Bug Bites & Stings: Protecting Your Dog from Mosquitoes, Fleas, and Ticks

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When you instrumentality your canine for a walk, spell connected outdoor adventures, oregon simply bask clip outside, warmer temperatures not lone bring sunshine and longer days but besides immoderate unwanted guests similar mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks. These pests tin origin discomfort to dogs, transmit diseases, trigger allergic reactions, and adjacent pb to much superior wellness issues if not prevented oregon dealt with effectively.

In this post, we screen immoderate of the dangers pests airs to dogs, however to admit bites, and ways to support your pup. We assistance answer:

WHY ARE MOSQUITOES DANGEROUS TO DOGS?

Although immoderate dogs whitethorn not consciousness bites oregon person an contiguous reaction, mosquitoes tin inactive transportation the hazard of transmitting heartworm disease. Even a azygous wound from an infected mosquito tin present heartworm larvae into a dog’s bloodstream, starring to a perchance fatal information arsenic the parasites turn and unrecorded successful the heart, lungs, and humor vessels..

Unfortunately, over 1 million dogs successful the U.S. person heartworm, with the illness recovered successful each 50 states. Learn more astir heartworm successful dogs and signs to look for from the American Heartworm Society.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF MOSQUITO BITES ON DOGS?

Like humans, a mosquito wound connected dogs tin look similar a raised, red, and itchy bump. You whitethorn drawback your pup licking oregon trying to scratch it, but this tin origin tegument infections oregon blistery spots, truthful it is indispensable to look retired for these signs early.

Some dogs tin acquisition an allergic absorption to mosquito bites, which whitethorn origin swelling, trouble breathing, tummy upset, and different classical signs of anaphylaxis, requiring contiguous aesculapian attention.

Depending connected the thickness of your dog’s fur, detecting mosquito bites whitethorn beryllium a spot difficult, but checking for signs anytime you walk clip outdoors is important.

HOW CAN I PREVENT MY DOG FROM GETTING HEARTWORM DISEASE FROM MOSQUITO BITES?

There are a assortment of ways you tin assistance minimize the chances, including:

Going to the vet regularly to cheque for heartworm, arsenic aboriginal stages tin often spell undetected, and inquire them astir heartworm preventatives.
Limiting oregon avoiding going extracurricular during highest mosquito hours, which is typically astatine dawn and dusk.
Keeping your region from lasting h2o and clearing retired containers astir your location that tin clasp water, similar pots, vertebrate baths, and adjacent your dog’s h2o vessel if it has been near outside.
Using dog-safe mosquito repellent arsenic directed (note: ne'er usage quality repellents connected dogs).

WHY ARE FLEAS DANGEROUS TO DOGS?

Fleas are typically much progressive during warmer months, particularly erstwhile the somesthesia ranges from 70°F to 85°F, with precocious humidity. However, they tin beryllium an annoyance to dogs year-round, arsenic fleas tin besides thrive successful the warmth of indoor environments.

Fleas are small, wingless parasites that tin leap onto dogs and provender disconnected their blood. There are a assortment of reasons wherefore fleas tin beryllium unsafe to dogs, including:

Flea allergy dermatitis: An allergic absorption from flea saliva, which tin effect successful symptoms similar excessive itching, sore oregon infected skin, hairsbreadth loss, blistery spots, etc. Learn much astir canine allergies here.
Tapeworms: Fleas tin transmit tapeworm parasites to dogs erstwhile they swallow an infected flea.
Anemia: If determination are a important fig of fleas connected a dog, it tin origin humor loss, starring to anemia.
Bartonella infection: Also known arsenic feline scratch fever, dogs tin inactive declaration the bacteria from an infected flea.

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WHAT ARE SIGNS MY DOG HAS FLEAS?

One of the astir communal signs of flea infestations successful dogs is accrued scratching and biting of the skin, truthful if you announcement your pup is doing this much often, it is important to cheque for fleas. Other symptoms to ticker for see hairsbreadth loss, irritated oregon inflamed skin, redness, and more.

You whitethorn besides find tiny achromatic specs that look similar ungraded connected your dog. This is commonly called flea dirt, but it is made up of flea feces and digested blood. If you drawback immoderate of these signs, it is important to bring your pup to the vet instantly for attraction options.

HOW CAN I PREVENT MY DOG FROM GETTING FLEAS?

It is archetypal important to find retired however your canine tin get fleas to forestall them effectively. Fleas tin beryllium recovered extracurricular connected gangly writer and successful wooded areas, and they tin besides beryllium transferred from different wildlife oregon pets. Fleas besides thrive successful shaded areas, truthful cheque nether decks and porches for an infestation. It’s besides important to cheque your canine for fleas earlier they participate your home, arsenic fleas tin easy beryllium brought inside.

Ways you tin assistance forestall your canine from getting fleas include:

Regular grooming: Use a fine-toothed flea comb to cheque for fleas, arsenic they are commonly recovered successful areas specified arsenic the tail, neck, armpits, and groin. Additionally, support a accordant hygiene regular that includes regular baths.
Maintain a cleanable surviving space: From carpets and furnishings to canine beds, it is indispensable to regularly cleanable your location and your dog’s belongings, arsenic they are premier spots for pistillate fleas to fell and laic eggs.
Check with your vet for preventative measures: There are assorted measures you tin sermon with your vet, including effectual topical and oral solutions.

ARE TICKS DANGEROUS TO DOGS?

Ticks are tiny arachnids that tin connect to dogs and provender connected their blood. Pups stock the aforesaid risks that humans person erstwhile exposed to ticks, arsenic they tin transportation Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Anaplasmosis, and different superior tick-borne illnesses.

You’ll commonly find ticks successful brush-filled areas, particularly connected gangly blades of writer and adjacent bodies of water. Whether you predominant the woods oregon instrumentality to municipality environments, ticks tin beryllium recovered successful a wide assortment of antithetic areas.

WHAT ARE SIGNS OF TICK BITES OR TICK-BORNE ILLNESSES?

According to the CDC, tick-borne diseases whitethorn not contiguous signs for 7 to 21 days oregon longer aft a tick bite. However, determination are signs bespeak that your canine has been bitten:

You whitethorn beryllium capable to find a tick connected your dog’s skin/fur. Ticks are commonly tiny and dark, but their size tin alteration depending connected the signifier of improvement they’re successful and whether they’re engorged with blood. The CDC offers a visual connected wherever to cheque for ticks connected your dog, which includes successful and astir the ears, astir the tail, astir the eyelids, nether the collar, nether and betwixt the beforehand and backmost legs, and betwixt the toes.
Small, reddish bump oregon irritated, swollen tegument connected the wound site
Increased licking oregon scratching wherever they were bit
Head shaking if the tick has made its mode successful oregon astir the ear
Symptoms of a tick-borne illness tin see lethargy, mobility changes, fever, nonaccomplishment of appetite, and more.

WHAT ARE WAYS TO PREVENT MY DOG FROM GETTING BIT BY A TICK?

Just similar immoderate bug bite, prevention is key, which is wherefore checking for ticks is highly important anytime you walk clip extracurricular with your pup. However, if you announcement a tick connected your dog, it is imperative that you region it to forestall immoderate imaginable illness from spreading. Click here to reappraisal removal recommendations by the American Kennel Club.

Other ways to forestall your canine from being bitten see avoiding high-risk areas and maintaining your outdoor country astatine home, specified arsenic by keeping your tract mowed, trimming shrubbery, and removing leafage litter. There are besides preventive products, specified arsenic topical treatments and oral medications, for repelling ticks, but it’s important to sermon these options with your veterinarian. Since the Lyme illness vaccine is the lone vaccine disposable for tick-borne illnesses, it’s an important portion of protecting your dog. Talk to your veterinarian astir this vaccine and different prevention options.

KEEP YOUR DOG SAFE FROM BUG BITES

Staying alert erstwhile outdoors and looking for signs of bites is 1 of the champion ways you tin assistance support your pup safe. If you find playtime is being reduced, see bringing your canine to daycare astatine Dogtopia! We person temperature-controlled indoor playrooms wherever pups tin play, learn, and enactment progressive with like-minded friends, allowing them to merchandise their energy. Our state-of-the-art spa besides offers treatments that tin support your pup looking and consciousness fresh.

We besides promote you to cheque retired our scope of spa products connected Dogtopia Shop, including our shampoos and conditioners, arsenic good arsenic on-the-go wipes, that tin assistance marque bath clip and speedy refreshers a breeze aft spending clip outdoors.

This blog was reviewed/edited by Dogtopia’s Director of Health & Safety Lorraine Rhoads, an experienced carnal biologist and biology scientist.

The station Bug Bites & Stings: Protecting Your Dog from Mosquitoes, Fleas, and Ticks appeared archetypal connected Dogtopia.

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