Mosquitos aren’t just a nuisance to us – they're also a pain for your dog!! Not only do they cause an itch due to their bite, but they can also spread disease to your pet.

Here are some ways you can help protect your dog from mosquitos:

1. Purchasing a dog-safe insect/ mosquito repellent, there’s lots of information about these online, but if you're unsure give your local vet a call before using them.
2. Put preventative measures around your backyard – citronella is an excellent way to do this naturally. It's also a good idea to avoid stagnant water i.e., ponds, bird baths, kiddie pools etc.
3. Keep your doors shut to prevent mosquitos from entering your house!!
4. It is nearly impossible to ensure your dog is completely safe from mosquitos, so this means it's very important to ensure your dog's heartworm treatments are up to date.

What is a heartworm?

A mosquito bite might give your pet the parasite heartworm disease. The larval stage of the worm is injected under your pet's skin by an infected mosquito. These larvae spend about six months maturing in the pet's organs before moving through the body to the heart and lungs' blood arteries.

What are the symptoms?

It can be difficult to initially identify any problems with your pet. Since heartworm has a gradual onset, it may take months or even years before symptoms manifest. When symptoms do show, your dog may have a significant heartworm burden. Here are some of the symptoms that your dog may be infected with heartworm:

• -Shortness of breath
• -Dry cough
• -Low stamina
• -Lethargic & loss of appetite.

How to prevent a dog from getting heartworm?

There are heartworm preventatives available mainly in tablet form, these should be given to the dog from 6 weeks old. Many heartworm tablets also prevent other worms and parasites, it's important to read the packaging to ensure that heartworm is listed. The most effective prevention comes in the form of an injection that can be given by your vet yearly.