Intestinal worms can be found in all animals, including humans. They ultimately feed off toxic waste products and most of our pets will have them at certain times during their life. It is important to keep worms under control so that they do not cause problems to the host. Although we can live with small numbers of these parasites, it is mostly when numbers become too high that problems or symptoms start to appear.

Some animals may have heavy worm burdens and show no symptoms, while others will appear quite unwell.

Symptoms vary, but often may show as - digestive disturbances, impaired assimilation of nutrients, diarrhoea, frequently eating grass or vomiting, scooting (rubbing rear end along the ground), increased or decreased appetite. Heart & respiratory problems and immune dysfunction may also be a sign of worms.

Commercial worming products are very harsh and when used frequently throughout an animals life, can damage the digestive lining and cause further toxicity. They are especially harmful for young puppies and kittens under 6 months old. They should only be used when absolutely necessary.

It is essential to use preventative measures for worms on a regular basis, because if left untreated some can be fatal, and cause serious health implications.The naturopathic viewpoint considers that parasites feed off waste, so for long term preventative treatment, we look at cleaning the internal health of the animal (or person) so the parasites have nothing to feed off. A healthy host will have less problems than an unhealthy host.

A good example of this is if we imagine a garbage can - If this is a nice clean bin, no flies will hang around it, but if we have rubbish in the bin, then the flies will start to get into the bin, and the more rubbish the more flies!

In my experience I have found that animals fed on processed food have a much higher worm load than those fed on fresh raw meat diets. Some people say that raw meat will give them worms, but I have not found this to be so. The reason being that animals fed on raw meat are healthier than those fed on canned or dried food with more toxic waste build up in their systems.

Although feeding a natural diet will keep your animals healthy & strong, it is still a good idea to use a natural wormer routinely to ensure they do not become a problem.

The best time to worm your animals is just prior to the full moon. This is when they are more active, and not so embedded into the tissues making them much easier to shift from the body than at other times of the month.

Heart worms are rather nasty and can be fatal for dogs that have them. They can affect cats also but to a lesser degree. They mostly affect animals in Sub Tropical and Tropical climates and are spread by mosquitoes.

Commercial heartworm preventative drugs are also very harsh and there is now a yearly injection that can be given and I hate to think what the side effects from this will be in the long term.

A heartworm infected animal will be symptomatic within two to eight months. Once the worm matures in the heart it can cause heart failure and other complications.

Symptoms may include lethargy, vomiting, coughing or labored breathing, especially after exercise. Advanced symptoms may include fluid in the lungs, weight loss, impaired blood flow to organs, digestive disorders, loss of appetite and low vitality.

A blood test can be done by a Veterinarian to test if your animal has heartworm. Natural treatment options are available for animals that have been diagnosed with heartworm.

It is essential that you seek professional guidance if your animal has been diagnosed with heartworm. This is not something you can self-treat at home.

Please contact Greenpet for more information on natural treatments.