Heartworm disease in dogs is a mosquito-borne disease that causes difficulty in breathing, coughing and fatigue. The use of particular natural remedies, however, can prevent contagion. Let’s find out better.

>   1. What is dog filariasis

>   2. Symptoms of dog heartworm

>   3. Dog filariasis: natural cures and remedies

What is Filariasis 

Filariasis is a very dangerous parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes. It is present in all lowland areas, those rich in streams, lagoons and near swamps.

The period of the year in which infestation is possible goes more or less from April to November according to when the weather conditions are favorable to insects.

There are two types of heartworm :

• Dirofilaria repens , which is localized in the skin causing the formation of nodules that can ulcerate and infect.
• Dirofilaria immitis , which is localized in the heart and pulmonary arteries. It can reach a length of more than 25 cm and causes progressive damage to the heart and lungs causing lethal cardiorespiratory failure. 

When the adult heartworm reproduces, its larvae reach the superficial microcirculation from where they are aspirated by the mosquitoes through the sting and always through the sting they are inoculated into the healthy animal in which they undergo other transformations before reaching the venous vessels and therefore the heart. where they develop into adults, creating real balls of threads as thick as spaghetti. 

Symptoms of Filariasis

Symptoms of filariasis are difficulty in breathing, continuous tiredness, dry cough due to the fact that the organism, being in oxygen deficiency, tries to free the respiratory tract even if in reality there is no obstacle.

There is also heart failure (the heart cannot pump the blood well due to this “ball” of worms) and  anemia due to the fact that the heartworms destroy red blood cells. 

Dog filariasis: natural cures and remedies

Natural cures aim to prevent contagion and therefore the onset of filariasis. Since the carrier agent of the disease is the mosquito, the thing to absolutely avoid is its bite.

So try to keep the dog away during the hours when insects are hunting for food (early morning and evening) and, if possible, put mosquito nets on the windows.

The integration of brewer ‘s yeast into the dog’s food makes the skin more unpleasant for insects .

The following medicinal herbs have the same effect:

• Ulmus ,
• Olea ,
• Centaurium umbellatum .

The extracts of these plants must be mixed with food on a daily basis.

Effective external repellents are essential oils of lemongrass and mint . You have to put a drop of these oils in 250 ml of water, wet some cotton and pass it carefully on the hair every day, especially on the ears, genitals and hairless parts. There are also ready-made spray mixtures on the market.

These essential oils can also be added to the shampoo to get an effective bath as well as for mosquitoes, even to ward off sand flies (vehicles of leishmania infestation).

If, on the other hand, chemical anti-parasitic molecules are used, dogs can be helped to purify themselves by adding small quantities of parsley and mallow flowers and leaves to their food (finely chopped and mixed with the usual food).

Lemongrass sometimes gives allergic reactions in sensitive individuals: it is therefore good to do a test by putting a drop of essential oil, diluted in a teaspoon of olive or sweet almond oil, on a part with little hair: if you create redness, lemongrass should not be used.

Even the essence of eucalyptus has a good repellent action : 4 drops in a liter of warm water are enough. Rub away from eyes and mucous membranes. Exceptional larvicide and insecticide is Neem oil, on the market there are various forms of products based on this oil specially designed for dogs.