How to Protect Your Pets From Mosquitoes

The irritation of a mosquito bite is a pain, but for our beloved pets, mosquito bites can be far more than a nuisance. Mosquito bites can cause considerable skin irritation and even lead to heartworm if the biting mosquito carries microfilaria.

Mosquitoes can also transmit West Nile virus, eastern equine encephalitis, Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis, and tularemia.

Long story short: It’s important to protect all of your family members –– including your pets –– from mosquitoes.

5 ways to protect your pets from mosquitoes

1. Consider pet-friendly mosquito repellents
First, never put DEET or other repellents marketed toward humans on your pets. DEET and citronella are toxic to most animals, including dogs and cats. Dog-friendly mosquito repellents and essential oils such as lavender, lemongrass, and eucalyptus are safe to use. Some oils can be applied to your pet’s coat, but it’s best to talk to your veterinarian first to ensure it’s completely safe. Geranium and soybean oils can be safely applied to pets’ coats, though it is important that your furry friend not ingest these products.

2. Prevent mosquito infestations
One of the best ways to reduce mosquito dangers to your pet is to prevent mosquitoes from buzzing around in the first place. Mosquitoes breed in standing water and can do so in as little as a teaspoonful.
How to stop this? Regularly dump standing water from birdbaths and flower pot saucers, as well as the rain that may collect on furniture covers or kids’ toys.
As for adult mosquitoes, they tend to hide out in shady areas during the day. How to get rid of their hiding places: Regularly trim back shrubs, bushes, and tall grasses.
If you live in an area with a lot of storms or are prone to flooding, you may need to prioritize outdoor cleanup after a natural disaster in order to prevent a scourge from forming.

3. Add mosquito-repellent plants
Another way to protect your pets from mosquitoes is to create a natural barrier in the outdoor spaces where they play. Many low-maintenance plants naturally repel mosquitoes while contributing to beautiful and biodiverse landscaping. Calendula, bee balm, and marigolds all emit scents that mosquitoes dislike.
In addition to decorative plants, you can capitalize on your kitchen herb garden to help deter insects, too. Basil, rosemary, and thyme do double duty as fresh herbs you can use to up your cooking game while discouraging mosquitoes from hanging around.
When choosing new plants, ensure they are safe for your pets to be around.

4. Keep mosquitoes outside
If your family is going in and out all summer long, take steps to prevent mosquitoes and other bugs from following them into your house. How to do this? Place rechargeable electric repellers near doors to keep bugs away from entry points. Many retailers also sell screen door covers that close with magnets, making it easy to come and go without leaving your home open to flying bugs. Similarly, ensure window screens are properly fitted and consider putting mosquito-repellent plants in window boxes. Together, these steps can be very effective.

5. Bring in the mosquito-control professionals
If you’re looking for a more surefire fix to your mosquito problem, don’t have time to mitigate the issue yourself, or the infestation is particularly bad, hire a company to spray your yard for mosquitoes. Many companies offer pet- and kid-friendly applications that safely kill and deter mosquitoes. Most applications last 1-2 months, so you may need to make this a part of your regularly scheduled maintenance. In addition to applying mosquito repellent, these companies can spray for ticks and fleas, further protecting your pets and entire family.

Alison is a world traveler who loves to spend her time writing and reading.
When she’s home, you can find her playing with her pet rabbit and baking.