9 Home Remedies for Heartworms in Dogs and Prevention Tips

Mosquitoes don’t only spread deadly diseases among humans. They can do the same to your dog as well. Mosquitoes carry a deadly disease called heartworm and may pass it along to your pet. Heartworm is a parasitic roundworm that lives in the arteries and the heart close to the lungs. [1]

The situation happens when a mosquito bites your dog. The mosquito then transfers the larvae of a parasitic roundworm to the animal. The disease is dangerous and can leave the dog dead if you don’t take the necessary measures in time.

The treatment of heartworm is quite complicated and costly. But, you may rely on some home remedies for heartworms in your dog. The infecting heartworms get matured within about six months. They affect the functionality of the heart, as well as blood clotting. [2]

The symptoms of heartworms in dogs include general lethargy and persistent cough. As the disease progresses, your pet will have trouble breathing and won’t be able to do exercise.

You can consider the severity of the disease depending on how many parasites are on the dog’s body and for how long. These home remedies for heartworms in dogs can help kill the parasites in your dog. But you should always consider taking your little buddy to the vet for proper treatment.

Find Out More: 16 Home Remedies for Ear Mites in Dogs That Work

Potential Home Remedies for Heartworms in Dogs

1. Wormwood

Wormwood is a popular herb. It can treat an upset stomach, gallbladder problem, fever, intestinal spasms, and worm infections. [3]

You can also use it to get rid of heartworms in dogs. Wormwood is very poisonous to roundworms. Thus, it can kill them. [4]

But, you must use this remedy with extreme caution. Any sort of overdose could be harmful to your pet.

How to use wormwood for heartworms in dogs:

Prepare a tincture using fresh wormwood leaves and vodka/brandy of at least 40% volume.
Mix the tincture with your dog’s regular food. The dosage should be 1/8 tsp per pound of your dog’s weight.
Continue this treatment for three days.

2. Coconut Oil

If you’re not comfortable with wormwood, coconut oil could be a safer option for you.

It’s not only safe but also comes with a lot of nutritional value. The oil can keep your dog healthy while killing heartworms. [5]

Coconut oil is an excellent remedy to repel heartworms and expel them at the same time.

Learn how you can use coconut oil for heartworms in dogs:

You can mix coconut oil in the food with a dosage of one tsp for every 10 pounds of your dog’s weight.
You may also use coconut milk instead of coconut oil. The amount should be 1 oz per 10 pounds of the dog’s weight.

3. Carrots

Carrot is a healthy vegetable. It can ensure the supply of nutrition while treating some diseases.

Carrot root can treat cancer, diarrhea, vitamin deficiency, as well as heartworms.

The anti-parasitic agents of carrot help kill the heartworm and prevent their spread. [6]

Try this way of using carrots to get rid of heartworms in dogs:

Chop the carrots and mix them with your dog’s regular meal.
The quantity should be 1 oz. for 10 pounds of weight.

4. Black Walnut Extract

Scared of using dangerous drugs to treat your dog’s heartworm? The black walnut extract could be one of the best options for you.

Black walnut is quite good at treating parasitic worm infections, and other infections. [7]

It effectively kills the larvae of heartworms before they can mature. Its cleansing agent helps with the dog’s metabolism.

Here’s how you may use the black walnut extract for heartworms in dogs:

Mix one drop of black walnut extract for every 10 pounds of the dog’s weight in the food.
Repeat this process once daily.
For smaller dogs or puppies, give one drop every day for the first week, then one drop every 3rd day for the second week. Give one drop every alternate day after that.

5. Cloves

Clove is a spice. It has many medicinal properties. Thus it is used to make different medicines.

Like the black walnut extract, cloves may be effective at killing heartworm larvae. [8]

How to use cloves to treat heartworms in dogs:

Crush 2-3 cloves and mix them into your dog’s daily meal.
You can also use clove powder, but make sure no preservatives or other chemicals are there.

6. Garlic

The home remedies list of heartworm can’t be complete without the mention of garlic.

Garlic is rich in anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, as well as insect repellent properties. [9]

It cleanses the heartworm larvae from the bloodstream of your dog. Besides, it prevents mosquitoes.

Learn how to use garlic for heartworms in dogs:

Take the raw garlic clove, crush it and add to the dog’s food.
The quantity should be 1 clove per 10 pounds of dog’s weight.
Repeat this process at least five times every week.

7. Dandelion & Hawthorn Tincture

Your dog’s heart needs to be stronger to treat the heartworm effectively.

Hawthorn is great for blood circulation in the heart and helps to keep the heart healthy. [10]

On the other hand, dandelion can treat any infections. It can work as a laxative that increases bowel movement and helps flush out the toxins from the dog’s body. [11]

Try this dandelion & hawthorn tincture to get rid of heartworms in dogs:

Pour some hawthorn berries into a jar and cover them with a pint of brandy or vodka. Seal the lead and put it in a dark place for 2-4 weeks until the tincture is ready.
Mix vodka and dandelion root at a 2:1 ratio in a jar to make the tincture.
Add two drops of the tinctures for every three pounds of the dog’s weight to the food.

8. Medicinal Mushroom

Heartworm treatment depends a lot on the dog’s immune system.

Medicinal mushrooms can be an excellent choice to prevent and heal heartworms. [12]

It can respond against all pathogens and parasites, boosting the dog’s immune system.

Simple ways to use medicinal mushrooms to treat heartworms in dogs:

You can use ¼ tsp of the commercial mushroom per 15 pounds of the dog’s body.
You can also give 1-3 store brought edible mushrooms to your dog as a treat.

Prevention Tips

The heartworms may come back even after your dog heals. You need to make sure that doesn’t happen again, and you can do this by providing proper nutrition to your pet. [13]

You need to follow some specific rules to make sure your dog doesn’t get the heartworms again:

Try to keep the surroundings clean, making sure there are no mosquitoes.
Don’t give your dog foods with additive colors, flavors, or chemicals.
Mix grated carrots, coconuts, papaya, as well as fennel into your dog’s food. These foods can create a hostile environment for the parasites.
Make sure your dog’s regular diet contains at least 56% protein, 30% fats, and 14% carbohydrates.

When to Take The Dog to the Vet

Heartworms are deadly. Your dog can be weak, and you might find it difficult to try any home remedy. So, you must consult a vet for proper medical treatment.

The traditional treatments for heartworm in dogs include medications, surgery, or restriction on exercise.

Melarsomine, doxycycline, and prednisone are some of the common medications for killing heartworm in dogs. A vet may prescribe some other drugs depending on the condition. Surgery becomes necessary in case your dog is severely affected by heartworm.

Most vets restrict dog exercise to treat heartworms faster.

Bottom Line

Heartworms can weaken your dog and kill it in the long run. So, you have to make sure your dog doesn’t get the disease. Take your dog to a vet for a regular checkup and to prevent heartworm.

The home remedies for heartworms in dogs listed above are only complementary remedies. Do not rely on them entirely. Consult a vet immediately if your dog’s health condition gets out of your hand.