I saw a post where one of the notable writers in this community wrote about the effect of mosquito bites on humans, of course, coming from Africa myself, I can tell that mosquitos affect humans a lot and it even kills people too. But, would you believe me if I told you that mosquito bite also has a very strong effect on animals and they will not even spare our precious pets the effect of their bite?
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If your pet has a lot of fur, you may think mosquitoes may not affect them, but those mosquitoes know how to get into areas where there is only a thin hair coverage, places like their ears and nose. Cats and dogs would experience the similar itching and irritation that mosquito bite has on humans, the bite creates serious life-threatening concerns.
When mosquitoes bite a pet, there is a possibility that a mosquito-borne disease, especially heartworm is spread. When a pet is affected by heartworm, it causes lung and heart infections which is certainly a life-threatening condition. The parasite is carried from one animal to another through mosquito bites.
Systemic illness from mosquito-borne parasite infection may cause things such as; respiratory difficulty, cough, intolerance to exercise, vomiting usually common in cats, and respiratory difficulty.
Mosquitoes pass through different stages during their life cycle, the eggs of the mosquito are laid by an adult female, she will choose a site close to water, this is because mosquito eggs require exposure to water to hatch, but the eggs could survive for months unhatched in the absence of moisture.
The female mosquito is the one that bites humans and other animals like cats and dogs, they usually spread blood infections from one host to another.
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The total lifespan of a mosquito is usually two weeks, but in a conducive breeding condition with a high moisture level, its lifespan could be as short as four days. In areas where mosquitoes are rampant, it is impossible to get rid of all of them, but there are factors to take into consideration; untreated pool around the house, standing water around the house, water pooling in a tarp cover, broken screens, night lightening, ornamental pond, and animal water bowls or troughs left idle and dirty.
Mosquito bites are diagnosed based on the bite, and signs of irritation and itching. Heartworm is only detectable through regular testing, the bites that carry infections are difficult to detect from those who do not, so it is either regular testing that is carried out or when the symptoms of the illness are already present.
These symptoms could be an indication of dogs and cats being beaten by a mosquito; scratching constantly, rubbing of the nose and ears against a rough surface, or a case of red welts that is similar to mosquito bites in humans.
Just like humans, mosquito bites in dogs also cause pain and itching. A mosquito bite on a dog will most likely turn into a raised welt and be extremely itchy until it goes away. Depending on the breed of your dog, their coat may reduce the frequency of bites experienced.
When your dog focuses on scratching, chewing, or licking the same place, she may create a hot spot after a mosquito bite begins to ease up. Before proceeding to take over-the-counter medications, contact your vet first.
If a mosquito bite is scratched to the extent that it begins to bleed, it turns into an open wound that becomes susceptible to infection from environmental contaminants.
Heartworms are solely transmitted through mosquito bites. When there is no heartworm protection, dogs become vulnerable to heartworm infection, which could become fatal when it is left untreated.
Here are some preventive measures that can help manage mosquito bites in dogs;
To protect your dog against the effects of heartworm, give your dog a monthly heartworm preventative. When a dose is missed, the risk of infection will be increased.
Make sure your environment is less hospitable for mosquitoes. Eradicate every form of potential breeding space for mosquitoes in your home.
Conclusion.
Dogs cannot be kept in a close space for a long time, they have to enjoy outdoor activities from time to time, avoiding mosquitoe in areas where they are prominent, so it is best to take preventive measures to protect your pets against them.
