Bandit’s Heartworm Programs’ FAQs

What products are in the program?
The program consists of anti-parasitic herbs and support for the heart, lungs and circulatory system while the parasites are being killed. An optional product is included in case your pet has a lot of coughing.

Artemisia Combination (389mg./capsule)
Artemisia Combination contains two species of artemisia: wormwood and mugwort. These herbs contribute to a friendly environment for intestinal flora. Add to them elecampane root, clove flower buds, garlic bulb root, ginger root, spearmint herb and turmeric root, and you have a more powerful product. Artemisia is used for it’s antiparasitic qualities and supports the body in creating an unfavorable environment for parasites.

Black Walnut (500mg/capsule)
Black Walnut is an astringent. Its rich in tannin and juglone content and is believed to oxygenate the blood and kill parasites. Black walnut’s fame in folk medicine is due to its cleansing properties. As a vermifuge, Black Walnut Hull cleanses the body of many types of parasites. Some of the constituents in Black Walnut include beta-carotene, B-vitamins and vitamin C, fatty acids (linoleic, oleic, linolenic, palmitic), calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, lysine, protein, limonene, sulfur, iodine, phosphorus, quercetin, potassium, selenium, silicon, and zinc.

Coq10-100mg.
CoQ10 is known to regulate the use of oxygen in the body. Numerous studies suggest that Co-Q10 may be beneficial in supporting the cardiovascular system. Some studies have reported Co-Q10′s ability to support cardiovascular functions. When free radicals are present, CoQ10 destroys them and makes more oxygen available to the system for healing. Co-Q10 works as an antioxidant, protecting lipids and other cell components from oxidation. It is a particularly promising cardioprotective agent. When cells age, mitochondrial Co-Q10 levels decrease. But dietary supplementation has been shown to help maintain energy production and aid in cardiovascular function. Supplementation with this coenzyme has been shown to maintain mitochondrial and cardiac functions , and support recovery after stress and surgery. As an antioxidant, Co-Q10 scavenges free radicals, protects cardiac cells, prevents lipid oxidation and promotes the regeneration of vitamin E, another antioxidant.

HS II (460mg/capsule)
HS II is a combination designed for support to the heart and circulatory system, containing hawthorn berries, capsicum and garlic. Hawthorn berries are said to strengthen and tone the heart, feed the adrenals, cleanse arteries, and has been known to balance blood pressure. Capsicum has long been used as a way to boost circulation and cleanse the body. Recent studies have shown garlic to be of benefit to the digestive, circulatory and immune systems.

Mullein (optional) (290mg/capsule)
Mullein is rich in organic iron, easily assimilated to build healthy red blood, but not stored. It also contains vitamin C, bioflavonoids, B complex, vitamin A, potassium and calcium. It has a high mucilage content and contains mild saponins.

How do I order?
The products can be purchased from this website. Use the links shown for each product you are ordering.

Artemisia Combination (389mg./capsule) (100 capsules)
Black Walnut Capsules (500mg/capsule) (100 capsules)
COQ10-100mg (60 gel caps)
HS II (460mg/capsule) (100 capsules)
Mullein Capsules (290mg/capsule) (100 capsules) Optional: used for the coughing – it coats and soothes the respiratory tract.

How much of the herbs in Bandit’s Program do I give to my dog who has tested positive with heartworms?
Just like humans, dogs are different depending on age, breed, overall health, severity of infestation and activity level. If you are not sure what is the best recipe for your dog. This site is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. Information provided is a general guideline. For a dog with a mild to moderate case, who is in good health, is not of advanced age and is displaying little or no symptoms, this is what is recommended:

Weight 10-30 lbs
2 Artemisia Combination capsules given at night before bed and upon waking in the morning on an empty stomach
1/4 COQ10-100mg softgel capsule mixed with food at the a.m. meal (it’s easy to pierce the softgel capsule and dispense half the amount)
1-2 HS II capsules mixed with food at a.m. and p.m. meals (adjust accordingly depending on if your dog is at the lower end of the weight scale or higher end)
1/4 capsule Black Walnut mixed with food once per day 5 days per week

Weight 31-75 lbs
3 Artemisia Combination capsules given at night before bed and upon waking in the morning on an empty stomach
1/2 COQ10-100mg softgel capsule mixed with food at the a.m. meal
2 HS II capsules mixed with food at a.m. and p.m. meals
1/2 capsule Black Walnut mixed with food once per day 5 days per week

Mullein – optional
Mullein coats and soothes. It is suggested to give 1 at a time up to 4/day to help during periods of coughing.

What about the activity level of my dog?
You should keep your animal on low activity until the heartworms are passed [which is through the lungs] and you get the clear re-test. No racing around. Pets will generally moderate themselves, but it’s wise to be cautious and not encourage excitement on the down days when they may be passing. Always use a leash.

My dog is coughing, how do I know if my dog has heartworms?
The only way you can know is to have your dog tested.

Do I need to keep my dog caged up and quiet the whole time s/he is on Bandit’s Program?
My suggestion is that you keep your dog on a leash when s/he goes outside and that you do not encourage your pet to run and play hard.

How much of the herbs should I use for the Bandit’s Prevention Program?
A general guideline to follow is:

Under 5 lbs – 1/4 capsule Artemisia Combination and a sprinkle of Black Walnut capsule [equivalent to an eighth of the capsule]
5-10 lbs – 1/2 to one capsule Artemisia Combination and a 1/4 of Black Walnut capsule
11-25 lbs – 2 capsules Artemisia Combination and 1/4 capsule Black Walnut
26-50 lbs – 2-3 capsules Artemisia Combination and 1/2 capsule Black Walnut
51 lbs and over – 3 capsules Artemisia Combination and 1/2 capsule Black Walnut

Artemisia Combination is given the first week of each month. Black Walnut is given 5 days on, two days off. If you have a dog that is not in good health, we advise that you check with your veterinarian before using the program. The amounts aren’t as critical as when you are working with a dog that has heartworms.

Why do many of the success stories mention changing the diet. Is this something that is advised for the programs?
If you understand what many pet foods are made of, you would easily understand how the body would have a hard time fighting a battle while living on dead foods. Our diets make a big difference in our health and pets are the same. They need whole foods and nutrients that will build their bodies as they are fighting the heartworm issues. We recommend Life’s Abundance. This link will allow you to be informed on the difference in pet foods in the marketplace, so you can make an intelligent decision on what to feed your pet.

Is my dog going to feel better or worse while taking the herbs on Bandit’s Program?
Your dog will have good days and bad days as the worms die off. Dogs naturally rest when they don’t feel well. Most dogs start feeling better within a week.

How long should I have my dog on Bandit’s Heartworm Program?
All dogs are different, just like humans, and respond differently, but I suggest 4 months for mild cases and a minimum of 6 months for moderate to severe cases. Bandit was on a program for a full year. Since the herbs and supplements are also nutritional I considered it a supplement program fit for him at the time.

Where can I buy the herbs used in Bandit’s Programs?
This website sells the herbs. You can use the search engine for the products you need or use the links above.

Can I just buy something “like” the herbs used in Bandit’s Program at a health food store?
I have not worked with any other brands than Nature’s Sunshine. Over many years of personal use for my family and my pets before Bandit’s heartworms, I’ver seen Nature’s Sunshine’s quality really make a difference. And others have told me also that when they ran out and got another brand things didn’t seem to be going as well. There is no way of knowing about quality control, potency or formulation ingredient harvesting times in other products. Research by various organizations have turned up products that don’t have within the bottle what is claimed on the label. You will never find Nature’s Sunshine on any of that research or lists of “worthless” products. They manufacture to pharmaceutical standards. Watch this 3-minute video.

What do the vets have to say about COQ10?
Many vets recommend a normal dose for healthy dogs to be 10mg per 15 pounds of body weight per day. VCA Hospitals confirms benefits outside of use for heartworms.

How do I give the pills to my dog?
You can open the capsules and mix them into the food or you can hide the capsule in a treat that your dog will swallow whole. Use only as much food as the dog will definitely finish. Make it a small serving and make sure your dog is hungry. After s/he has finished that serving, you can follow-up with more food. Baby foods are also an option. You can mix the herbs with peanut butter (I suggest a natural peanut butter that does not contain sugar). Mix the herbs and peanut butter together and then stick it to the roof of the dog’s mouth. As the dog licks the peanut butter off the roof of the mouth, it will melt and he’ll swallow the herbs with it.

To pill a dog: have the dog sit down and tilt the dog’s head back. Lift the lips away from the teeth, hold the upper jaw by the gums directly behind the canine teeth, and gently push down on the lower jaw with your other hand to open the mouth. Place the pill in the very back of the throat, close the mouth and keep it shut. Stroke your dog’s throat softly until the pill is swallowed.

“I have three dachshunds I put on the Heartline injections a year ago. All three have now tested positive for heartworms. Any help you can give would be appreciated.” – Ric Moser
Believe it or not, Ric, this question has been asked many times. Sometimes the test gives a false positive, but many times the dogs do have a heartworm infestation, so it is my suggestion that you have your dog re-tested in a week or so to confirm the diagnosis and then go from there.

Ivermectin seems to be gaining popularity for heartworm treatment, is it safe?
Side effects of toxicosis (a diseased condition resulting from poisoning) include: depression, coma, tremors, ataxia, stupor, drooling and death. If you own a Collie, Australian Shepherd or a Sheepdog, you may want to research a genetic problem with the use of the chemical treatments and prevention.

Revolution is a new flea/tick/heartworm drug, what do you know about it?
The most common is hair loss at the site of application with or without inflammation (redness, flaking) in cats. Other side effects reported in cats and dogs include vomiting, diarrhea with or without blood, anorexia (decreased appetite), lethargy (sluggishness), salivation, rapid breathing, pruritus (itching), urticaria (welts, hives), erythema (skin redness), ataxia (incoordination), fever and rare instances of death.

I hear conflicting information on Black Walnut, what is your take on it?
I have used Black Walnut for my pets for several years and use it for myself. The holistic vets recommend it and compared to the tragic stories from side effects of the chemicals used for prevention and treatment of heartworms; well, there really is no comparison. Black Walnut is one of the herbs where “a little goes a long way” and is recommended by holistic vets to be taken 5 days on and 2 days off.

Black Walnut is also recommended in many natural pet care books such as: The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care, by C.J. Puotinen and Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats. Black Walnut poisoning is caused when dogs eat moist, old, moldy walnuts, not fresh ones from the ground or the market, and certainly not pharmaceutically produced herbal product with quality testing on the presence of molds or any other contaminate.

The decision to use, or not to use, any information is the sole responsibility of the reader. Opinions expressed here are those of individual contributors. This web site does not obtain verification of the claims of contributing writers. The success stories and information on this site are not meant to diagnose or prescribe for you or your pet. The ideas and information on the success stories pages have not been endorsed or approved by the FDA.