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We have a mosquito infestation in our yard. It’s not nearly as bad as it was last year; our dry spring gave the pests less places to breed. Still, once the season’s started I can barely enjoy my yard, even on cool days, because sitting still out on the porch leads to multiple bites in minutes. I’m not the only one susceptible to mosquito bites; my dog gets them too.
I think she got a bite sometime last week, because she’s been particularly itchy at one spot on her side. She chews it and scratches it all of the time, and neither my husband nor I can find anything wrong there: no hot spots, no wounds. But if she has just a little mosquito bump we might be missing it.
I feel bad because there’s not a lot I can do for Chihiro; I’m pretty sure Afterbite or hydrocortisone would be ineffective with all that fur. Plus she’d probably lick them both off immediately anyway. At first I was a bit concerned about her bite, afraid that she might hurt herself.
Sometimes I feel like I’m alarmist on this blog: oh no, my dog has a mosquito bite! This is a potential health problem! They’re just mosquitos, after all, and we don’t live in an area rife with West Nile. Unfortunately, dogs don’t know when to stop scratching themselves so what are just summer nuisances for us can lead to bigger problems for them.
A few summers ago Chihiro developed an infection on her nose. For a day or two she looked like a witch with a big wart right on her face. When I took her in for treatment the vet said that the sore might have started as a cat scratch (the two of them play fought a lot in those days, and cat scratches often get infected) or as a mosquito bite in a sensitive area she wouldn’t stop scratching. We haven’t had any such problems since then so I’m not terribly worried about mosquito bites, but I didn’t like seeing her incessantly itching that one place.
What do you do to prevent your dog from getting bug bites? It’s not that easy (if it were we’d all be free from mosquitos). However, if you’re very concerned, particularly if you live in an area where West Nile is a real problem, there are some DEET-free bug sprays on the market that are safe, and even marketed, for use on pets.
If you’re not that concerned but want to prevent your pet from scratching bites too much, try the typical anti-itch methods (wiping their paws, etc). If it’s bad enough, break out the cone of shame. There are a few soft cones out there that are more comfortable for pets to wear. You can also try giving your dog Benadryl.
That’s what I’ve given Chihiro as needed for itching, usually twice a day, for the past few days. It just helps her to stop scratching long enough for the mosquito bite to heal. Always check with your vet before administering Benadryl to your pet, so that you know the correct amount to use. If you’ve been given the go-ahead but don’t remember how much is appropriate, you can find dosage recommendations here.
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*(This image by donnierayjones is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.)
