Herbal Options For Your Dog’s DE-Wormer

Although no one wants to talk about this subject; it is one subject that warrants attention, especially if you are a conscientious pet parent.

Signs of worm infestation in your dog can include: squiggly worms, whitish things that look like strings of spaghetti, or “rice bodies” in his stool, dogs practicing an unusual amount of fastidiousness, scooting and licking his rear, excessive coughing, clearing their throat, vomiting, and even diarrhea. Luckily, you don’t have to freak out or be afraid of worms because there are foods and herbs that can help keep intestinal populations in check and encourage their expulsion. Some of these foods and herbs may already be a staple in your kitchen.

Keeping your yard clean and free of rodents and flea, dead dry grasses, weeds, leaves, compost materials will also help, as well as not frequenting places like beaches, parks, hiking trails, dog parks with these aforementioned conditions.

What many people are not aware of is that FLEAS are the Cause of certain types of worms in many species including dogs, cats, and yes in humans. Fleas cause TAPEWORMS when the dog, cat, human, ingests the fleas accidentally while attempting to bite them OFF of themselves and the fleas hatch their larvae and the larvae become full on tapeworms. YUCK! We will have another separate article on FLEAS and Flea Prevention and Treatment in an upcoming journal article.

There are many less invasive and more natural alternatives to conventional veterinary medicine products that you might want to try.

Here is a List of Some Natural DE-Wormers; Listed from the safest to the harshest. It’s important to remember that some herbal substances can still be harsh on the body, so Consult with a good holistic veterinarian or herbalist familiar with canines if using the herbs that come with warnings.

Dog Friendly, Natural De-Wormers:

Just as it is with us humans, The starting point for preventing and treating worms in our beloved canine pals is always a healthy immune system. A balanced intestinal environment prevents disease, including parasite infestations.

Recent research has linked gut bacteria to many health conditions and the type and balance of bacteria in the gut can actually influence the lifespan of intestinal worms

. Avoiding antibiotics and processed commercial foods

Adding dietary probiotics like Lactobacillus and fermented vegetables like Kimchi and Sauerkraut – will help maintain the delicate ecosystem in your dog’s gut, making it less habitable for worms.

Garlic- *ALWAYS ORGANIC AND ALWAYS FROM YOUR HOME COUNTRY. *NEVER FROM CHINA*

When fed peeled, finely minced organic garlic in moderation, garlic can boost the immune system and help fight worms and giardia. A scientific study conducted back in 2008 found garlic to be just as effective as the veterinary de-wormer, Ivermectin. (Ayaz et al, Recent Pat Antiinfect Drug Discov. 2008 Jun) *We also recommend that once you cut and mince the peeled garlic that you allow it 11-13 minutes to rest prior to adding it to your dog’s food.

Directions:

Small dogs– up to ¼ clove twice a day

Medium dogs – up to ½ clove twice a day

Large dogs – up to ¾ clove twice a day

Giant breeds – up to 1 clove twice a day

* Ivermectin is another subject altogether and we will mention it in a forthcoming journal article.*

Fruits and Vegetables:

Adding some of the following fresh foods to your dog’s diet can also help make his intestinal tract less attractive to worms:

grated raw carrots, fennel, organic chopped/diced cucumber, parsley, shredded organic coconut, and peeled diced papaya.

Pumpkin Seeds- these are one of our all-time favorites for snacks or as a de-wormer. They are usually easy to find/buy and you can buy/store large quantities for preparedness.

Raw, organic pumpkin seed can help prevent or expel worms. You can feed them as a treat or grind them and place them in her/his dish. Directions: Give a teaspoon per ten pounds of your dog’s weight.

Olive Leaf
Olive leaf extract contains oleuropein, the active phytonutrient which can help expel parasites from your dog’s intestines. *Look for an alcohol-free extract with 12% oleuropein or higher and give it for 8 weeks.

Small dogs – 300 mg twice daily
Medium dogs – 500 mg twice daily
Large and giant breed dogs – 1000 mg twice daily

Diatomaceous Earth (DE)

It bears stating that you must feed a Food Grade DE to your dog; a product like you would use in your swimming pool grade DE is dangerous for her/ him. DE can reduce the number of worms in your dog although it may not be too effective for tapeworm. This is the type of worm associated with fleas.

Directions for De-Worming are:

Feed Small dogs (1) One Teaspoon per day

and Dogs that weigh 55 pounds up may be fed up to a tablespoon per day. Make sure it’s well mixed in her food because inhaling DE can irritate your dog’s lungs.

Chamomile

This herb and its cousin, pineapple weed can work to prevent and expel both roundworms and whipworms.* Some dogs like some humans can have allergies or sensitivities to Chamomille and other flowers/herbs in its family, so if you are even the least bit suspect that your dog might be one of these sensitive ones, check with your holistic veterinarian prior to administering Chamomile.

Oregon Grape Root Flowers before Being Dried and Crushed For Herbal Medicinal Purposes

Oregon Grape

This herb is not only anti-parasitic, it’s also a very effective antibiotic and liver tonic. Give Oregon grape as an alcohol-free tincture, using 12 drops per 20 pounds dog’s body weight. Oregon grape also works with giardia. *This herb shouldn’t be used in dogs with liver disease or in pregnant females.

Green Black Walnut Hulls

**Black Walnut

This herb can expel intestinal worms and even heartworms. Although it’s safer than most conventional veterinary de-wormers, black walnut can be toxic to your dog ‘if given at the wrong dose.’ Black walnut might be best used if the above options fail – but it’s important to* note that if pumpkin seed and garlic don’t help your dog keep parasites at bay, it’s a reflection of your dog’s intestinal health. In this case, it’s best to address his immune system and to seek the expertise of a holistic vet before using black walnut. The strong tannins and alkaloid ingredients in black walnut can cause vomiting, diarrhea and gastritis. * You want to look for ‘Green’ Black Walnut alcohol-free tincture.

Wormwood

This classic worming herb works on all types of worms including tapeworms. Like Black walnut, Wormwood’s tannins can be hard on your dog and irritating to her liver and kidneys. The FDA lists wormwood as unsafe for internal use. It should never be used in dogs who suffer from seizures, kidney problems or liver disease and should not be used in pregnant or lactating females. Wormwood should be given only for a few days at a time and preferably with the expertise of a holistic veterinarian. * We are NOT Veterinarians and therefore, the reason why we are saying that should you be considering some of these herbs, you DO consult with your own Veterinarian first.

Liver Support

If you need to resort to Oregon grape, Black walnut (Young/Green) or Wormwood, it’s important to understand that they can be harsh on the liver. *Giving Milk Thistle Seed at the same time can’ help protect the liver’ from their toxic effects. Milk thistle is best given in an alcohol-free tincture, starting at a 1/4 teaspoon per 20 pounds of body weight.