What Can Mosquito Bites Cause in Cats and Dogs? – 7 Vet Advice

My furry friend doesn’t get mosquito bites as often as we mere humans, it can happen.

Although mosquitoes are nothing more than pesky, they can do all types of damage if our dogs or cats are bitten by them.

You may not realise just how dangerous these pests are to pet owners.

However, mosquitoes can carry and transmit dangerous diseases to pets. know what mosquito bites can cause in animals and what to do to protect them. Lets See what can mosquito bites cause in cats and dogs?

Understanding Mosquito Bites

During a mosquito bite, the mosquito will puncture the skin of its host to suck blood, creating a small nagging bite.

This can cause a localised inflammatory response in both cats and dogs, leading to swelling, redness, and itching.

Pets tend to be unaware of the bite. therefore, more severe bite reactions can result, such as licking and scratching at the site.

With this new understanding of how mosquitoes interact with pets, one can deter early problems.

The biology behind mosquito bites is simple: A mosquito’s mouth, if we can call it that, is specialized for piercing the skin to get to a blood vessel.

In the course of this, they infuse a saliva which contains anticoagulants that help to prevent a red sibling from clotting blood, much alongside triggering an immune reaction interior the puppy’s body.

The typical symptoms of swelling and discomfort are a result of this immune response.

Common Reactions in Pets

Mosquito bites are common for most pets. The most common symptoms include:

• Swelling and Itching: Mosquito saliva is often met with local body swelling and intense itchiness at the bite site. Scratch or lick your pets, especially dogs, with the effort to relieve of their discomfort.
  
• Redness and Irritation: It may also make the skin near the bite red and irritated. The bite area may become raw or even infected if the pet continues to scratch.
  
• Pain and discomfort: Mosquito bites may be more rare but if they motivate, they can also cause noticeable pain if the bite site becomes infected or the pet is very sensitive to the insect’s saliva.

While they can be temporary and treated, they are still distressful for the pets, so it is important that they are seen by a veterinarian.

Mosquito bites may cause allergic reactions.

Like humans, some pets develop an allergic reaction to mosquito bites.

Repetitive mosquito bites to a pet push its immune response past the break even point, and the symptoms become more severe. This can result in:

• Excessive Swelling: Mosquitoes that cause illness and death carry parasites within their mouthparts that lay eggs as they bite the victim, sometimes causing a limb to swell all over, or even the whole body. You may even get a single mosquito bite that leads to swelling.
  
• Hives or Skin Rash: Hives (very small red bumps that are often very itchy and uncomfortable) may develop in pets.
  
• Anaphylaxis: Very rarely, a pet can develop anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can be life threatening. Anaphylaxis symptoms relate to difficulty breathing, swelling around the face or throat, vomiting, or collapsing. In such case, immediate veterinary intervention is needed.

Knowing the early signs of an allergic reaction is very important in order to reduce pain and avoid complications.

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Mosquito Borne Diseases: Risk

Among the biggest concerns attached to mosquito bites in pets is the spread of mosquito borne diseases. Outdoor pets can be at serious health risk because of these diseases.

• Heartworm Disease in Dogs: Perhaps the most well known disease transmitted by mosquitoes is heartworm. If a dog is bitten by an infected mosquito, it can pass the larvae in the heartworm onto the dog and the larvae will migrate to the dog’s heart and lungs where it causes serious damage.
  
• West Nile Virus: Though a human concern, West Nile Virus can also infect pets. In dogs and cats, while less common in these species, infections can occur and are most common in areas where mosquitoes are most prevalent.
  
• Other Viruses and Parasitic Infections: Other viruses mosquitoes can carry include Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and Zika virus in pets, but rarely. They can also act as vectors for parasites such as Leishmaniasis, which damages affected animals internally.

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Heartworm Disease: A Closer Look

Mosquito bites are a deadly concern with heartworm disease and are primarily a problem with dogs.

If a mosquito carrying heartworm larvae bites a dog, the larvae then enter the bloodstream and go to the dog’s heart, where they grow and develop into long, threadlike worms.

The damage these worms can do is block blood vessels in the heart, and lungs, and death.

• Symptoms of Heartworm Disease: Coughing, lethargy, difficulty breathing, and appetite are the early signs. The illness causes severe weight loss as the disease progresses and can lead to fluid retention and even organ failure.
• Treatment and Prevention: Heartworm disease is treated with a long and expensive process. Being Canine carriers of Heartworms is far easier to prevent than to treat and requires monthly heartworm preventative that is needed for any dogs that live in mosquito prone areas.

Also read: How to Keep Cats From Jumping the Fence? 5 Vet Tips

West Nile Virus: A Silent Threat

Most people are infected with the West Nile Virus by mosquito bites, but it is rare in cats and dogs and less so in humans than before. Not every infected pet will show signs right away, but as the virus spreads throughout the body, it can damage the pet’s nervous system.

• Symptoms: Fever, weakness, loss of coordination, and neurological symptoms (seizures and paralysis) are common symptoms of West Nile virus in pets. The virus is fatal in severe cases.
• Protection: Unfortunately, there is still (2003) no vaccine against West Nile virus in pets, so reducing exposure is key. Most of the risk can be reduced by keeping pets indoors during the peak hours for mosquitoes (dawn and dusk) or by using mosquito nets or repellents.

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The Role of Mosquitoes in Other Parasite Infections

Mosquitoes can also transmit other dangerous parasites to pets besides heartworm and West Nile virus. For instance, leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease contracted by sandflies and mosquitoes that causes severe skin lesions as well as damage to organs.

Mosquito bites also can transmit other less common parasitic infections, such as filarial worms (organisms that look like miniature worms), which can cause a variety of health problems depending on the kind of parasite.

Also read: How to Keep Cats Out of Garbage? Vet’s Guide to Success

Preventing Mosquito Bites in Pets

The best approach to avoiding health complications associated with mosquitoes is preventing your pets from getting mosquito bites. Here are several effective ways to protect your pets:

• Repellents: Pets have several mosquito repellents. Never use anything on an animal which isn’t specifically formulated for animals and so has harmful chemicals in it.
  
• Natural Remedies: Natural mosquito repellents such as citronella or eucalyptus oils are great. However, it is always best to speak with your veterinarian before applying any essential oils to ensure the safety of pets.
  
• Creating a Mosquito-Free Environment: Get rid of standing water around your property because mosquitoes breed in still water. Screens can be installed and mosquito nets used to keep away mosquitoes.

When to Seek Veterinary Help

While most mosquito bites are harmless, there are situations where veterinary intervention is necessary:

• Excessive Swelling: However, if the bite area becomes so swollen or if your pet seems in pain, it’s best to take it to a veterinarian.

• Signs of Infection: Your vet will need to check out your pet if there is a secondary infection, such as pus or fever, or if the bite seems to become infected.

• Severe Allergic Reactions: If your pet is having anaphylaxis or stops breathing after a mosquito bite, veterinarian care is essential immediately.

Wrap up on What Can Mosquito Bites Cause in Cats and Dogs?

Mosquitoes bites are often overlooked, but they can be harmful to your cat and dog.

The dangers range from allergic reactions to the transmission of serious (i.e. not killed or made dormant by heat) diseases such as heartworm and West Nile virus.

While you can’t always eliminate the parasitic threats your pets face, pet owners can limit and reduce their exposure by using repellants and taking other preventive measures.

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FAQ: What Can Mosquito Bites Cause in Cats and Dogs?