The one big question that comes up over and over again for pet owners is heartworm prevention. I do not use conventional heartworm prevention with my own pets. That is to say, a pill that I get from a vet. They are however, free of heartworms. It is possible for you to do the same with some simple changes that will enhance the life of your pet.
First, I will point out a few things that you might not have thought of. Wolves, coyotes, bob cats and other wild canine and feline breeds do not get regular monthly heartworm pills. And there are very few documented cases of any dying of heartworms. Think about that for a minute. Let your brain absorb that. Why then do our domestic animals get heartworms? These wild animals do not go to the vet annually for vaccinations, they eat what they can hunt, but don't have many of the diseases that plague our domestic animals. Are they getting infected with heartworms even though they are not taking a pill? No, of course not. It has never happened nor will it ever Why? It is solely because they have immune systems that are functioning as intended, "seeing" this parasite for what it is: foreign. The job of the immune system is to react to foreigners, be they bacteria, viruses, parasites, or cancer cells. "React" means to send in special blood cells, like natural killer cells to make antibodies and create inflammation; and in various ways, to attack those foreigners and eliminate them from the body. That's what the immune system was designed to do, and, if we don't interfere with it, that is what it does with great efficiency.
Here is a quote from Dr. Will Falconer, DVM "Is there evidence that the wild canids are really not dying of heartworm? Yes, in fact. Several years ago, preparing for a seminar on natural health care, I searched the literature for evidence of heartworm deaths in wolves and coyotes. Some very interesting data emerged 1. In this study, coyotes were autopsied after being trapped. Only 7% had evidence of heartworm present in the heart. And none of those who had the heartworm died of this parasite. The worms were incidental findings, i.e. not causing disease. And that's how it works in the real world. It would only be the very weakest members of a pack, those suffering from malnutrition or disease or weak genetic constitutions, who would succumb to parasites and die from them."
So what's the answer. According to Dr. Falconer there are 5 main things to consider.
NutritionVaccinationToxin exposureChronic DiseasesLifestyle
Nutrition
Feed your animals the very best natural ingredients. That means food that has not been processed to death devoid of all nutrients and full of fillers and toxic preservatives. Making your own food can be very cost effective and allow you to control what your pets are eating. Many dogs have allergies to common ingredients in processed dog food causing rashes, hot spots, behavioral problems etc.
Vaccinations
I have written on vaccinations before but it's something that you have to be aware of. Does you pet really need yearly vaccinations? Or does your vet need the income? As harsh as that sounds, in some cases it is the bitter truth. Repeated vaccinations weaken the immune system leading to chronic disease, and sometimes even death.
Toxin Exposure
Q: What's is the main ingredient in products that kill fleas? A: A pesticide. Are pesticides poisons? Of course, that's how they rid the dog of these pests, they poison the fleas.What are some other ways an animal can get exposed to toxins besides flea control? Lawn chemicals that kill weeds or insects, heartworm preventatives themselves (see the labels for warnings), household cleaners, cigarette smoke, etc. We must do something about these exposures.
Chronic Diseases
Common chronic diseases in animals are arthritis, allergies, ear infections, thyroid disease, diabetes, and chronic inflammation, like inflammatory bowel disease. What's the treatment for these animals? They commonly get brought to conventional veterinarians and are given drugs for their symptoms. These do not cure the disease, they hopefully control symptoms while the disease continues on, gradually getting worse with time. The outcome for this treatment is one of weaker and weaker animals, whose immunity is weakened by all the drugs, and whose ability to function properly is lessened.
Lifestyle
Animals in the wild get plenty of movement hunting for their food and warding off predators. Regular exercise is important to all animals to keep the body in good physical condition. And did you know that fluoridated water has been linked to increasing risk of hypothyroid. Give your pets fresh filtered water free of fluoride and chlorine.
For more information and resources I recommend go to http://alternativeanimal.com/?p
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