Most people living in Texas use DIY solutions or some repellants when it comes to dealing with mosquitoes. While a lot of these solutions might help, people often forget about their pets.
Mosquitoes are as harmful to pets as they are to humans. However, there are specific steps that you can take to protect your pets from these pests that are infamous for carrying numerous diseases. It is recommended that you check out Exterminator Services in Plano to deal with mosquitoes in the most effective way possible.
With that being said, let us now have a closer look at how mosquitoes are harmful to your pets and what some great ways to control and prevent them are.
Mosquitoes and Pets
Since many pets, like humans, produce high levels of carbon dioxide, they are also strong mosquito magnets. The bite of a mosquito irritates a pet as much as it irritates us.
Some even experience potentially severe allergic reactions to mosquito bites. Animals are prone to certain mosquito-borne diseases, too, which makes mosquito control quite crucial for pets and livestock.
Some Potential Health Risks
Mosquitoes not only cause severe diseases to humans but also pets, and they are equally at risk. Some potential health risks include:
Heartworms- A pretty common and severe disease caused by mosquito bites in pets is heartworm. All it takes is a single bite from an infected mosquito.
Once made contact, the heartworm larvae then flow into the bloodstream and, from there, start clogging up different organs and blood vessels of the animal. The length of adult worms can be up to one foot and live up to 7 long years, and a dog can have about 250 heartworms at a time inside their system.
Encephalitis- It is a medical term that means “inflammation of the brain.” It is transmittable from animals to humans (zoonotic disease) and spread by a mosquito after biting an infected animal, generally a bird.
West Nile Virus- This particular problem has a more severe impact on humans but has been shown to cause mild effects in animals as well. Pets that get it from mosquito bites are likely to become lethargic or develop fever.
Protecting Pets from Mosquitoes
There are specific steps that you can take to protect your pets from mosquitoes. Let us have a look at some of them.
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Try Using Natural Repellent
There are plants with a smell that naturally repels insects and other pests. Some safe-to-use plants include lavender, lemongrass, rosemary, catnip, and mint.
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Remove Standing Water
Mosquitoes prefer to breed in standing water, which includes dog bowls, buckets, tarps, or anything that collects rainwater. Thus, check for it.
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Close Entry Points
Close doors and windows when mosquitoes are present. Install door and window screens to prevent them from making an entrance.
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Get Heartworm Preventative
Heartworm disease is quite prevalent in pets. It is better to get heartworm preventatives from the local veterinarian on a monthly basis.
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Keep Your Pets Indoors
Mosquitoes are most active in the early mornings and evenings. Please keep your pets indoors to prevent them from being bitten.
Allow Professionals to Help You with Mosquito Infestations!
Mosquitoes are not merely a nuisance but also pose significant health risks to both humans and pets. They carry numerous diseases that lead to severe health complications, and in some cases, they can even be fatal.
If you want to protect your family and pets from such disease-carrying pests, it is recommended that professionals take care of the infestation situation. Some DIY solutions are available in the market, too, but those do not guarantee success.
The application can be complicated at times, and the effectiveness may be reduced if not applied properly. Thus, instead of buying such products again and again, relying on professionals seems more rational as they guarantee effective results by the end of the treatment or preventive measures, whatever you opt for!
