Canine well-being: worming & fleaing

Canine well-being is a series of articles sharing the experience I have gathered while living with and caring for dogs. They will address common canine health concerns. I am not a veterinarian. The contents of these articles are intended to inspire looking beyond conventional ideas and practices. Be responsible and do your own research and seek appropriate veterinarian advice (from a holistic vet such as Dr Pearson from Paws to Heal).

Are you aware that there are effective, natural ways of worming and fleaing your dog instead of using chemical products? Keeping your dog’s immune system healthy is key. The smaller the toxic load on your dog’s body, the better your dog’s natural defense system can operate to ward off parasites.

Worming

There is a variety of intestinal worms dogs can contract. They affect their host in different ways – symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, scooting on or licking rear end, feeling lethargic or you might discover “rice bodies” in your dog’s poo.

It is a common practice to regularly deworm dogs. “Poisonous to pests, but safe for pets,” is a catchy slogan but is it true? How much of a toxin is accepted safe for pets? This wording suggests the use of a product is harmless and without possible side-effects.

Alternatives

So, what alternatives are there to worm your dog effectively? This is a herbal wormer I have used successfully in treating worms in my dogs. Using homeopathy is another way to safely free your dog from worms. There is no need to worm a dog that doesn’t have worms.

Prevention

Clean up your dog’s poop!

There are also dietary measures you can take to make your dog an unattractive host for intestinal parasites. Adding ground pumpkin seeds to your dog’s meals, for example, or black seeds. Mixing grated raw carrots, greens, fennel, papaya and pumpkin with your dog’s food. Do your own research! There is much information available on-line. One credible and comprehensive website is the Dog’s Naturally Magazine. Finding a holistic vet is another great option helping you make choices for your dog’s health that are effective with minimal or no harmful side-effects.

Getting rid of fleas

There is no benefit to regularly use chemical flea treatment on your dog, however, doing so means adding to the toxic load unnecessarily and weakening the immune system.

Just like with worming, only use flea treatment if your dog actually has fleas. There are plenty of preventative measures you can take and natural alternatives to effectively treat if need be. Do your research and/or consult with a holistic vet.

If your dog’s immune system is already compromised, consider adding a supplement to their diet that will support and – if possible – help heal your dog’s natural defense. I can highly recommend Faith’s Cleanse and Detox from Augustine Approved. Their website is also full of well-researched information on various dog health issues and natural ways of healing.

There are many anecdotal stories of dogs and other animals becoming seriously ill and in some cases even die as a consequence of being treated with chemical flea treatments. It’s not necessary to take that risk as there are plenty of alternatives available that are truly safe for your fur companion.