The Heartworm Treatment Dilemma for Pets

Ask Dr. Carol, Avoiding Disease, Cats, Dogs, Heartworm Disease, Pet News, Systemic Illnesses 1 Comment »

Every spring, pet owners are faced with the battle of how to prevent Heartworms.

The EPA’s recent warning about the safety of topical products used to prevent Heartworm disease has many pet owners worried. Dog and cat owners are looking for safe solutions to protect their pets from the dreaded mosquito’s that carry and spread this disease.

Is there any hope that we could see an end to these pesky parasites?

Believe it or not scientists discovered the heartworm parasite of dogs over 150 years ago and it was found in cats over 80 years ago.  Yet, each year countless dogs and cats suffer from this horrible worm and estimates indicate cases of heartworm disease in dogs and cats in North American number in the millions.

So, what’s the solution?

Heartworm disease is no joke and is devastating to your pet’s health. Spread by the bite of a mosquito

these worms can grow up to two feet in length and lives in your dog’s heart.  This takes a toll on the heart and causes it to work much harder than normal to pump blood and vital nutrients throughout your pet’s body.  The result is that your dog’s heart gets tired from excess work and begins to fail. As time passes, pets show signs of heart failure.

Initially, dogs get tired quickly, sleep more and play less. As their heart disease progresses, fluid accumulates in their lungs so coughing especially in the morning, when they wake up is common. Without treatment pets die.

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Dog Arthritis & Heart Disease Respond to Natural Pet Product

Arthritis, Ask Dr. Carol, Dogs, Heartworm Disease, PAAWS Success Stories Comments Off

Sampson
Dear Dr. Carol,

Here is a picture of my beautiful lhasa apso Samson.

When he was 13 months old, I found him wandering loose with no collar in a park. He was skin and bones, covered with poop, and we later found out he had heartworm disease. We almost lost him to the heartworm, but 13 years later he is still here with me.

He has recently been diagnosed with congestive heart failure and his arthritis, complicated by several attacks from a larger dog that injured his neck, has left him in daily pain. He takes so many pills I can barely get them all into him.

paaws

When he’s been lying down and stands up, he cries out in pain. Since I have started using PAAWS, I have been able to reduce his medications (and continue to do so) and as a result he has much more energy and barely ever cries out. I’m looking forward to seeing what further progress he makes as I continue with the product.

I will soon start my 12 year old shi tzu on PAAWS vitamins too. I’m very pleased with the product and with the personal assistance Dr. Carol has provided me on multiple occasions.

Jan L.
Potomac, Maryland

Battling Heartworm Disease in Dogs Getting Tougher!

Ask Dr. Carol, Avoiding Disease, First Aid, Heartworm Disease, Pet News, The Head Comments Off

Heartworm disease cases in dogs increase; owners blame preventives for failing pets!

dog runs for frisbeeEvery month, lots of dog owners, give their pets some form of heartworm prevention. But recent studies are showing increasing numbers of heartworm positive pets across the country. Some people believe the worms now have the upper hand. Has our trusted protection failed us?

Dog owners understand that once -a-month heartworm preventives keep their pets safe from a very serious disease affecting the heart and lungs of dogs. Heartworm disease is caused by a parasite carried by mosquito’s and is transmitted to pets by a mosquito bite. Despite consistent use of preventive medications, a significant number of dogs are testing positive for heartworms, especially in the mosquito heavy Southeastern US. Are we seeing the beginnings of a resistance movement?

heartworms in dog heart

In some cases, careful questioning of the clients reveals some monthly doses of medication were not given, opening the door for potential infection. In other cases, medical records and client compliance appear to be complete, yet the pet is positive on the annual heartworm blood test.

Heartworm preventives works by killing immature heartworm larvae that are spread by mosquitoes. In theory, a pet who receives medication each month should be protected and never have a positive heartworm test. Why then, do some dogs test positive?heartworm transmission pic
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