Frontier Veterinary Hospital

by Jill Palmer, DVM Mosquito

As anyone who has camped, hiked, or simply walked outside during the dusk hours in certain areas of Portland and greater Portland this summer have noticed, the mosquitoes have been a huge nuisance. Evidently, the long wet spring followed by a heat wave in late June was the perfect setting for mosquito breeding. The Oregonian stated that they have trapped 4 times the amount of mosquitoes this year than in the previous 4 years¹.

Mosquitoes are known to be carriers of many diseases, including West Nile Virus and Heartworm disease. While Heartworm disease historically has not been a major problem in Portland, in recent years there has been an increase in incidents in and around Portland². Additionally, in the past few years there have been more dogs from Heartworm endemic parts of the country being brought to shelters and rescue organizations in the Portland area³. What we do not know is if the sudden increase in mosquito population combined with the influx of dogs from Heartworm endemic areas will increase the incidence of Heartworm disease in our area. With Heartworm disease it is especially true that prevention is easier, and much less costly, than treatment of the disease itself. Therefore, we should be cautious and keep our pets safe!

Here are a few tips to keep your pets safe from mosquitoes and Heartworm disease:

Use monthly Heartworm control medication, such as Sentinel or Heartgard.
Keep pets indoors during dusk hours if mosquitoes are present.
Do not use DEET sprays on pets, for they are more sensitive to this chemical and may become ill if they lick their fur. Topical permethrin sprays can act as a repellant if necessary for dogs, however this spray can be deadly in cats, and therefore is not recommended.

If mosquitoes are a problem near your home, here are a few tips for mosquito control:

Remove standing water from around the home.
Dispose of items around the home that collect water, such as flower pots.
Clean and chlorinate outdoor pools, spas, and saunas.
Clean clogged gutters.
Eliminate mosquito breeding sites, such as high weeds.

Have a safe, enjoyable, mosquito free summer!

References

More Information on Heartworm disease:

http://frontiervet.com/index.php?view=pageView&pageid=110000773

http://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/heartworm.html

Mosquitoes and Your Pets