Mosquitoes 101

Mosquitoes are annoying but also potentially dangerous for your pets. Mosquito bites are the sole method of transmission for heartworms—a deadly disease for cats and dogs that has been reported in every state. And the scratching of mosquito bites can lead to problems of its own.

Heartworm disease symptoms can be mild to nonexistent for months, even years. The condition often goes undiagnosed until its later stages. But after heartworm parasites have grown to thriving maturity, the disease can become chronic. Dogs lose their appetite and become tired after brief activity; cats face weight loss and labored breathing. Both may develop coughs. The condition is not always fatal, but it can be, and although cats are less likely to contract heartworm disease, they are more difficult to diagnose and less easily treated.

Heartworm disease is not the only potential consequence of mosquito bites. Excessive scratching of bite areas can create skin lesions known as hot spots on pets. These lesions can expand and become infected when left untreated. Of course, it’s best not to be bitten in the first place, but because mosquitoes require mere inches of standing water to develop, aquatic stages of the mosquito can live close to homes in trash cans, bird baths, or puddles on the street. Once the adult mosquitoes emerge from the aquatic stage pets and home owners are a likely blood meal.

Buzz Off!

Fortunately, there are effective ways to protect your home, family and pets from mosquitoes.

For outdoor protection, address sources of standing water (such as potted plants and kiddie pools) around your home; remove what you can and keep everything else covered. Consider spraying adult mosquito resting areas around the home, these are the moist shady areas, with Bio Spot Active Care™ Yard & Garden Spray. Killing adult mosquitoes helps reduce the annoying bite and the potential for disease around your home.

For severe mosquito populations inside your home, Bio Spot Active Care™ Indoor Fogger can kill these and other labeled indoor household pests effectively.

Summer Safety

Because mosquitoes are so widespread and difficult to detect before they announce their presence, the best option for you and your pet is prevention. So when the air is buzzing around you, breathe a sigh of relief. Protect your home and pets with Bio Spot Active Care™ products.

Bio Spot Active Care is a trademark of Farnam Companies, Inc.