Despite your Frenchie’s coat might represent a sort of protection against insect bites, they are actually equally prone to mosquito bites. Those awful pests literally ruin our outdoor adventures, so that’s why we need to think about how to protect our Frenchies during the summer. Mosquito bites can cause not only a sort of discomfort but also allergic reactions and may transmit dangerous diseases.
How to protect your French bulldog against mosquito bites?
As we all know, the mosquito population rises up during the warm weather. Therefore, if you live in a warm climate or near a river, lake, or sea, there’s a higher possibility that you won’t be able to spend a peaceful summer this season. Luckily, besides using different mosquito-repellent sprays, you can also protect your pet by using different natural ingredients.
Since it’s almost impossible not to get at least several bites per season, you should also know how to treat the swollen spots.
Don’t use mosquito repellents for humans
Many people make a mistake when they decide to use topical mosquito repellents for humans. They are actually very toxic to our dogs, especially because they’re curious to lick on everything. Therefore, if you want to spray your Frenchie with a mosquito repellent spray, our advice is to buy only a vet-approved and dog-friendly insect repellent.
If you use a mosquito repellent for humans on your dog, there are high chances that he will start to vomit, develop skin allergic reaction, and have seizures.
What is a natural option to protect your Frenchie from mosquito bites?
Since pet-safe repellents usually contain lemon tree oil, eucalyptus oil, geranium oil, thyme, clove oil, and neem oil, we recommend you to ask your vet whether you can make a natural mosquito repellent for your French bulldog. This option can be of great help for dogs who have sensitive skin or suffer from allergies.
Another dog-safe option is to spray your dog’s coat with lemon juice before you go out. However, since it can be sticky, it’s also advisable to rinse the dog’s coat when you get back home.
Grow plants that repel mosquitos
You might don’t know this, but there are plants that can repel the mosquitos fro your yard or balcony. Plants such as basil, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, and catnip work as natural protectors against these pests.
Be careful with standing water
We all know that mosquitoes like to breed near water. Therefore, be careful if you have a pool, outdoor dog bowls, or any puddles in your yard.
Heartworm treatment should be up to date
Since this disease can be spread by a mosquito bite, I recommend you to make sure that your dog gets the heartworm treatment. The treatment includes different options so you should consult with your vet which one will work the best for your Frenchie. You can choose tablets that should be given once a month, a topical-liquid that should be applied to the skin, or an injection under the coat every 6 months.
It’s worth mentioning that some heartworm preventives contain other ingredients that are effective against certain intestinal worms (such as roundworms and hookworms) and other parasites (such as fleas, ticks, and ear mites).
What diseases a mosquito can transmit to your dog?
Unfortunately, mosquitoes can transmit many dangerous diseases, and previously mentioned heartworm is only one of them.
Luckily, or not, there are also diseases that mosquitoes can transmit only to humans but not to our dogs. Let’s discover what could be other potential diseases that represent a danger for your Frenchie.
Heartworm disease
The signs that your Frenchie suffers from heartworm disease include the following:
- difficulty breathing
- coughing
- fatigue
- weight loss
- bulging chest
- collapse
If you don’t treat it on time, a pooch may carry heartworm that grows up to a foot in length. Unfortunately, this stage may turn out to be fatal for a dog.
West Nile Virus
We’re all aware of the fact that the West Nile Virus is one of the most serious diseases that mosquitoes transmit. However, when we talk about canines, the level of severity may depend on a dog’s immune system and age. Therefore, younger puppies and seniors are more susceptible to show severe symptoms such as encephalitis.
It can be often mixed with influenza due to visible weakness, muscle pains, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and skin rash.
Allergic Reactions in French bulldogs
None of us can escape getting swollen bumps from mosquitoes bites, not even your dog. While some pooches will have mild itchiness, others can show severe symptoms that require immediate reaction. The signs of serious reactions to mosquito bites are usually the following:
- swelling of the face
- difficult breathing
- high body temperature
- lethargy
- hives
If you spot any of these symptoms, I recommend you to see a vet immediately. Besides prescribed oral antihistamines therapy, you will also need to apply a topical corticosteroidal cream onto the affected spots for a few days.