Ways to Keep Your Pets Safe from Mosquitoes in Summer

The season of summer brings a lot of exciting opportunities for your pets to step outside the house and enjoy themselves in the sun. However, it might not always be a pretty sight when a pesky mosquito bites your pets, and they become sick for the rest of the season.

Do mosquitoes bite dogs and cats? Yes, they do. That’s why it’s important for pet owners to know how to deal with pests to lessen the chances of your pets becoming ill.

Why Mosquito Bites Can Be Dangerous for Your Pets

Mosquitoes are pathogens that can carry several infectious diseases and can transmit them to humans and animals alike. If you live in a warm region or near a stagnated body of water, there is a high chance that mosquitoes are breeding in these areas.

If you do not take proper precautions (discussed later here), the chances of your pet falling sick from a mosquito bite are very high. Here are a few contagious diseases that your pet can catch from a mosquito bite:

• Heartworm – Heartworms are life-threatening parasites that can enter your pet’s bloodstream by a single mosquito bite. Upon entering, they grow and multiply, thus causing problems in your pet’s heart, blood vessels, and lungs. Seek immediate medical help if you see any symptoms of uneasiness in your pets.
• West Nile Virus – While this disease can cause severe complications in humans, your pet might not be affected in the same way, but they can still get ill somehow. Make sure to give your pet a healthy diet to ensure that they strengthen their immune system.
• Allergies – Just like humans, a mosquito bite can cause an itchy and swollen tissue in your pets as well. Visit the vet only if your pet shows a severe reaction to the bite.

How to Avoid Mosquitoes from Biting Your Pets?

Here are a few steps you can take to protect your pet from mosquito bites –

• Stay indoors and close all curtains and doors during peak hours. Mosquitoes generally attack at dawn or dusk. The best way to prevent mosquito bites is to prevent your pets from interacting with them.
• Grow plants that repel mosquitoes naturally all-around your property. Choose the best natural home remedy mosquito repellent that will prevent mosquitoes from fluttering around your pets.
  
  
  If not natural, you can always use insect repellent sprays in areas where mosquitoes are present in the house. However, make sure that your pets are not allergic to the repellent that you’ve chosen.
• Conversely, you can prepare set up mosquito traps around the house or at areas where your pets might rest. These can be as simple as a cover to discourage mosquitoes from entering the area or electronic devices, which will drive the mosquitoes away from your pets.

Make sure to follow these steps religiously to avoid your pets from getting infected from a mosquito bite, which can possibly lead to several complications later on.

How to Treat Your Pets for Mosquito Bites?

Even after taking all the possible precautions, your pet can still get sick as mosquito bites are really hard to avoid. That’s why you should keep a close eye on your pets’ behavior, especially during summer where mosquitoes are abundant.

A veterinarian should be consulted as early as possible if your pet’s condition starts worsening. Meanwhile, are a few steps you can follow to keep an infection from spreading –

• Apply pet-friendly ointments on the area of a mosquito bite to reduce the itching.
• Treat itching with natural remedies such as oatmeal or baking soda mixed with water.
• Get your pet an Elizabethan collar to prevent them from scratching the infected area.
• Some vets might apply milk of magnesia on the affected part to cure the rash.

Keep an eye out for symptoms that might suggest your pet has caught any of the above-mentioned diseases. Consult a vet right away so that you can get a diagnosis.

Conclusion

A mosquito might not look harmful, but it can cause serious complications in you as well as your pet if taken for granted. Take the necessary precautions at the onset of the summer season and rush for a remedy at the first sign of danger. In this way, you can be assured of your pets’ health and overall wellbeing not only this summer but all year round as well.