Comments on Natural Heartworm Prevention

Glad I found this article. This year, I plan to skip the Heartgard with my dog.

Hello, Dr. Falconer,
It is with a breath of fresh air to have found your website and am now a member. I live in Roswell, Georgia where there are a lot of Dr. Whitecoats (even supposed homeopathic vets) that imply we are bad pet parents not to be vaccinating, using pharmas, etc. It has been a long road with finding our way to strictly a homeopathic approach. Our last two dogs started us on our way, but not soon enough for our 12 1/2 year old Elkhound. Her uncle lived to be 16 2/3. I believe her last vaccine at 11 slowly decreased her immunity (we planned for it to be her last, but not in that way) plus a broken heart (she passed 3 months after her Joe). We now have two new Elkies, (11 and 10 months) who have not been vaccinated. We found a vet in FL who will do 1/4 cc vaccine for rabies and then follow up with nosodes so we can be within the law! We are searching for one a bit closer to home.
Is there anything you recommend for intestinal parasites? We do DE, a home prepared organic cooked meat/fish diet with root veges, veges, fruit, pumpkin seeds, and herbs, plus a natural dewormer. They still continue to test positive for intestinal worms (hook, whip) which until they are close to nil will not inject them with the rabies vaccine.
Since December, they only leave our yard when getting a chiropractic adjustment. As puppies, they were raised on a farm in rural WV; we became their parents when they were 10 and 14 weeks. We did take them to a nearby school with a dirt track in our early days with them to burn off some puppy energy where most likely they could have been exposed to parasites that we did not remove when wiping their feet of dirt (puppies!!!)
Thanks for listening and the great advice your provide.
Kindest regards,

I purchased your nosodes last year and still have lots left but can't remember if they are to be given with food or not. Please reply and Thank you.

I shared this page on my Facebook Group and one of the members said
"NO research is shown. I would like to see the research."
and
"No research listed. When i read it I wanted to see research. This is all about his thoughts. nothing to back it up."
:)

I too, gave up heartworm poison several years ago, just after going to a raw diet for my dogs. I have several older dogs, ex showdogs, who have not had hardly any vaccines(except rabies) since puppyhood, and some have only had rabies vaccines. They do not have heartworm disease, and continue to be healthy...my oldest dog is 15.5 years old!

I would love to take my dog off heartworm prevention and go onto a safer way of prevention.
I read your article but you have not posted any research.
Where can I read about any research done in this field?
Just because there are dogs in high risk area without prevention does not mean that your idea works. It just means that they may have not been bitten. There are many dogs in my area that use nothing and are clear and many who are positive. I do not want my dog to be that positive while drinking beer.

Hi Dr. Falconer! I purchased and have been following your "Vital Animals Don't Get Heartworms" in April 2014. So far two years with no heartworm meds for my pups! Yippee. I see that there's an updated version now. Are the changes significant?

Dr. Falconer,
Have you ever heard of Pet Protector tags? (Here is my website http://www.petprotector.org/?ID=58544) I've been using them on my three dog for 3 years now, and haven't used any pharmaceuticals on my dogs since then. I live on the east coast of Florida near the lagoons. Lots of pesky pests.
Would you recommend this product to your readers? It's totally non toxic!
I also feed all raw for about 6 years now, and I have the healthiest dogs around. Everyone comments on their coats and muscles. They are small Rat Terriers and I haven't even had to give any baths for about 6 years. Shiny, silky coats. They just shake off any dirt after rolling around the yard.
I would really respect your opinion on this.
Thank you.
Terry N.

I don't want to stay, how do I get off your site?

I stopped giving Heartguard on my RIP GSD so the current GSD has not received any heartworm medication. And both always tested/test negative for Heartworm. I use Wondercide sprays when we hike. However both dogs were positive for Lyme but never symptomatic.

My dog has always been feed raw. I don't do flea & tick or heartworm. and I don't use toxins around my house. except for 3 rounds of puppy shoys and one rabies ( which I am working with a homeopath to reverse the damage done) he get no vaccines. In January he had a tooth the needed to be pulled. the vet ran blood work and did a snap test for heartworm( he was heartworm negative 9 month before). the test showed a very thin faint line but no microflora under the scope.the vet decided that further tests should be run. The first retest was inconclusive, 2nd was negative. so one more test was run where they heat the sample. It then came back negative. the vets comment was he must of had a sick heartworm. my comment was his own great immune system took care of it.

Hi Dr Falconer,
Thank you so much for putting this article up. I have been talking to lots of people about this topic and trying to decide what I'm going to do. So far, I have not given HeartGard since last October. I stopped for winter. I just got a HW Antigen test done. Negative. I give ground raw organic pumpkin seeds with my dog's raw diet, I feed garlic, I use essential oil spray.. Trying to really build my dog up, and so far, she is looking great. Really really turned her health around in the last year. For some reason... I have a bit of fear not using HartGuard. I had no problem throwing out the kibble, no issue stopping FrontLine, but I am anxious about this HW stuff because people warn me if your dog gets it, it is very, very bad.. I enjoy being in the woods with my dog and I plan on hiking a part of the Appalachian Trail in a few weeks, one overnight. A certain vet immunologist who I respect the hell out of (and who has really helped me a lot with my dog's health) advised me to do Interceptor, and said that the Trifexis thing was unfairly reported. I just dont know who to believe! I think I'm going to elect not to give anything for it, but I worry about it a lot. I did get your book and read it a few times. I also researched stuff online, talked to people who havnt given any meds in years.. I am still worried though. If I am this worried, can I get my dog tested more frequently, instead of yearly?
Peter

Hi Dr Falconer, Can you tell me about the heartworm nosode? What is it exactly? I have decided not to go back to HeartGard or do any HW poison. I feed ReelRaw, stopped vaccinations, use essential oil spray mix for bugs, and give supplements like ground raw organic pumpkin seeds, apple cider vinegar, garlic, bone broth... Really trying to boost her immune system. So far doing awesome. HW Antigen test came back negative after my last HeartGard dose in October. I did buy your eBook and read it a couple times. I am interested in the Nosode. Thanks!!
Peter

My little 8 lb seven year old mix yorkie seems healthy.but I'm reluctant to give her heart worm medicine and afraid not to. With the food even for humans I can't seem to go raw. I don't know what to do? Help!

I also wanted to update a previous post where I mentioned giving my dogs raw meaty bones. After a trip to the emergency vet due to blockage caused by ground up bone material, I no longer give my dogs bones of any type.

Heartworms are serious, please call your vet and talk to him (leave a message for him to call you back) before changing any treatment protocol you have set in motion. Just my opinion as a pet owner for many years.

Hi,
I'm bringing our Beagle/hound to the vet this morning for treatment for Heartworm and I'm really dreading it, in fact I cannot sleep thinking about it. What should I do?? They say he tested positive for the adults but not the babies in his bloodstream.
First they had him on antibiotics for 2 weeks, plus prednisone. Now they're gonna start the slow kill method plus more prednisone, then back for a shot which I fear will kill him.
His symptoms were panting very easily, and that's why they did the test. From reading here, would it be better to allow the worms to just die off, while making him healthier? Should I get the x-Ray done? They're not doing an ultrasound. He's only around 4 years old or so, he was a stray and prolly about a year old when we brought him inside.
I have a horrible feeling about bringing him to the vet, like he might die from this treatment. I'm going to cancel the appointment till I hear from you and I pray you read this!
Thanks in advance.. I should have looked this up sooner!!

I can't quite yet do a raw diet, but, I have gotten away from kibble...turns out there are storage dust mites in the dry and canned food that my dog with allergies reacts to. She is doing well with the desensitization shots, but will probably continue to need them.
I did buy a meat grinder Tasin-108 and have been grinding up chicken wings, gizzards, and just lightly cooking them to add to a homemade diet or quality canned food with good results. I also add a squirt of salmon oil once a day along with other supplements.
A clove of garlic once a week? I know in large amounts it can be toxic...
My dogs love an occasional raw frozen beef marrow bone, but be careful they will bite you if you try to take it from them before they are through!
The ticks are out, so we practically bathe in Wondercide! My allergy girl's dermatologist is skeptical that it is anything more than a deterrent, but I think it helps. I am trying to keep the poisons to a minimum.

Hi Dr. Falconer,
My husband is going along pretty good with no vaccinations, no pesticides and expensive bought food, but he won't even talk about RAW food !!!. That's too wild for him. (Old Chicago Italian guy). Would your HW prevention work on my poor store fed dog? Thank you so much for your many words of wisdom.