A pet parent’s worst nightmare is the ill health of his buddy. We all know that this illness takes a worse turn if your pet gets infested with worms. Dog worms’ infection is a common but life-threatening issue if left untreated.
Dog owners take their infested pet to the vet for deworming treatment as soon as possible. But, most of the time, the toxic chemicals or heavy doses of the medicines do not get along well with the dog’s overall health. They work well against the worms but impose other health concerns.
In this situation, you would probably find yourself wondering for an alternative. Here it is! Natural remedies are best to help your dog get rid of the worms. These remedies are not only effective against the worms but also improve the immune system and health of the pets. You can go through some of the best natural remedies enlisted in this article for effectively treating your dog against worms.
1. Kefir
Kefir is a fermented version of milk. It is like yogurt but more digestible for dogs. It helps pups get rid of worms in a short period. One to two teaspoons of non-dairy kefir like coconut or goat milk kefir a day tremendously improves your dog’s digestion and overall health. It helps the dog fight worms and kills many pathogenic bacteria and viruses.
2. Carrots
Like all orange vegetables, carrots carry a great source of vitamin A and other helpful minerals. Carrots help our canine companions to get rid of worms. Coarsely chopped carrots scrap the walls and lining of the intestine. As soon as it enters the intestine, the substances in carrots remove the mucus, parasites, or any types of worms residing there. Carrots boost the immune system and are an excellent source of nutrients for your pet. You can feed them as tasty treats or include them as a meal for your dog.
3. Turmeric
Turmeric is considered a superfood. It has been used for generations to boost the immune system. Turmeric can help get rid of dog worms and repair the damage. It contains Curcumin that can be difficult for a dog to digest or absorb. So, it is better to make a paste with oil or milk to feed your pet. Turmeric is a package of anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, or anti-fungal properties.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar gives many health benefits. It is also used as a treatment against dog worms and parasites. It increases the alkaline level in the intestinal part of the dogs. High alkaline levels kill the worms and other parasites. Add 1/4 to 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar daily in your dog’s drinking water. Not only does it improve overall health but also improves dogs’ coat conditions.
5. Coconut
Feeding coconut oil to your pet promotes a healthy balance of natural biota in the gut. It is anti-fungal, antibacterial, and anti-parasitic. Coconut improves digestion of nutrients and minerals impacting the overall health of the dogs. Coconut oil makes the dogs’ quote shiny and soft while keeping the parasites away. Giving one to two tablespoons of coconut oil or small pieces of dried coconut proves beneficial for dogs in all conditions.
6. Pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds contain an amino acid known as Cucurbitacin. It is an effective agent for deworming dogs. These can either be fed in raw form or as fine powder. The compounds in the pumpkin seeds can paralyze worms. Once they are paralyzed, the worms are eliminated from the intestine. One teaspoon of raw pumpkin seeds, per 10 lbs of body weight, twice a day, will do the trick.
7. Chamomile
Chamomile is known for its soothing properties. It helps the dogs with blotting, inflammation, or allergy caused by intestinal parasites, worms, or bacteria. Giving 0.25 mL to 0.50 mL per 20 lbs of dog’s weight will work best for his health. Chamomile is effective in removing roundworms and whipworms from the intestinal tracks.
8. Black Cumin Seeds
Black cumin seeds, “The cure of everything except death,” are effective for parasites or worms in the gut of your dog. Giving your dog half a tablespoon regularly will keep him from infection, parasites, and worms. It is a miracle medicine and one of the best natural remedies for dogs’ health problems. Not only it helps remove the worms, but also heals the dogs from the damage that worms had done.
9. Bone Broth
Bone broth aids in improving the digestive health of dogs by boosting the immune system. Strong immunity naturally combats the worms that have entered the organ systems. It prevents the dogs from various parasites, worms, and infections. You can add the bone broth to your dog’s food or feed him separately as a delicious treat.
10. Grated Fruits and Vegetables
Fermented foods like fruits and vegetables are some of the best foods to build a healthy digestive system in dogs. They expel worms and parasites by boosting the immune system. Adding fermented fruits and vegetables to your dog’s meal can help him improve his health and coat. A healthy immune system keeps your dog from intestinal parasites and all other types of worms. Give 1 to 3 tablespoons of grated fruits and vegetables per day, per 20 lbs of the dog’s body weight.
Identifying Dog Worms
All pets are susceptible to parasites, whether living inside or outside, young or old, sick or healthy. Parasites can cause minor diseases like stomach upset to severe causes of death. Worms can be dormant in your pets for quite some time before physical symptoms are evident. Delve into the dog worm types and the symptoms listed below for identifying an infection.
Types of Dog Worms
The most common types of dog worms are listed here;
- Roundworms
- Tapeworms
- Whipworms
- Heartworms
- Hookworms
Signs and Symptoms
All worms affect the dog differently, and dogs show varied symptoms of these infections. But we can summarize the sign symptoms shown by dogs in case of an infestation by worms as follow:
- Anemia
- Bloody diarrhea
- Poor growth
- Difficulty in breathing
- Weakness
- Weight loss
- Stomach pain
- Itchy paws
- Lethargy
- Poor coat appearance
- Pot-bellied appearance
- Dehydration
- Hunger Loss
- Intestinal blockage or pneumonia
- Blood in the stool (either bright red or darker purple)
Preventive Measures to Keep the Dog Worms Away
You can take various preventive measures to ensure that your dog does not get infected with worms. Following preventive measures can reduce the risk of dog worms and parasites to a great deal.
- Take the puppies for preventive treatment at an early stage of their life, for at least a month.
- Gives preventive medication to your dog regularly as prescribed by your vet
- Notice the signs and symptoms mentioned above in the article. If your dog shows any of those symptoms, take him to the vet for further examination.
- Perform fecal examination between two to four times a year.
- Keep your environment clean. Make sure there is no fecal contamination in your dog’s surroundings.
- Dispose of your dog’s fecal matter immediately.
- Make sure you give your dog the foods that boost their immune system.
- Stress on sanitary and hygiene conditions in your home.
Final Thoughts
Dog worms impose a serious threat to the overall health of dogs. First of all, try your best to prevent your dog from getting infected. Make sure that there are no routes of transmission of these worms to your dog. If he gets infected somehow, you can use the natural remedies for deworming side by side with the prescribed medicine by the vet.
