Not just for humans, but also for Dog’s Health, mosquitoes are a nuisance. However, did you realize that a bite from this bug can harm your pet in more ways than only making ititch.
If you’re a dog owner like many others, you could believe that your dog’s fur coat shields him from mosquitoes. Although to a certain extent, this might be the case, dogs can still get sick from mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes can spread harmful infections to your pet in addition to irritating your skin and perhaps triggering allergic reactions. We’ll go through the fundamentals of how mosquitoes could hurt your dog and what you can do to keep him safe.
Mosquito-Transmitted Diseases
Some of the illnesses that mosquitoes can transmit to humans and which can affect people include systemic lupus erythematosus, the Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), and the West Nile virus. Heartworm, however, can be the most dangerous danger to your dog.
Dogs are the only animals that may contract the severe heartworm illness from mosquitoes. These microscopic creatures enter the right ventricle of your dog’s heart as larvae, develop into adults, and then reproduce there. The possibility of your dog dying from a heartworm infestation exists even if there are no obvious symptoms.
Related: Dogs and Natural Mosquito Repellent
How to Recognize a Mosquito Bite on Your Dog
It is rare that you are with your dog every waking moment of the day, so it is possible that he may get bitten by a mosquito when you are not there. Knowing the symptoms of a mosquito bite is crucial in situations like this. The first indicator that your dog has been bitten is likely to be scratching.
Although it might be challenging, you should try to prevent your dog from scratching the injury because doing so could cause more skin irritation or infection. The second sign of an allergic reaction in dogs is swelling, which can be so bad that it affects your dog’s ability to breathe or see.
However, the irritation will typically be mild and manifest itself at the bite site as a bump.
Note that heartworm infection symptoms are distinct from those of a mosquito bite and may take weeks to manifest. Coughing, difficulty breathing, nausea, weight loss, sensitivity to physical activity, and weariness are heartworm symptoms. You should get your dog checked out by a vet as soon as possible if he displays these symptoms.
How Do Dogs Get Heartworms? is a related topic.
Treatment for Dog Mosquito Bites
The initial step in treating a mosquito bite on your dog is to prevent your dog from scratching it and aggravating the bite because doing so increases the danger of infection and the transmission of disease. Apply a topical antibacterial lotion after gently washing the afflicted area in warm water and mild soap.
Take your dog to the vet for a checkup if the bite worsens or does not get better over the course of the next few days. In addition to treating the bite itself, the vet may now run a blood test to look for heartworm.
Defending Your Dog Against Mosquitoes
Getting rid of mosquitoes on and around your property is the quickest and easiest approach to protect your dog from them. Remove any areas with standing water, including puddles, clogged gutters, and decorative birdbaths. If there is no stagnant water on your property, mosquitoes will go somewhere to lay their eggs because they can only reproduce in this environment.
To protect your dog when he is outside
You can also rub a topical insect repellent on his coat. You should stay away from commercial items since they frequently contain chemicals that can do more harm than benefit. Lemon juice is an easy-to-use, all-natural insect repellent that you may apply directly to your dog’s coat.
You should give your dog a monthly heartworm preventive in addition to protecting him from insects. Your veterinarian will want to perform a heartworm screening before you put your dog on the preventative, but once you do, all you need to do is give your dog a monthly pill to stop heartworm infestations.
It’s simple to protect your dog from mosquitoes and the diseases they bring, so get rid of them before they can bite.
