None of us likes to be bitten by mosquitoes and sometimes it is
easy to forget that our pets suffer from mosquito bites too.
Mosquitoes feed on blood, and they will take it where they can
find it. Only the female bites, the males feed on plant nectar.
While the female may have preferred hosts, she must have protein
from blood to produce eggs. And, one blood meal is often not
enough to produce a clutch of eggs. Often the female will feed,
rest to digest the meal and feed again up to three times before
she can get enough protein to produce her eggs.
So, each time your pet is outside in mosquito territory, it is a
sitting target for a hungry female mosquito that is eager to
reproduce.
Many species of mosquitoes will choose birds over humans or
pets, but they have even been known to feed on frogs and other
reptiles, if that is what they can find for a blood meal.
Most responsible pet owners know of the hazards from mosquito
bites associated with heartworm disease in cats and dogs.
Mosquitoes carry parasite larvae, which they transmit to your
pet once they bite. The parasite larvae then migrate to the
heart and major circulatory organs in your pet, where it
develops into an adult worm that can reach ten inches in length.
The problem with heartworms is that they can take many years to
develop into an adult that can cause symptoms in your cat or
dog. Dogs are usually more at risk than cats, simply because
they are usually outdoors more often. By the time the symptoms
develop, treatment is long and difficult. Sometimes the pet
owner is unaware of the problem until the animal simply dies
during exertion, a tragic ending that is very preventable.
Protection against heartworms is as easy as a trip to your
veterinarian. Many effective medicines, which are given orally,
can prevent development of the larvae, if an infected mosquito
bites your pet. The biggest failure of these medicines is pet
owner default. They must be administered faithfully once per
month with no lapse in treatment. And, just because it seems
like mosquito season is at bay, don't lapse and forget to give
your pet its dose. Many mosquitoes over-winter in protected
places and they arouse ready to bite long before you might
expect them.
Luckily, it is now possible to get a shot for your pet that will
afford protection against heartworms for up to six months. Even
diligent and caring pet owners can sometimes forget about the
narrow window of opportunity for administering the oral
medication. This new advancement spares you and your pet the
risky aftermath of those lapses.
Now, pet owners have an even greater concern about mosquito
bites to their pets. While rare, West Nile virus has been
reported in both dogs and cats. There are very few reported
cases of pet fatalities in dogs and cats, but the risk still
exists. Instead, most of the time, the animal may test positive
for the virus, without having symptoms.
If your pet has West Nile virus, it may have the following
symptoms: fever, depression or lethargy, muscle weakness or
spasms, impaired coordination, seizures or paralysis. If your
pet has these symptoms, consult your veterinarian immediately.
Bird and horse owners should be much more concerned. West Nile
virus is primarily fatal to many bird species. Crows, for
example, are very susceptible to fatal cases. Sparrows, on the
other hand, easily contract it, but have no symptoms. And,
migratory birds like sparrows help to continue the spread of the
virus because they are highly mobile.
Of those birds that are kept as pets, parrots, cockateels and
parakeets are most at risk. The risk factor is lower because
they are seldom outside. If your home is well sealed and has
good screens, these pets should be easily protected, if kept
indoors.
Horse owners are now able to protect their horses with a very
effective vaccine. Horses are particularly susceptible to
mosquito borne viruses, and it is difficult to keep them away
from outdoor exposure, even in barns and stalls. No such vaccine
exists for smaller animals.
The same thing that protects you against mosquito diseases also
protect your pets. Prevention!
Keep your home and yard mosquito free by being sure that
mosquitoes don't have places to breed. Avoid allowing any water
to stand in containers, like buckets, birdbaths, pet bowls,
gutters, storm drains, and plant saucers. Many mosquitoes need
only ¼ cup of water to breed.
The FDA has traditionally advised keeping your pet indoors
around dawn and dusk, because that is when many mosquito species
feed. That advice is no longer enough to protect your pet. The
Asian tiger mosquito is an aggressive day biter. It was imported
to the United States in 1985 and is now found in 30 states. It
carries both West Nile virus and heartworm parasites.
Instead, get rid of any possible breeding sites and also get a
good pet insect repellant. Mosquito repellants made for humans
are not to be used on pets. Never put any repellant on pets that
is not DEET free. Instead get a repellant that is made for
veterinary use and apply only according to directions. With your
pets, you have to assume they may lick treated areas and you
can't afford to take a chance that the repellant may be toxic to
them.
For example, tea tree oil is a good natural mosquito repellent
for humans, but it has proved fatal to some cats that have
licked it off of their fur.
And, consider getting a propane powered mosquito trap to reduce
mosquito populations in your yard. They are very effective,
although expensive, but actually kill hundreds of mosquitoes if
used according to the manufacturers directions. Over time these
devices can actually decrease mosquito populations.
Mosquitoes are here to stay. Our best defense for our pets is to
know how to avoid them, and how to keep our pets safe using the
latest scientific advances. And, many of the things we do to
protect our pets from mosquito borne diseases are good for us
too.
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