Heartworm medication is not risk-free. Heartworm is caused by Dirofilaria immitis, a parasitic worm. Heartworm is a small blood borne parasite that is transmitted via mosquitoes only. In order for your dog to contract heartworm, and infected mosquito would have to bite your dog, circulates in within their blood and then in 6-7 months becomes mature adults worm(s) in the heart and continue to reproduce.
While conventional heartworm medication is designed to treat parasites, the benefits may not outweigh the risks and exploring alternatives may be a healthier approach. Read on!
Traditional veterinary medicine prescribes a traditional heartworm medication, like Heartgard, Interceptor, Sentinel, Revolution and Proheart which are not intended to prevent heartworm, but are designed to kill heartworm larvaue that may already be in your dog's body. They also may not be in your dog's body or they are in your dog's body, but their bodies are strong enough to handle it without intervention. If you give heartworm, you may be giving medicine that your dog doesn't actually need. Heartworm medication is not risk-free..
Additionally side effects of the active ingredients found in many heartworm medications including ivermectin, pyrantel paomate, milbemycin oxime plus lufenuron, imidacloprid and mixidecttin, are designed to treat parasites and worms but come with side effects including vomiting, diarrhea, depression/lethargy, anorexia, convulsions, ataxia and in some extreme cases, death, according to Dogs Naturally..
Many holistic veterinarians, like Glen Dupree DVM, advises against taking heartworm medicine as he has found that strong immune systems were enough to protect dogs from heartworm disease and administering neurotoxins monthly would damage the immune system.
According to this 2023 study, "Younger dogs of specific breeds are more likely to experience a rare adverse event after administration of extended-release injectable moxidectin heartworm preventative" analyzed electric medical records of dogs that visited their primary care veterinary offices during the period January 1, 2016 - December 31, 2020. Visits during vaccines were administered were excluded from the analysis. Identifying adverse reactions to heartworm administration were based on diagnostic entries and clinical presentations within 3 days of receiving the medication.
Results of the analysis of the 5-year period included analysis of 1,399,289 visits with 694,030 that led to an incidence of adverse reaction estimate of approximately 14.3 adverse reaction events for every 10,000 doses. Further analysis implied that younger dogs and 7 pure breeds compared to miixed breeds had a greater statistical likelihood to experience an adverse reaction to hearworm. Heartworm medication is not risk-free.
While the risk of incidence is not super high for all dogs, the risk appears to be higher for younger dogs and pure breed dogs. I would bet that the risk is higher for younger dogs because their digestive and immune systems are still developing and are more sensitive to medication. Pure breed dogs are more prone to get sick and have adverse reactions due to lack of genetic diversity in their line, potential in-breeding and selective-breeding practices.
When I gave Sheldon, my first bulldog heartgard, he would get extremely lethargic to the point where he wouldn't even get up to eat, which was very unlike him. When I spoke to my vet about it she told me to basically just enjoy the down time. I didn't think it was normal and made me a bit nervous about giving it to him again the following month. I switched him to Sentinel the following month and he had the same reaction. Heartworm medication is not risk free.
After doing some research, I learned that the side effects he was experiencing was in fact, a typical reaction. I also learned that heartworm medication may not be worth the risk, if your dog is healthy and there are natural preventative options out there as well.
You can naturally help prevent parasites and heartworm by supporting your dog's immune system, with a healthy lifestyle including diet, exercise and careful vaccine and medication administration. You can also use an all-natural spray called Wondercide that kills and repels insects, including mosquitos. If your dog is out in warmer climates and you live in high exposure risk areas like the South East in the US and or there are more mosquitoes and bugs around in general, you can put him or her in.a t-shirt to protect them from getting bitten, which will prevent exposure.
Conversely, if you live in colder climates, you might opt out of heartworm all together and focus on feeding raw or home-cooked and exercise. If you do decide against giving heartworm medication, you can have him or her more frequently tested to for heartworm. Or you could choose to give heartworm medication iin warmer seasons, if that applies to your living situation.
I personally won't give heartworm medication to my new bulldog, Archer. I do put a t-shirt on him sprayed with wondercide if he is going to be outside and exposed to more bugs and check him twice a year for heartworm. We haven't had any issues so far and I have no plans to give him heartworm medication because for us, the benefits don't outweigh the risks. Heartworm medication is not risk-free.
If you want to naturally protect your dog from heartworm the best defense is a good offense. Feed real, nutrient-dense food, like raw or home-cooked, vaccinate carefully, provide ample opportunities for exercise and fresh water and get educated on your heartworm options. To me, the benefits don't outweigh the risks and heartworm medication is not risk-free.
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