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Is There a Natural way to Prevent Heartworms?

This is a serious disease that primarily affects dogs. It is rare in cats, despite claims by the preventive pharmaceutical manufacturers. It can be treated with homeopathy and herbs, but this should be under the care of an experienced veterinarian.

That being said, pharmaceutical heartworm preventives are generally very effective at protecting dogs against the disease. However, I would not recommend their use in cats, as the incidence does not warrant the drug use in most holistic veterinary opinions. In dogs, the "monthly" preventives are effective if given at six-week intervals, and possibly even at seven-or eight-week intervals. These drugs kill any larvae that have been injected within the previous six to eight weeks, so the drugs protect for the prior period, not the future period. Thus, it is correct to wait until about six weeks after the first mosquitoes appear and continue until you see no more mosquitoes, giving one dose after the end of mosquito season. The "daily" preventives are almost a thing of the past, but these are usually effective if given every other day.

Although the prescription preventive drugs are considered to be generally safe, they can initiate an autoimmune disease in susceptible animals. This includes thyroid diseases.

Natural Remedies to Prevent Heartworm

There is a homeopathic nosode that is made from heartworm larvae that is employed commonly by holistic veterinarians as a preventive to avoid the drug side effects. However, many question its effectiveness, though I have several clients who use the nosode (apparently successfully) with animals in heartworm endemic areas. Though most dogs given the nosode have no trouble with heartworms, I am aware of some cases where the nosode did not protect. I believe it does offer some protection, though it may be incomplete. It is likely that we simply just don't know yet how to give the nosode. As of this writing, I suggest using a 30C potency and dosing at two-week intervals. I have seen no problems with this schedule, and though I use it myself with success, I cannot say for sure that it is fool-proof protection for your dog. If you decide to try the nosode, you must understand that its effectiveness is currently unknown and it is not FDA or Veterinary approved.

I generally do not recommend vaccines and drugs for most animals, and when possible I try to avoid the conventional approach of using heartworm drugs because they are especially risky for animals with thyroid disease. Monthly heartworm preventives as well as "sulfa" drugs are known to occasionally trigger autoimmune thyroid disease.

Pet Remedy Charts

How to Make Slippery Elm Syrup for Pets

Herbs to the Rescue for Digestive Problems

Slippery Elm bark will sooth the stomach and intestines. It is a nutritive herb with emollient and slightly astringent qualities. It possesses abundant mucilage which will soothe irritation, disperse inflammation, draw out impurities, heal rapidly, and greatly strengthen. The powder can be made into a gruel that makes a nutritious food for convalescents; it is easy to assimilate. Its action is so gentle that it can be retained by delicate stomachs when other substances are rejected.

Slippery elm is a safe herb. It is very soothing to the mucus membranes of the mouth as well as the entire gastrointestinal system. This life sustaining food herb can be used for IBD, colic, vomiting, ulcers and diarrhea. It is contains vitamins and minerals and has a pleasant mild taste. It is also readily accepted by most animals young and old, even by the most picky cats and ferrets.

Recipe

Put 1/2 cup of cool purified water into a glass or stainless steel saucepan. Add one slightly rounded teaspoon of slippery elm powder (or you can open and empty the contents of 5 capsules into the pan). Whisk with a fork until the powder blends with the water. Note: Always blend it in the cold water first. If you add the powder to warm or hot water it will be lumpy.

Bring the ingredients to a simmer over a low flame, stir constantly. Simmer about two minutes or until it slightly thickens to a syrupy consistency.

Cool the mixture then refrigerate in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid. With proper storage the syrup will remain fresh for 7 or 8 days.

Even if you just add the dry powder mixed to an animals soft food it can help soothe the digestive system.

Suggested Herbal Doses for Pets

Dogs: Depending on the size of the dog give 1 to 3 teaspoon(s) slippery elm syrup before each meal (2 to 3 times daily).

Cats/ferrets: 1 teaspoon slippery elm syrup given before each meal.

Birds: The suggested dose for birds would be to 'lightly salt' the powdered herb over their food.

Horses: The suggested dose is 2 to 4 tablespoons of the powder, three times daily for 5 days. The powder is mixed with 3/4 cup of yogurt and/or 2 tablespoons of honey. Note: It can also be made into a tea by mixing the herb with 1 liter of water and bringing it to a boil. Allow to cool and mix the tea with the grain twice a day.

Resources

Herbs to the Rescue Charts for dogs, cat, horses and birds are tools developed by Lorelei Whitney, M.H., C.Hom. that will help you easily learn to use herbs for pets. Developed to enable anyone to confidently treat their companion animal at home. To learn more about natural healing strategies for pets click here.

Acupressure for Dogs, Cats and Horses

A Guide to Animal Acupressure

Acupressure is an non-invasive ancient healing art that uses the fingers to press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body’s natural self-curative abilities. Unlike veterinary acupuncture done with needles, acupressure treatments, can easily be done by the pet owner at home.

Disease in the body is a state of either excess or deficiency of one or more of the vital substances. The longer that the excess or deficiency, is present the more out-of-balance the animal becomes. A greater imbalance produces more advanced symptoms. The goal of acupressure is to reverse the pathological state and restore the normal flow of QI (energy within the animal). Treatment may involve several stages in which blockages are gradually removed and normal Qi flow is restored.

Indications of Use

Clinical trials and research indicate that acupuncture/acupressure therapy can be effective in treating numerous conditions. Acupressure provides pain relief, anti-inflammatory effects, and hormone regulation. These effects are helpful in treating a variety of conditions. Muscle soreness, back pain, disc disease, osteoarthritis, and degenerative joint disease comprise the largest group of problems that can be treated with acupressure. Neurological disorders (e.g. seizures, radial nerve paralysis, and laryngeal paralysis) and gastrointestinal disorders may also be helped. Acupressure is very successful as an complimentary treatment in Cushing’s disease, hypothyroidism, infertility, asthma, cough, behavioral problems, geriatric weakness, irritable bowel syndrome and skin diseases. It can also be used in emergency first aid to resuscitate an animal who has collapsed.

In many cases, acupressure and Chinese or Western herbs are successfully used in medical conditions that have not responded to traditional western veterinary medical practices. However, acupressure is not an alternative to proper medical care. If your pet is suffering from an illness or injury, obtain veterinary care as soon as possible.

Acupressure should not be done on an area where the animal exhibits extreme sensitivity. If you inadvertently touch an area that is painful, release the pressure immediately. If you pet shies away from being touched in a certain spot, an injury, a localized infection, or a behavioral problem could cause this sensitivity. The sensitive area may relate to a meridian line and sometimes to a specific organ associated with that meridian. If you are able to pinpoint a specific area that is extremely uncomfortable when touched, consult a veterinary acupuncturist to have it checked.

Some health problems can be aggravated by acupressure if you are working around an injured area. Do not apply acupressure directly to wounds, bruises, cuts or surgical incisions, you could damage tissue and increase pain. However, it can be helpful to press points that are near an injury in order to increase circulation in the area. Use only the points that are not painful. If your pet indicates he is in pain when you touch a point, you are too close to the injury.

Preparing to Give an Acupressure Treatment

Before starting an acupressure treatment, wash and dry your hands thoroughly. If your hands are cold, run them under warm water. Both you and the animal to be treated should be calm and relaxed. Acupressure should not be preformed on an animal that has been traumatized, just exercised or has just eaten.

Locating Acupressure Points

Unlike acupuncture, acupressure doesn't have to be totally "on target" to be effective. If you are near the acupoint, you will be doing lots of good whether you've hit the precise point or not. By pressing in the vicinity of the point, you will still increasing energy flow in the associated meridian line. Correctly applied pressure should be placed in the valleys of muscle. You should never press into a major nerve, on bone, the spinal cord, or a body cavity.

Pressing the Points

Acupressure is done by exerting pressure with one finger on precise places on the body. Most often, you will use either the middle finger or the thumb. Sometimes, you will find it easier to use one or the other, depending on the exact spot you are treating.

To determine the amount of pressure to use, experiment on your own body, pressing your thumb or middle finger against various places on your face, chest, arm and on your other hand, for 10 to 15 seconds. The pressure should be firm enough so that you experience it as hard and steady, but it should not be painful or damaging to the skin. Always go into a point slowly, beginning with light pressure and increasing it to tolerance. Some animals are more sensitive and will need less pressure. Others will need more pressure for the treatment to be effective. Let the animal be your guide. The technique involves applying light to firm pressure, or circular massage over an acupoint. When holding the point maintain steady, firm pressure, this will help you to avoid angles that may cause you to slip or slide in to or out of a point over the animals fur.

Stimulation of an acupoint is generally around 10 to 15 seconds. Acupoints are the same on both sides of the animal. If you work a point on the right side you should also work the corresponding point on the left side of the body.

The session should not be painful and is well-tolerated by most animals. The entire acupressure treatment should always be comfortable for patients. However, in cases of pregnancy (certain points may cause abortion), open wounds, or infectious diseases, acupressure is contraindicated.

Closing the Session

After an acupressure session you should preform The Closing. This has two functions: one, is to strengthen the energy flow between the points on the same meridians stimulated during your point work; and second, it establishes a healthy cellular memory pattern. Cellular memory is the cell's learned response to a chronic stimulus such as pain. The Closing phase helps the body to maintain the state achieved during point work.

Flat Hand Closing Technique

To perform the Closing, position your hand flat with your palm and fingers in full contact with the animal your working on. Using light pressure slide your hand over your pet from front to rear and top to bottom. Start at the neck, then go over the shoulder, across the back and over the hips. Proceed down the back leg, passing over the hock and terminate the Closing at the end of the rear foot/paw/hoof. Do this on both sides of the body.

Post Treatment

Allow your pet to rest for several hours before resuming work or strenuous exercise.

Resource
 
An excellent source for beautifully illustrated acupressure charts and in depth information on the location of acu-points for dogs, cats, horses and birds can be found at Pet Remedy Charts.

Is it safe to give garlic to dogs?

Medical science says garlic is poisonous to dogs, but are they referring to the same garlic remedy that’s been used in treating dogs by holistic vets for decades? In ancient India's Sanskrit records its medicinal use dates back to about 5,000 years ago, and it has been used for at least 3,000 years in Chinese medicine. The Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, and Babylonians, were known to have harnessed the healing properties of garlic as well.

How can an herb with so much medicinal history suddenly develop such a bad reputation?

Despite its healing qualities, Garlic contains a compound named thiosulphate. In extremely high levels thiosulphate can be a dangerous toxin that can cause hemolytic anemia in dogs. In the research studies the animals were given large concentrations of the isolated substance to produce the effect. This is not a reference to normal ingestion or moderate dosing.

In yet another scientific study the effects of garlic products, including dehydrated raw garlic powder, dehydrated boiled garlic powder and aged garlic extract, on the gastric mucosa of dogs were determined using three commonly sold preparations, raw capsule garlic powder caused severe mucosal damage, including erosion. Boiled garlic powder also caused inflammation and reddening of the mucosa, whereas aged garlic powder did not cause any undesirable effects. Among the garlic preparations, Aged Garlic Extract could be the most suitable form, particularly for long-term use. Aging in particular may be the most effective method to eliminate the toxic effects of raw garlic. The safety of enteric-coated garlic products was also studied. Direct administration of pulverized enteric-coated products on the gastric mucosa caused reddening of the mucosa in test animals (dogs). When an enteric-coated tablet was administered orally, it caused loss of epithelial cells at the top of crypts in the ileum in the intestinal tract. Enteric-coated garlic products by pass the stomach and deliver garlic directly into the intestine, which is not a traditional route for garlic intake in any species!

When used in moderation, garlic can be a healthy supplement. Garlic has been used to stimulate and support immune function, trigger gastric juices for better digestion, encourage the growth of friendly bacteria, and prevent infections. Garlic reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer as well as improves blood sugar regulation and promotes detoxification.

Historic use of garlic as a condiment and herb has always been via oral ingestion and not via direct delivery into the stomach or intestines, in the form of a concentrated, standardized surprise! The safety of such delivery systems for garlic is unknown not to mention totally unnatural!

For centuries, garlic has been a primary remedy relied upon in a majority of cases. For as long as people have been using garlic, they have also been feeding it to their animal companions. Empirically, its medicinal properties have been relied upon, along with its safety of use.

In the United States for the last 50 years, garlic has remained in the forefront of holistic medicine. Every text written by the founding fathers of holistic veterinary medicine recommended it, and revere its incredible anti-parasitic and anti-bacterial properties. Research shows, garlic has also benefited animals with cancer, diabetes, liver, heart and kidney disease, skin/staph infections, ear infections and a myriad of other conditions. It has grown to be a staple in preventative protocols for pets. For years it has been safely used by thousands of companion animal owners with no reports of negative side-effects - up until now. All of a sudden; garlic is an offending "suspect," without being proven the offender. The majority of people are allowing mass hysteria to determine a holistic care program for their dog.

There are over 51,000 sites on the web devoted to warnings about the "toxicity" of garlic, even though there is little scientific data to back the claim other than the fact that thiosulphate is found in garlic. Yet, there are also upward of 4000,000 internet sites, many of which are reputable holistic veterinarians who have widely used garlic in their practice for many years! In regard to this miracle herb and its hundreds of years of "proven use" I would recommend common sense in its use.


How To Safely Give Garlic To Dogs

If your dog is healthy and has no history of anemia and your planning to give your dog garlic in its natural raw garlic (I prefer this method) the dose is 1/2 to 1 small minced/pressed clove daily, mixed into a meal and given on a schedule of 5 days on and 2 days off (this gives the body a chance to clear and work on its own). Remember always introduce anything new slowly and work up to the desired amount. This gives you the chance to monitor the animal's reaction to the substance and allows the animal's body to gently adjust.

Contraindications of Use

Do Not Give Garlic to a dog who has a blood disorder or anemia. Garlic can thin the blood so dogs who are scheduled for surgery should not be given garlic for 2 weeks before or 2 weeks after the procedure. Do Not Give Garlic to puppies.  The young don't start to reproduce new blood cells until after 6-8 weeks of age, so they should not be fed garlic.

However, there are some individual reports of dogs experiencing toxic effects at much lower doses, so while the risks are low for the home supplement level of exposure, they will never be zero since some individuals might respond differently than most others.

Overall, I don’t think it’s a big concern when garlic is used sparingly as part of the diet as a food supplement.

Ironically, garlic is approved as a flavoring, spice or seasoning for use in pet food, yet the FDA has listed garlic in its poisonous plant database. That’s because a study suggested that when garlic 'extract' is fed in excessive quantities equaling (5 grams of whole garlic per kilogram of the dog’s body weight), it has the potential to cause damage to the red blood cells of dogs (hemolytic anemia).

Considering the data presented in this study, the average 75 pound dog would need to eat five full heads of garlic or about 75 cloves of garlic in each meal before there would be any adverse effect on the red blood cells! Similarly, a dog weighing a mere 10 lbs would need to eat 25 grams of garlic – about half an entire head of garlic, or about 6 to 8 garlic cloves in every meal to experience any adverse effects. However, no dog in this test study actually developed hemolytic anemia.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11108195
  


RESOURCE

Pet Remedy Charts are tools that help you easily learn to use safe herbs, homeopathy, flower remedies and acupressure for dogs, cats, horses and birds. Developed by Lorelei Whitney, M.H., D.Hom. to enable anyone to treat their pets at home. To find out more about natural healing strategies for pets go here: https://www.petremedycharts.com

Heartworm Treatments (Dirofilaria immitis)

Heartworm prevention and treatment is big business and a cash cow for veterinarians and pharmaceutical companies.

If you have read, heard or been told that you cannot give a preventative (such as Heartgard®), to an already infected dog, remember this: The American Heartworm Society (AHS), recommends giving Heartgard® (Ivermectin) monthly for the first several months as TREATMENT for a heartworm infected dog. This sterilizes the female worms which reduces them in size. This results in far less lung damage when the worm dies and deposits in the lungs. Then, the Heartworm Society wants you to take the dog back to your vet so he/she can treat the animal but the Society reluctantly admits that 12 more months of monthly Heartguard would probably CURE the infected canine. This would obviously be a huge savings to the pet owner and MUCH safer treatment for the pet compared to the standard veterinary approach (arsenic injections). Although most vets will disagree!! To review the AHS veterinary guidelines click here.

PREVENTATIVE TREATMENT

What if you can't afford the bloated veterinary cost of expensive name brand heartworm medications? You still have options! For many years kennel owners and dog breeders have used at home treatment programs that cost as little as .30 cents a month per dog! This gives people who want to protect their dogs but can't due to their present budget, the advantage to do so.

The good news is that heartworms can be prevented for less than one cent per day for a 20 pound dog (Beagle size). Yes, I said less than one cent per day (30 cents monthly). Many breeders and kennel owners along with myself have used the prevention described in this article since the early 1980's, with no heartworm infestation. However, I want to remind everyone that I am not prescribing, but rather, sharing information with you as to what I use and do. You can use your own judgment whether you want to follow in my footsteps. This article is presented only as a documentation of how I prevent heartworms in my dogs at a fraction of the cost that a Veterinarian will charge for the Merck Heartgard ™ (Ivermectin), chewable tablets. Also, the law restricts Heartgard to use by or on the order of a licensed Veterinarian; therefore, if you use the prescription tablets you will be paying $15 - $45 for a box of 6 tablets (six month supply) plus the cost of office visits.

I use the same chemical that is in the expensive (prescription only) pills at a fraction of the cost. The prevention that I use is given once every 30 days (monthly) the same as the pills.

Also, if you are giving your dog a year-round preventative in areas of the country with a harsh winter climate it would be a waste of money. If it’s too cold for mosquitoes, there can be no danger of your dog catching heartworm. You should be able to safely discontinue the preventative dosing during the freezing months.

If you suspect a dog may already have heartworms, before putting a dog on the following prevention it should be checked by a Vet to be sure it has no heartworms. The cost of this exam is generally between $5 - $15. It is a lot cheaper to have the exam to make sure your dog is not already infected, than it is to have a Vet save an infected dog during the advanced stages of heartworm infestation. This prevention (describe below) is only good to prevent an infection from ever occurring, once a dog is already infected then it must be seen by a veterinarian.

The exam consists of a vet drawing a small amount of blood, putting a smear of it on a slide and looking at it through a microscope. The microfilariae look like tiny wiggler fishing worms. This prevention is not to be given to collies or part collies. What I use is Ivermectin. It is a 1% injectible cattle wormer with the trade name of Ivomec ™ . You can purchase it (without a prescription) for $40 - $50 at your Veterinarian Supply Store or through a catalog from a Vaccine Wholesale Supplier. The bottle comes in a 50cc size. I give it orally which means by the mouth. I use 1/10th of 1cc for each 10 pounds of body weight. The syringes I use are 3cc and are marked off in tenths of 1cc.

The way I do it is to draw out 2cc of Ivomec. Then I inject what is needed into an empty syringe (without a needle) with the plunger pulled down on the 1cc mark. I dribble it into the empty one until I have the proper amount. I will have a few ounces of soft drink or orange juice in an open container. I will draw in 1½ - 2cc of the juice to mix with the Ivomec. I put my finger over the end of the syringe and shake up the mixture. The reason for this is to give me more volume to work with and to make it taste better for the dog. I put my hand across the dog's nose with my thumb on one side and my fingers on the other side. Then I put pressure on my thumb and fingers to force open the dog's mouth. I then tip its head up and squirt the contents of the syringe in the roof of its mouth. Finally, I close the mouth and hold it closed until the dog swallows. This is the only correct way to orally administer all types of liquid medications to dogs so that you do not accidentally squirt the liquid into the dog's windpipe and/or lungs.

I do this treatment to each dog once every 30 days. The Ivomec kills all the microfilariae (larva) in the bloodstream so they never have a chance to mature into heartworms. Microfilariae will circulate in the blood for more than 30 days before attaching to the heart, so if you give this prevention on schedule there is "NO POSSIBLE WAY" for your dog to get heartworms. Even if a drug is labeled as safe for pregnant and/or lactating bitches. Personally, I don't recommend you give any kind of medications to a pregnant bitch unless the life of the bitch is in grave danger.

The cost is minimal for each dog. If the 50cc bottle of Ivomec costs you $40.00, this comes to 80 cents per cc. Given 12 months in a row, a 20 lb. dog will take 2½cc per year. That is a cost of $2.00 for a one year prevention! The shelf life for the Ivomec is about 3 years if kept refrigerated. Therefore, this method is feasible to use even if you only have one dog, and it is by far the cheapest and most effective prevention against heartworms. If you have two or more dogs this can save you hundreds of dollars per year.

DISEASE TREATMENT

What if your dog has heartworm disease and you can't afford the expense of conventional veterinary treatment? There are options, there is a very effective and low cost treatment available using a combination of oral Ivermectin (about $40 for a one-year supply) and Doxycycline (an affordable antibiotic). This 'soft-kill' treatment option gradually kills the heartworms over a period of approximately one year, in which time the dog's physical activities must be kept to a minimum. For for young dogs who are hyperactive this treatment approach may even be a safer option compared to conventional protocol which calls for the use of, Melarsomine (Immiticide®), a drug containing arsenic and as you might expect from the ingredient name alone, it can cause problems. Preliminary observations suggest that administration of DOXY + IVM for several months prior to (or without) MEL, will eliminate adult HW with less potential for severe thromboembolism than MEL alone. MEL is the abbreviation for melarsomine, an arsenic-containing compound used to kill immature (4+ month old) and adult heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) in dogs. More detailed information from the scientific abstract can be found here: Ivermectin and Doxycycline Heartworm Treatment

Please be sure to visit your vet for warranted tests and treatment information to help ensure proper dosing of Ivermectin. Ivermectin can be purchased over the counter at most feed stores or online, but it can be very deadly if given in an improper dose, or to certain breeds of dogs (see collie reference at bottom of page). But it is considered extremely safe when it is given at the correct dose. Doxycycline is a pharmaceutical antibiotic and to obtain it you will need a prescription from your vet.

The dosages used by the Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA are: Treatment with ivermectin (IVM; 6 μg/kg - by mouth, weekly) combined with doxycycline (DOXY; 10 mg/kg/day orally from Weeks 0–6, 10–12, 16–18, 22–26 and 28–34).

If your vet is not familiar with this economical form of treatment, consider printing the scientific abstract from the International Journal for Parasitology Volume 38, Issue 12 and giving it to your vet. If your veterinarian refuses to help you with this approach, try calling another vet in your area who may be more receptive.

Breed Toxicity to Ivermectin: Dr. Katrina Mealey at Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine pinpointed the mechanism and its gene that cause Collies and potentially other breeds to react so erratically when administered ivermectin.

Her medical evidence validated the presence or absence of a single protein, Pglycoprotein (P-gp). When P-gp is present and functional, ivermectin cannot remain in the brain, and a dog can tolerate the heartworm preventive. When P-gp is absent, ivermectin penetrates the brain and stays there, thus setting in motion the circumstances for toxic reaction.

The breeds most affected are closely related herding breeds. Along with the Collie, anecdotal statistics claim Australian Shepherds, Bearded Collies, Border Collies, Old English Sheepdogs, and Shetland Sheepdogs as those breeds at high risk for ivermectin toxicity. Similar suspicious events have added a variety of other breeds to this list from Whippets to Irish Water Spaniels to Bullmastiffs. Many of these breeds were already documented in veterinary journals as either proven or suspected to be hypersensitive to or intolerant of an assortment of medications including particular anesthesia and wormers. Toxicosis appears to be dose-dependent in Collies with a demonstrated sensitivity to ivermectin. Dr. Mealey agrees that ivermectin is safe for Collies at the six mcg per kg heartworm preventive dose, administered once a month. Mealey adds, “Even a large number of sensitive Collies do not show signs of toxicity at that dosage.”

For more information on pet healthcare we invite you to visit Pet Remedy Charts.

Heart Disease in Dog and Cats

SIGNS

Your pet has been diagnosed with a heart murmur. He regularly coughs,

especially at night. He can only exercise for a short time and has labored

breathing after moving. He may collapse or faint. His tongue and gums appear blue (cyanotic).

CAUSES

The most common cause of congestive heart disease is from a heart valve

(mitral Valve), that doesn’t close properly. This is often diagnosed early in life, and progresses to heart failure later. This is common in small breeds. In some dogs the heart muscle fails and can get very thin, a condition called dilated cardiomyopathy. This is more common in Spaniels, Dobermans and other large breeds. All dogs, and occasionally cats, can get heartworm. This is an infectious disease spread by mosquitoes, but shows up as heart disease.

Cats also get heart disease, but it is primarily from the heart muscle enlarging (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). Heart problems are often genetic, so they can’t always be prevented, but they are more likely to occur with poor diets, dental, obesity, lack of exercise, and by not being on a heartworm prevention medication.

SOLUTIONS - SEE YOUR VETERINARIAN. If your pet is displaying signs of heart disease (the coughing and exercise intolerance), then you must have an examination and work up to determine the root of the problem. If your pet is in obvious distress (heavy breathing, blue gums), then go right away. I always begin by treating pets with conventional medication, and add in holistic treatment. If your pet is diagnosed with heartworm then he/she can be treated with medication (Immiticide) to kill the adults immediately.

PREVENTIVE MEDICATION. If you live in a heartworm area then ensure that your pet is on heartworm prevention. The monthly tablets are very safe and effective.

FATTY ACIDS. The omega 3 fatty acids are effective in strengthening a failing heart. They make it easier for the heart to beat and decrease the severity of arrhythmias. They lower blood pressure and decrease the risk of blood clots. The best canine source is found in ground flax, at a dose of 1 tsp/cup of dog food. For cats use fish oil available in pet supply stores; give one 250mg capsule daily.

TEETH AND GUMS. Keep your pet’s teeth clean. Bacteria in the mouth will circulate in the blood stream and land on the heart valves. This alone can lead to heart failure. Clean your pet’s teeth by brushing and by being on an appropriate diet. Consider a dental cleaning if there is dental disease. This is most important for small breeds.

FIT AND TRIM. Inactive overweight pets are more likely to have heart problems. Exercise your pet twice daily and ensure that she is on a high-quality diet. The exercise will help the heart beat more efficiently, and tone the blood vessels.

ANTIOXIDANTS. These will prevent further damage to the heart muscle. The most recommended often include Vitamin E (100IU per 10 lbs), Vitamin C (100mg per 10 lbs) and Selenium (20ug per 10 lbs).

COENZYME Q. This supplement has been effective in people as an antioxidant and in decreasing damage to the heart muscle. The dose is 5mg per 10 lbs of body weight.

MAGNESIUM. It helps prevent arrhythmias and improves the ability of the heart to contract. The dose is 25mg per 10 lbs daily of body weight.

TAURINE. A supplement that can dramatically reverse cardiomyopathy in Cocker Spaniels is Taurine. The dose is 500mg three times daily.

CARNITINE. Effective in Cocker Spaniels and Boxers with dilated cardiomyopathy. The dose is 1000mg twice daily.

HERBAL HELP. Hawthorn has been shown to increase the ability of the heart to contract, as well as causing the outside blood vessels to dilate, making heart contraction easier. The dose is 2 drops per lb of body weight twice daily of the tincture.

DIRURETICS. In heart disease, fluid will accumulate in the lungs and abdomen. DANDELION is a very safe diuretic herb; give 2 drops per lb of body weight twice daily. APIS is a homeopathic treatment for excess fluid; give 30C twice daily.

ACCUPRESSURE. This can help restore the energy imbalances in the body. There are 3 major points: BL13, BL14 and BL15, located on the third, fourth and fifth rib spaces. Press each spot for 1 minute twice daily. After 2 weeks continue to use if you see improvement in your pet. The other points listed on the cart can be worked also and will aid in fluid retention and balancing the kidneys and the liver.

To learn more about holistic treatments and natural healing strategies for pets, be sure to visit Pet Remedy Charts the ultimate guide to using herbs, homeopathy, flower remedies and acupressure in home pet health care.