Can Mosquitos Be Harmful To Your Pets?

When it comes to mosquitos, most people use any kind of repellant or DIY solution they can. While a majority of these solutions might help, people forget one thing, their pets. Mosquitos pose the same health risks to pets as they do to humans. With that being said, there are steps you can take to protect your animals from these disease-carrying pests. Lookout Pest Control, formerly Any Pest Inc., discusses how mosquitos are harmful to your pets and ways to control and prevent them around your home or business.

Mosquitos & Pets

Since many other pets produce high levels of carbon dioxide just like humans, they are also strong mosquito magnets. A mosquito bite can be just as irritating to an animal as it is to a person. Some animals might even experience a potentially serious allergic reaction. Animals are also susceptible to certain mosquito-borne diseases. That’s why mosquito control for pets and livestock is very important.

Potential Health Risks

• Heartworms – One of the most serious and common diseases that can be transmitted by mosquito bites to pets is heartworm. A single bite from an infected mosquito is all it takes to infect your pet. Once this potentially deadly parasite has made contact, the heartworm larva will flow into the bloodstream. From there they will start clogging up your animal’s heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Adult worms can grow up to a foot in length, can live up to 7 years, and a dog can have as many as 250 heartworms in its system at one time.
• West Nile Virus – Although this health problem has a more serious impact on people, it seems to cause mild effects in animals, too. Pets that contract West Nile Virus through mosquito bites are likely to develop fever or become lethargic.
• Encephalitis – Encephalitis is a medical term that means “inflammation of the brain.” This is a zoonotic disease (transmittable from animals to humans) that is spread by the mosquito after having bitten an infected animal, usually a bird.
• Additionally, another mosquito-borne illness that can affect pets is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). It has not yet been determined whether the Zika Virus affects dogs and cats, but it has been shown to be carried and transmitted by other animals including primates and rodents.

Protect Your Pets From Mosquitos

• Remove Standing Water – Check for areas of standing water where mosquitoes breed. This includes buckets, dog bowls, tarps, or anything that may have collected rainwater.
• Consider Natural Repellent – Some plants give off a distinct odor that naturally keeps mosquitoes and other pests away. Some safe plants include Lemongrass, Lavender, Catnip, Rosemary, and Mint.
• Use Pet-safe Insect Repellents – There are a variety of pet-safe mosquito repellents available in the form of sprays, wipes, and lotions that can effectively keep the tiny winged bloodsuckers at bay. Never, ever, use insect repellents made for humans as they can be toxic to your pet.
• Close Entry Points – Close your windows and doors when mosquitos are present. Install window and door screens to keep mosquitoes from entering the home.
• Keep Pets Indoors – Early morning and early evening are when mosquitoes are at their most active. Keep your pets indoors to avoid mosquitos.
• Heartworm Preventative – Heartworm disease is very prevalent. It’s a good idea to get a monthly heartworm preventative from your local vet.

Control & Prevent Mosquitos

We can help with professional mosquito control treatments tailored to your home or business. Our botanical treatments are applied to bushes, shrubs, trees and all common natural surfaces around your home where mosquitoes are most likely to land. Natural water sources where mosquitoes breed can also be treated for prevention. If you do have a mosquito infestation, be sure to contact Lookout Pest Control to perform a mosquito treatment on your home or commercial property. Lookout Pest Control can inspect, identify, and treat the problem. Call us today!

678-888-0035