Summer Pet Pests to Watch Out For

Summertime brings sunshine, warmth, lush green grass, and adventures for the whole family to enjoy together. But the warm weather tends to make pests liven up, too. The good news is that with a bit of preparation, you can avoid the worst of the summer pet pest season. The team at All Critters Veterinary Hospital shares the top summer pet pests to watch out for here in Ohio. 

The 3 Summer Pet Pests to Watch Out For

1. Mosquitos 

Mosquitos might not seem like that big of a deal. They’re annoying, yet harmless to our pets, right? Not so much. That’s because as intermediate hosts for heartworms, mosquitos can infect your pet with heartworm disease. Dogs are particularly at risk of contracting heartworms from mosquitoes because they—and all other canids—are primary hosts. 

The best way to keep your dog from getting heartworm disease from mosquitoes is to give your pup heartworm preventive medication. 

2. Ticks 

Some types of ticks can transmit Lyme disease to dogs, including the black-legged tick. Lyme disease can cause joint stiffness, inflammation, appetite loss, and even kidney damage. Unfortunately, this tick species lives all over Ohio. We’ve seen a concerning number of canine Lyme disease cases in the past few years. 

Along with Lyme disease, ticks found in Ohio can transmit diseases like canine ehrlichiosis, anaplasma, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and hepatozoonosis. None of these diseases are pleasant, and some can even be deadly. 

The good news? Giving your dog a preventive tick medication can keep ticks from being able to attach to your pup’s skin. 

3. Fleas 

Summer in Ohio is warm and moist. With their thick layer of fur, cats and dogs are often warm and moist in the summer, too—which means they make perfect homes for fleas. These tiny, leaping critters aren’t deadly to most adult dogs and cats. But when fleas “bite,” they’re actually sticking a proboscis into your pet’s skin and sucking up blood. A flea infestation can be dangerous for cats younger than one-year-old. Their smaller bodies have a harder time handling the loss of blood. 

And of course, fleas can make dogs and cats feel like scratching off their skin. This can lead to dangerous infections. The tiny buggers can also transmit parasites like tapeworms and diseases like Bartonella (cat scratch disease), which can be passed on to humans. 

So how do you keep fleas from ruining your pet’s summer? You guessed it—with a preventive medication! 

If you need to start your pet on flea, tick, or heartworm preventives—or all three—schedule an appointment with our team. We’ll be happy to help your pet avoid Ohio’s summer pet pests.