Can A Mosquito Bite Through Dog Fur?

With all the damp weather that we’ve been having it’s no surprise that the mosquitos have been very active in our area.

We’ve done all the recommended steps of removing standing water, keeping the yard clipped and as free of weeds as time allows, bought plants that repel mosquitos and still every time we sit out and enjoy the summer in our backyard, we get bit by mosquitos.

The mosquitos aren’t just seeking out us humans but they’re also trying to suck some blood from Sherman and Leroy.

In fact, I caught one sitting right on Sherman’s nose the other day.

Humans are an easy target for these pesky little mosquitos and unfortunately, dogs are too.

Yes, even dogs with a thick double coat can get bit by a mosquito.

The hair on a dog does offer some protection from a mosquito but other areas are still vulnerable.

Common areas that mosquitoes like to bite on dogs

A mosquito bite can often be found where the hair is thinner such as on the dog’s nose, ears, groin area, underside, and even the paws.

What does a mosquito bite look like on a dog?

A mosquito bite on a dog will look similar to the bite that a human gets.

It’s a red raised bump or welt.

Is a mosquito bite itchy to a dog?

It can be.

Depending on where a dog has been bitten you may see a dog rubbing their face or scratching at the area where the bite is.

Some dogs are more sensitive to mosquito bites than others.

Can a dog get sick from a mosquito bite?

Yes. Mosquitoes carry disease that can make a mild to severely sick

Heartworm is the most common disease that affects dogs.

Heartworm disease is a serious disease that can affect the lungs, heart and other organs in dogs and cats.

It is caused by a parasitic worm called Dirofilaria immitis.

The worms are spread through the bite of a mosquito.

My Brown Newfies is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

The dog is the host, meaning that the worms mature into adults, mate, and produce offspring while living inside a dog.

West Nile Virus is another illness that dogs can get from a mosquito bite although is seen more in horses and birds than dogs.

Some dogs may also have an allergic reaction when bitten by a mosquito. An allergic reaction to a mosquito bite will often cause the dog to have an intense itch, swelling, hair loss and sometimes even vomiting and diarrhea.

What to do if your dog has a mosquito bite

If your dog isn’t showing any signs of the bite bothering them then most of the time it will be fine to do nothing and just let it go away on its own

If your dog is rubbing their face or is showing signs of being itchy where the bite is you can use an ice cube to clam the bite down, anti-itch cream from your vet or over the counter cream such as Benadryl cream.

If you think your dog may lick that off then you could also try a baking soda and water mix or aloe.

I have an anti-itch hot spot spray that has worked well for us with mosquito bites on noses and ears.

How To Deter Mosquitoes from biting your dog

There are many sprays and even some topical medications that you can to deter mosquitos. For topical medications, I recommend speaking to your vet about which one may be best for your dog.

Spays that we’ve used that have worked are Wondercide and I’m making a homemade lemon mosquito spray for dogs this week that I’ll share later if it works.

Some dog owners also swear by essential oils. I’ll be using lavender essential oil in my homemade spray.

Make sure to stay away from spraying any products on your dog that contain DEET because it can be toxic to dogs and cats if ingested.

Other ways to try and lessen the chances of your dog getting too many mosquito bites this summer are dumping any containers in your yard that have standing water, keeping outside water bowls filled with fresh water, keeping weeds at bay, staying inside during the early morning hours and at dusk which is when mosquitoes are most active.

Smells that mosquitoes don’t like

Smells and plants that have been known to deter mosquitoes are lemongrasses, lavender, rosemary, citronella, mints, basil, sage, garlic, marigold, catnip, and eucalyptus.

So while a mosquito may not take the time to dig through the fur of a thick dog coat they will find a spot on their target and leave their mark.