Mosquito-Borne Diseases in Dogs

Mosquitoes, one of the insects that bite humans the most during the summer, arrive in our country, and we must be vigilant because they can also cause diseases in our pets. Due to their significant impact on dogs’ health, heartworm disease and leishmaniasis are the diseases primarily transmitted by these flying insects.

West Nile Fever:

Dogs can also be affected by the West Nile virus, primarily transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Symptoms in dogs can range from mild, such as fever and lethargy, to severe, including seizures, neurological problems, and in some cases, death.

Canine Leishmaniasis:

It is a parasitic disease transmitted by a vector and caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania. These parasites infect a wide variety of vertebrate animals. However, canine leishmaniasis can be prevented by vaccinating the animal and using anti-parasitic collars against the disease. Among the most frequent symptoms of leishmaniasis in dogs are hair loss, scaling, skin lesions, and sudden loss of appetite and weight, among others.

Rift Valley Fever:

Although less common in dogs than in other animals, Rift Valley fever is a viral disease that can affect dogs. It is mainly transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes and can cause fever, weakness, loss of appetite, neurological problems, and other symptoms.

Heartworm Disease:

Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal illness caused by a worm that lives in the pulmonary arteries and on the right side of a dog’s heart. It can also parasitize other species such as cats or, rarely, humans. Transmission of the worm, known as Dirofilaria immitis, requires a mosquito as an intermediate host, with the dog being the definitive host. The danger of this disease lies in its invisibility to the naked eye, which is why it is known as “hidden disease”.