Everyday life with pet.
Nearly every person has been bitten by a mosquito at one point in life, making them one of the most nuisance pests in the world today. But what about pets? Do mosquitoes bite dogs, too?
The answer is yes, they do, and mosquitoes can also carry diseases that make dogs sick.
The extermination experts at Precise Termite & Pest Control share information about the risks of mosquito bites on dogs and how to prevent mosquitoes in your yard.
How to Identify Mosquito Bites on Dogs
Mosquito bites on dogs commonly occur on their backs and flanks. They are most likely to bite dogs in the dusk hours of the day, and dogs may not even feel the biting when mosquitoes land on them.
However, observe your dog carefully if you notice uncommon scratching, biting, or licking in a specific part of the body. A dog will often exhibit these behaviors after a bite. Dogs may also rub their nose or ears against rough surfaces.
Check for welts and bumps on your dog’s skin. There may be multiple bites or just a single bite in an affected area, which may last for a few hours or an entire day.
It is easier to see mosquito bites on short-haired dogs than on long-haired breeds. However, the bites on human skin look very similar—less than a centimeter in diameter with a flat, pink surface.
Can Dogs Get Mosquito Bites That Are Dangerous?
Mosquito bites make dogs itchy and uncomfortable, but the risks go beyond this. One of the biggest risks for dogs is the spread of heartworm, which mosquitoes can spread from infected larvae that enter the dog’s skin through bites.
Heartworm can cause permanent damage to a dog’s heart and lung arteries, and it can even be fatal. Although rare, dogs can also be affected by severe mosquito-borne diseases like Zika, West Nile, malaria, and yellow fever.
Meanwhile, mosquito bites on dogs can lead to a hot spot, a red, inflamed, and painful dermatitis skin condition. Some dogs experience anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, after being bitten by a mosquito.
Preventing Mosquito Bites on Dogs
The best way to prevent your dog from getting ill from mosquito bites is to administer heartworm prevention medication on an ongoing basis. This standard, easy, and affordable veterinary practice protects your dog from the most common mosquito-borne illness that affects canines.
You can further prevent bites by removing your property’s stagnant water sources, such as outdoor dog bowls and bird baths. Keep grass mowed where mosquitoes may hide, and use pet-friendly mosquito repellent products as part of your lawn-care routine. You can also install insect lights outside to deter mosquitoes from your porch and keep windows and doors closed or screened so they don’t come inside.
Get Rid of Mosquitos in Your Yard
Now that you have a better understanding of “do Mosquitoes bite dogs?” let’s figure out how to keep mosquitoes away from your yard in the first place.
Precise Pest Control offers professional mosquito control services to eliminate these burdensome pests from your life. We highly recommend treating your backyard in the spring before mosquito season really picks up.
As soon as you notice you or your pet getting bitten by mosquitoes, contact us for a free inspection to see how we can help. We look forward to keeping you and your dog safe from mosquitoes, so please give us a call at 866-971-2847 or contact us online for more information.