Quote:
Originally Posted by Mitzis Mom  Even the heartworm prevention is not really necessary if the dog is tested every 4 to 6 months. Better to just have some blood taken then to put poison into their fragile bodys month after months. |
I am all FOR limiting the amount of medication that goes into my dogs' bodies but again, this is another case of misinformation.
Heartworms are DEADLY. Microfilariae, the microscopic larvae of heartworms are injected into the dog's bloodstream once they are bitten by an infected mosquito. There, they circulate and grow until they are carried into the heart and take up residence in the pulmonary artery, 4 to 5 months after infection. Most dogs show NO sign of infection until this stage. The two (and only) tests that are currently being used to detect heartworms, the blood antigen test and a microscopic screen of the blood for microfilariae are INFECTIVE until the worms are around 6 months into the infection. As you can see, at this point they are already living in the heart. This can cause all sorts of complications for the dog. Treatment of heartworms is both expensive, dangerous, and difficult for the dog. They are treated with an ARSENIC based drug that kills all the worms in the body. However, since the worms live in the pulmonary artery (the one that connects the lungs to the heart), lots of movement from the dog can cause the dead worms to spill into the lungs, killing the dog. Treatment takes months and the dog must remain kenneled until it tests negative for heartworms. It's not something I would ever miss with.
I honestly do not mean to argue but I SO agree with ladyjane about the disastrous results of the public not following preventative health guidelines. I have no qualms with hollistic medicine. In fact, we see a hollistic vet, limit vaccines, and feed prey-model raw) but the health recommendations are out there for a reason! I would just hate for an innocent reader to read something like this post, forgo all heartworm medication, and end up with a dead dog.