under 6 months of age
Pyrethroids	Fleas and Ticks	Can cause drooling, tremors, vomiting, seizures	K9 advantix II	Do not use on dogs that are: aged, nursing or pregnant, sick or under 7 weeks of age.
Praziquantel	Tapeworms	Can cause drooling, sudden diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, staggering, vomiting
Selemectin	Heartworm, Fleas, Mange, Mites, Ticks, Parasites	Can cause hair loss, skin issues, and burns, permanent immune system damage, etc.	Revolution	Do not use on puppies under 6 weeks of age
Spinosad	Fleas	Can cause loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting	Comfortis	Do not use on pregnant dogs or dogs with epilepsy, dogs under 14 weeks of age

 

7.0 Learn More About Conventional Products and Natural Alternatives

 

Learn more about adverse side effects of:

1. Conventional flea, tick heartworm products.
2. Conventional intestinal parasite products.

And natural alternatives.

 

Go to this article.

 

Holistic Diet, Nutrition, Wellness Services Tailored to Your Individual Dog and Cat

For information about my holistic diet, nutrition and wellness services, visit my holistic wellness services page.

Maintain good health | Address acute and chronic health issues | Pre and post surgery support and recovery

My holistic wellness services are available worldwide via video consultation.

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📱FaceTime | Facebook | Skype | WhatsApp

To set-up your holistic wellness consultation get in-touch via email, go to my contact me page.

 

Holistic Behavioral Services for Your Dog

For information about my holistic behavioral services, visit my holistic behavioral services page.

For dogs of all ages, sizes and breeds.

My behavioral services are available worldwide via video consultation.

🌎 USA | Canada | UK | Europe | Australia | New Zealand | Asia | South and Central America | Africa | UAE

📱FaceTime | Facebook | Skype | WhatsApp

To set-up your holistic behavioral session get in-touch via email, go to my contact me page. 

 

Affiliations to Companies  

✓ None. 

✓ I don't sell food, supplements, or other products.

✓ I'm not aligned with any companies. 

 

Article and graphics by Karen Rosenfeld.