Fleas, ticks and heartworms are all common ailments for our dogs and cats. While there are many traditional veterinarian medications for these ailments most can cause side effects to our pets. Many concerned pet owners are turning to natural cures to avoid the side effects. Natural cures do not cause harsh side effects and they can also save us some money in the process. Imagine being able to make your pet more comfortable and protect them at the same time.
Let’s get right to as we have some ground to cover.
WHAT CAUSES HEARTWORMS IN OUR PETS
Heartworms are caused in our pets when our pets are bitten by mosquitoes which have become infected with heartworms from biting other infected animals. A number of animals can be host to heartworms. They include dogs, cats, wolves, coyotes, foxes, ferrets, sea lions and even humans. When the infected mosquito bites our pets the mosquito deposits larvae into the skin of our pets. The larvae are from the parasitic roundworm known as dirofilaria immitis. The larvae migrate to the heart and within 6 months they hatch or transform into worms that look like pieces of thread. The heartworms can in found in the chambers of the heart and in the two main arteries leading to the heart (Pulmonary artery and vena cava). From there they move to other parts of the body including the lungs and liver.
SOME INFORMATION ON FLEAS
- Adult fleas are 1-3 mm in length
- Brownish in color
- Adult fleas can be seen by the naked eye
- Dog fleas can be carriers of tapeworm
- Most flea treatment can be effective
SOME INFORMATION ON TICKS
- Wood ticks are especially prevalent in dogs. Our dogs get these when they venture out into fields and especially in wooded areas. The ticks fall from the trees and latch onto our pets.
- Brown ticks can be picked up by our pets whenever they are outside.
- Ticks are a large flea that get larger as they suck blood from our dogs and cats
- Ticks can cause Ehrlichiosis which is a disease that causes fever, lameness, and bleeding.
The common thread between dog flea, tick, and heartworm medications is the use of pesticides/insecticides. In the case of heartworms the pesticides contained in the medications kill heartworm larvae that are already in your dog’s bloodstream. Because these three ailments (fleas,ticks and heartworms) are caused by insects (fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes) pesticides are commonly used to treat our pets.
THE USE OF GARLIC
Garlic has been used for fleas and ticks because if your dog eats garlic its skin then contains a pungent odor that fleas and ticks do not like. The same thing is being used for heartworms with the thinking being that mosquitoes will also not like the pungent odor and will avoid biting your dogs. Interesting most pet owners will not smell the garlic. Some people are saying that garlic is therefore a great alternative to dog flea, tick and heartworm medications because it is all natural. Studies show there are more than 200 different beneficial substances in garlic which is why it is being used both for humans and animals.
For other great information on pet illnesses and home remedies read on thru the last paragraph and click on the links. Great secrets await that will help with caring for your pets and saving mega bucks on vet bills.
