Tips to Reduce Your Dog’s Exposure to Mosquitos this Spring

While many pet parents are worried about the issue of protecting their dogs from the risk of fleas and ticks this spring, one nasty insect that may be just as dangerous is the common mosquito. These bugs are annoying enough for humans, but they can also pose various health problems for dogs. Mosquitoes are carriers of numbers of diseases ranging from West Nile virus to the heartworm parasite, so finding a means of creating a pest management system that fights off these nuisances and reduces your dog's chances of coming into contact with them will help your pet remain happy and healthy throughout the coming months. Here are a few ways that you can get started.

Do a sweep of your yard. There are a number of items that you might have left around your yard during the winter or in the early spring that could be contributing to mosquito levels on your property. While there is nothing you can do about nearby bodies of water, you can make an effort to get rid of any buckets or containers that hold standing water. These receptacles are prime breeding grounds for mosquitoes, so overturning these items and storing them properly will ensure that your patio and yard have fewer bugs this spring and summer.

Alter your daily walks. Because mosquitoes are prevalent at specific times of the day, such as during the early morning and evening, make an effort to alter your schedule to limit your dog's chances of coming into contact with mosquitoes. Additionally, since these insects like to hang around bodies of water like streams, ponds and lakes, you should also alter your walking route during the spring and summer to avoid these potentially hazardous areas.

Utilize topical drops. Not every anti-parasite product on the market will give your dog a full spectrum of protection against seasonal insects, so make sure you make the right choice by using Hartz® UltraGuard Pro® Flea & Tick Treatment for Dogs and Puppies. This product will kill fleas, brown dog ticks and deer ticks at any stage of their life cycles, as well as repel mosquitoes for up to 30 days after application. The topical drops are placed at the skin level between a dog's back and down the length of the back to the tail and will provide superior protection throughout the height of flea season.

This content is provided by the pet wellness experts at Hartz. We offer complete flea and tick protection for your pet, home and yard.