Pet corner
Use herbs to prevent,not cure, parasites
July/August 1999
By Randy Kidd, D.V.M.
Time and again, I’m asked which herb is best
for treating worms. Time and again, I give an answer that surprises
many of my clients: If your pet has serious parasite problems and
you’re serious about treating them, don’t use herbs. Use
commercial drugs instead—they’re more effective.
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This is not to say that herbs can’t help. After chemical
deworming, an herbal program can enhance your pet’s ability to
avoid worm infestations. In certain mild cases, I suggest no
treatment at all, other than allowing the animal’s own healing
abilities to take over, perhaps with an herbal boost to help. For
example, a healthy puppy or kitty’s natural immune system will
eliminate adult roundworms as the animal matures, and tapeworms are
really more unsightly than they are a problem to your pet’s overall
health.
I see dozens of different parasites in the animals I treat. The
most common types are tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms,
heartworms, coccidia, and giardia. Each has its own life cycle, and
how they are contracted and treated varies widely. Early
infestations cause vague and nonspecific symptoms: general loss of
vigor, lusterless fur, dull eyes, weight loss, and depression.
Heavier loads of parasites can eventually kill the infected animal.
To effectively diagnose the problem, your veterinarian will need to
look at a fresh fecal sample and examine your pet’s blood.
Herbs: Not a cure-all
Over the years, I’ve tried several commercial herbal parasite
remedies on pets in my practice. The problem is that they don’t
meet the twin criteria that veterinarians use to evaluate any
remedy: safety and efficacy. In almost all cases, these herbs cause
side effects when used in doses strong enough to fight parasites.
If you want to risk using them—and I recommend doing so only in
mild cases—be alert for adverse reactions, especially in cats.
Although some herbal preparations are moderately effective
against tapeworms and roundworms (the relatively mild guys), none
are very effective against the more severe species of internal
parasites such as heartworms or hookworms, which can be lethal even
in small numbers.
• Garlic stimulates the immune system, kills
many bacteria and fungi, and has some apparent effectiveness
against parasites—especially roundworms. However, recent reports
show that it may cause abnormal blood cells and result in anemia.
Cats are more susceptible to the blood problems than dogs.
• Wormwood (Artemesia absinthium) contains
thujone, a toxin that stuns roundworms, which are then expelled
through the normal action of the intestines. Folklore abounds about
wormwood’s usefulness against parasites, especially roundworms and
pinworms. But repeated infusions of thujone can cause diarrhea, and
high doses taken for a long time may cause liver problems. Wormwood
as a flavoring agent is considered Generally Recognized As Safe
(GRAS) in the United States, but only if it’s free of thujone.
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