You might act to guard your family and yourself against bug bites before you venture outside during a warm mosquito season. Do you treat your dogs the same way? Although your dog might suffer just as much from mosquito bites as you do, your preferred mosquito repellant might not be suitable for your animal companions, so Anchor Pest Services advises a professional service instead.
The Importance of Shielding Your Dog from Mosquitoes
You may be wondering whether mosquitoes bite dogs. Indeed is the response as well. Multiple diseases carried by mosquitoes can compromise the health of our cherished dogs. When these insects bite a sick animal, say a fox or coyote, they get contaminated and subsequently spread those diseases to dogs.
Here are some possible hazards to health:
- Heartworms: Dog heartworm is a parasitic disease capable of major health consequences and even canine mortality. If not treated, it usually causes heart failure or severe lung disease. Infected mosquitoes pass the larval form of the worm to canines, which subsequently grow and procreate within the dog.
- West Nile Virus: Though not very frequent in dogs, it’s nevertheless crucial to be aware of the symptoms. Low fever and tiredness to severe neurological problems, including tremors, dog seizures, and paralysis, are among the variations in symptoms. Fortunately, most dogs have recovered completely from this ailment.
- Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE): Though rare in dogs, this virus carried by mosquitoes can cause major brain inflammation. Symptoms include loss of coordination, circling, anger, convulsions, and blindness.
By means of prevention, you can help ensure that your dog remains healthy and content, free from harmful and possibly fatal diseases.
How Can You Prevent Mosquito Bites for Dogs?
See your veterinarian for the best advice on avoiding mosquito bites before you spray your yard or apply mosquito repellent to your pet. Should an infection arise, they could counsel consistent heartworm treatment. Shop carefully also for pet-friendly insect repellant. Although some essential oils might be harmful, good ones, including cedar oil, lemongrass, or citronella oils, can be really beneficial. Pet formulations might be more diluted to remain safe for dogs.
Here are further actions you could perform to reduce dog mosquito bites:
- Clear standing water off your land.
- Steer clear of outside activities like sunrise and sunset during active mosquito seasons.
- Make sure screens and weatherstripping around windows and doors keep mosquitoes out of the house.
- Use environmentally friendly, pet-friendly mosquito treatments in your yard to keep your outside spaces free.
Alert: Never Use Human Mosquito Products on Domesticated Animals
Although you might have discovered personally effective insect repellent, you should never use DEET and other chemicals on your dogs or cats. These products might be quite dangerous and poisonous for your dogs. Because DEET substitutes are oil-based and do not actually kill the insects, they are also unsafe for dogs and usually ineffective. U.S. troops stationed in places heavily bug-infested initially applied DEET.
The products were on shelves and accessible to every general community member by 1957. Should your dog or cat come into touch with DEET—either orally or on their skin—they may exhibit extreme symptoms like vomiting, convulsions, skin irritation, and a staggered gait. Should they come into contact with DEET, they should be seen by a veterinarian every once. Other DEET substitutes can also include oils that irritate animals. Keep away anything not specially designed for animals since not all insect repellents are safe for dogs.
Conclusion
Equipped with the information to guard your cherished dog from mosquitoes, you may boldly give those itchy bug bites a good farewell. And here’s the cherry on top: these pointers can guard you as well! After all, taking good care of your dog also calls for your own optimum health.
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