Mosquitoes are commonly seen as a human issue. After all, we feel their bite as we itch the spot. And mosquitoes are responsible for more human deaths a year than any other creature on the planet. But that doesn’t mean that we’re the only targets of this small flying bug. And dogs can be another particular target for mosquitos.
In this article, we’ll look at why dogs are at threat from bites and what can be done to help you prevent the bite.
Why Are Mosquitoes Attracted to Dogs?
Not all mosquitoes are attracted to your dog, it is only the females, as they seek the proteins from the blood to help them produce eggs. And dogs are just as good a meal as any human or other mammal. The mosquito likes to target areas where there is little fur, such as on the inside of the ear, the bridge of the nose, and the pads of the paws.
The same things that attracts a mosquito to a human will also attract a mosquito to a dog. For example, they seek out warm prey, the carbon dioxide from exhaling, odours on the skin, movement, and the presence of certain bacteria on the skin.
These can be detected from some distance away. When the mosquito has found its host, it will often feed for up to four minutes and, as it is challenging for them to fly afterwards, will normally stay close to the host for some time as they attempt to find a good location to lay their eggs.
How Do Mosquito Bites Affect Dogs?
Mosquito bites are just as annoying to dogs as they are to humans. Dogs can suffer significant pain and irritation from mosquito bites. Here are some of the symptoms of a mosquito bite in dogs.
Symptoms of mosquito bites in dogs
A raised bump where the mosquito has bitten is one of the first signs of a bite. These usually develop within a few hours of the bite. The swelling can become very large. The dog will then often itch the area as it is very irritable. In addition, the more the dog itches the area, the larger the swelling.
Dogs might also have an allergic reaction, which can be mild from a runny nose. Or it can be more significant, with laboured breathing, vomiting, and diarrhoea or perhaps collapsing.
There is also a risk that they might display signs of several diseases. Those with a fever might have heartworm disease or West Nile virus. These can be lethal if they’re not given the proper treatment.
Are Mosquito Bites Dangerous for Dogs?
Mosquito bites can be particularly dangerous for dogs. One concern is the risk of the dog having an allergic reaction to the bite. Some breeds of dog, particularly those with a shortened muzzle where breathing is more challenging, can be at higher risks of serious health complications should they have an allergic reaction.
Some dogs are known to die from the allergic reaction caused by the bite. However, swift treatment by a trained veterinarian can prevent serious health emergencies.
Heartworm, or dog heartworm, is a particular concern. The parasitic roundworm is a small thread-like worm that is passed from host to host only through the bites of mosquitoes. The main hosts for the parasite are dogs, but they’re also known to infect cats, foxes, dingoes, and even humans.
The adult heartworms reside in the lung arteries and heart of the host. Light infections tend not to display any symptoms, although these dogs might prefer a more sedentary life. Those with higher levels of infections can show several stages of infections.
The first stage is when the host will cough, especially during or after exercise. The animal may also be reluctant to participate in exercise. The second stage displays more severe symptoms, including a generally sick appearance, more of a persistent cough, difficulty breathing, and tiredness. An X-ray might also display changes in the heart and lungs.
Finally, there is a stage called caval syndrome. This is when the blood flowing back into the heart is blocked due to a mass of worms. This stage is highly dangerous and the only cause of action is surgery.
However, this is not the only disease that dogs can catch from mosquitoes. They are known to catch West Nile Virus. Often this does not pose a serious risk in dogs, but those that are young, old, or have immunity issues are at a higher risk of developing neurological issues such as walking difficulties, convulsions, tremors, and more.
There is also the Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus, which is primarily a concern for birds, horses, and other equids, but there are cases recorded in dogs. It is sometimes known as the sleeping sickness and is hard to diagnose. Symptoms include fever, diarrhoea and can lead to death in a couple of days.
The Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis virus is another concern. Often seen in wild rodents, this virus causes a decrease in red and white blood cells. Although most dogs can successfully fight this disease off, there are some that will experience fever, weight loss, and diarrhoea.
Those that can’t fight the disease often die.
Another concern would be Tularemia, which is caused by the Francisella tularensis organism, often found in rabbits and rodents. The dog can experience painful lymph nodes, high fevers, pain, jaundice, and in serious cases, organ failure. The disease is known to be fatal.
How to Prevent Mosquito Bites in Dogs
There are numerous ways to prevent mosquito bites in dogs. Some of these are more proactive by repelling the mosquitoes from your home or area. Others are lifestyle changes that keep the dog away from harm when mosquitoes are likely to cause issues.
Pet-Safe Mosquito Repellents
There are lots of pet-safe mosquito repellents that you can use in your home and outside. Envirobug has several different solutions from plugin mosquito traps to portable mozzie zappers.
These are designed to attract any mosquitoes in an area to them and then kill them, through different means.
These devices are safe for your dog, children, and other pets. But they will prevent your beloved pet friend from being bitten.
In addition to the repellents for the home/garden, you can use personal repellents that will repel mosquitoes from you. While the dog is unlikely to wear one, being close to you might offer them some additional protection.
Limiting outdoor exposure during peak mosquito times
Mosquitoes tend to be active at specific times, often during dawn and dusk periods. They also prefer to be near standing or stagnant pools of water. Therefore, if you want to take your dog for a walk, avoid these areas and the time of the day.
You might also want to ensure that you plan your walk properly and not get lost. If you don’t know the area well enough, avoid walking at dawn/dusk altogether.
Mosquito-proofing your yard
Don’t make it easy for the mosquitoes to find your beloved pet. Look at your garden and ensure that you’re not leaving them with what they need to make a home there. Any standing bodies of water should be removed, this might include water butts and small pools of water.
If you have a pond, add a waterfall or some other feature that regularly disrupts the flow of the water in there. If there is some circulation, this can stop the mosquitoes from laying their eggs there. And add some fish that will also eat any mosquitoes. There are plenty of species you can add to a pond that will eat the mosquitoes and their young.
Natural solutions and DIY repellents for dogs
There are several natural/DIY solutions you can use. Mosquitoes do not like certain plants like lavender, lemon eucalyptus, and peppermint. Creating sprays with these odours in them can repel mosquitoes for a short period, but they will need to be more frequently applied and refreshed as they have a shorter shelf-life.
Consulting a vet for preventive treatments
For those who live in mosquito-infested areas, then you might want to speak to your vet about preventative treatments that are available for the potential diseases and irritation.
What to Do if Your Dog Gets Bitten by a Mosquito
Dogs can be bitten by mosquitoes, sometimes it is just bad luck. If this is the case, you need to know how to treat the bite. If this is the case, then you need to know how to treat the bite.
How to treat mosquito bites in dogs
Learning how to treat mosquito bites in dogs is relatively easy as it is the same as it is in humans. You first need to clean the bite area. Then you need to add soothing gel to the area and apply a cold patch if the bite area gets warm.
If there is swelling or redness around the bite. If the dog starts to show severe allergic/reactions to the bite, seek vet care immediately.
Long-term health considerations (heartworm treatment)
It is also important to consider asking about long-term health complications. Heartworm is a major issue and you might consider getting treatment for heartworms on a regular basis. In addition, you might want to get other preventative treatments or even give your dog regular treatments for a variety of mosquito-related diseases as a precaution.
If there are any symptoms of potential mosquito-borne diseases, it is critical that you seek medical help as soon as possible.
Common Myths About Mosquito Bites and Dogs
There are numerous common myths about mosquito bites and dogs that are untrue. One of these is that mosquitoes only target humans. This is completely untrue, mosquitoes will feed off the blood of many animals. In most cases, this doesn’t pose much of a risk of transfer of diseases because many illnesses are specific to the species. However, there can be some cross-contamination in some cases.
Another myth is that mosquitoes don’t pose a serious risk to pets. Again this is false. There are numerous illnesses like heartworm that can cause severe illness in dogs and there are other diseases that can be fatal to other pets.
You might also think that a long coat on your dog can protect them. While it might be harder for the mosquitoes, that doesn’t mean that they’re immune. Mosquitoes will target the hairless areas on the dog such as around the muzzle, ears, and even anus.
Conclusion: Protecting Your Dog from Mosquitoes
There are numerous preventive steps that can help protect your dog from mosquitoes. For instance, limiting your walks to stay away from mosquito breeding grounds and not walking during their prime hunting time. You can also seal your home, to ensure mosquitoes can’t get inside and use mosquito traps to kill any that do make their way in.
Using proactive protection can help you keep your furry family member (and your children) safe from the potentially harmful effects of being bitten by a mosquito.
