Heartworm Disease

Question:

My Mastiff, Sam, was diagnosed with heartworms last summer. He has been on the following herbal regiment:

AM
3 Artemisia
2 HS II
2 Yucca
1 Black Walnut
1 60mg COQ10

PM
All of the above EXCEPT the black walnut

As of December, Sam was still testing positive. He is an older dog (not his original owner, so not for sure how old, but 10+ for sure), underweight, but still very active. He does not rest unless he has a brief walk every afternoon when I get home from work. His cough has gotten worse and he does have some days where he's weaker than others.

My question is, would the Pet Dr. product be better for him? Or equally as good?

Thanks,
Kimberly

Response:

Hello Kimberly,

Thank you for your inquiry to Holistic Pet Info. The supplements you are using are acceptable to support the immune and circulatory health. The Parasite Dr. by PetAlive also works very well to help sustain Sam's system during the disease process. I would recommend discontinuing the Artemisia and HS II if you start the Parasite Dr. only because multiple supplements sometime can cause GI upset or intolerance.

In my personal experience in which I use supplements, they do not eradicate heartworms but are used only to help the animal maintain a balance of health during heartworm disease. It seems as if the disease process is advance for Sam due to the cough getting worse. It takes several years for adult heartworms to naturally die and if Sam is not on heartworm preventative (larvacide) they are continuing to reproduce in his system. The damage the worms do to the heart and secondary changes done in the lungs are what cause the decline of the animal. I have personally not found success eradicating heartworms any other way than by Immiticide treatment.

I would highly recommend seeking care from a holistic veterinarian to monitor Sam's progression during his heartworm disease. Best of Luck.

Sincerely,
Colleen Smith DVM, CVA