Bee Aware: How to protect your dog from Spring's bugs and pests

🌸🌱Spring is a season of renewal: longer days, blooming flowers, and plenty of outdoor adventures with your dog. But with warmer weather comes an increase in bugs and pests, some of which can pose serious risks to your pup’s health. 

🐝Bees and wasps are out in full force, and a curious dog sniffing around the wrong flower could end up with a painful sting. Fleas, ticks, and sand fleas also thrive in springtime, bringing not only discomfort but the risk of disease. While many pet owners rely on standard flea and tick preventatives, not all products work in every region, something I learned the hard way when I lived in Hawaii.

Understanding what pests to watch for, how to handle bites and stings, and which preventatives work best in your area can make all the difference. Let’s take a closer look at the most common springtime pests and how to keep your dog safe.

Buzzing Trouble: Bees and Wasps

Dogs are naturally curious, and buzzing insects like bees and wasps can be hard to resist. A playful snap at a bee or an accidental step on a wasp can result in a painful sting. Most of the time, stings cause mild irritation, but in some cases, they can trigger severe allergic reactions.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR DOG GETS STUNG:

  1. Check for a Stinger – If a bee has stung your dog, gently remove the stinger using a credit card or tweezers. Wasps don’t leave stingers behind.
  2. Clean the area: Wash the sting site with mild soap and water to reduce the risk of infection.
  3. Reduce Swelling – Apply a cold compress to the affected area to ease pain and swelling.
  4. Monitor for Allergic Reactions – Watch for signs like difficulty breathing, excessive swelling, vomiting, or collapse. If any of these occur, seek emergency veterinary care immediately.
  5. Provide Antihistamines (If Recommended by Your Vet) – Some vets suggest giving dogs Benadryl for minor reactions, but always consult a professional for the correct dosage.

Mosquito menace: Heartworm and Beyond

Most people associate mosquitoes with summer, but these buzzing pests are just as active in spring, especially in warm or humid regions. If you are planning to venture outdoors with your dog in areas where mosquitoes are present, like wooded trails, marshlands or parks near water, extra precautions are essential.

Mosquitoes are not just an annoyance; they are a health hazard. These tiny insects can transmit Heartworm disease, a potentially fatal condition where parasitic worms grow inside the heart and lungs of infected dogs. Heartworm disease is prevalent in all 50 states but is most common in the Southeastern US, particularly in the Mississippi Delta region, where the warm, humid climate is ideal for mosquitoes.

In rare cases, mosquitoes can also transmit:

  • West Nile Virus, which has been reported in all 48 contiguous states but is more common in warmer regions during the Summer and early Fall.
  • Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), typically found in swampy areas of the Atlantic and Gulf Coast states, as well as the Great Lakes region.

Prevention Tips for Mosquitoes:

  • Keep your dog on a veterinarian-recommended heartworm preventative year-round.

  • Eliminate standing water in your yard to reduce mosquito breeding grounds.

  • Use pet-safe mosquito repellents before venturing into mosquito-prone areas.

Tiny Terrors: Fleas, Sand Fleas and Ticks

While fleas and ticks are common pests, many pet owners overlook sand fleas, especially in coastal areas. Each of these pests can carry diseases, cause discomfort, and be difficult to eliminate if not managed properly.

FLEAS AND SAND FLEAS

Fleas are a year-round nuisance, but they become more active in warm weather. They can cause itching, allergic reactions, and even transmit tapeworms. Sand fleas, found in beaches and coastal regions, are particularly aggressive biters and can cause painful welts on both you and your dog. Fleas are most commonly found in shady outdoor areas like under trees or porches, in tall grass, or around pet bedding. They’re also common in sandy areas where sand fleas thrive.

I learned this firsthand when I lived in Hawaii. Despite using Frontline on my dog Leia, she still suffered from relentless sand flea bites. After talking to the locals, I discovered that Frontline wasn’t effective against fleas in Hawaii. Switching to Comfortis solved the issue almost overnight. This highlights the importance of knowing which flea treatments work best in different regions.

PREVENTION TIPS FOR FLEAS AND SAND FLEAS:

  • Use vet-recommended flea preventatives (such as oral medications, topical treatments, or flea collars).
  • If you live in a coastal area, ask your vet about sand flea-specific preventatives.
  • Wash your dog’s bedding frequently and vacuum your home regularly.
  • Avoid letting your dog lay in damp, sandy areas for extended periods.

TICKS: TINY BUT DANGEROUS

Ticks are more than just bloodsuckers; they can carry serious diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Ehrlichiosis, and Anaplasmosis. Ticks thrive in wooded areas, tall grass, and even some urban parks. If you plan to take your dog to the woods, it’s essential to spray them with a pet-safe tick repellent in addition to using vet-recommended preventatives. Below is a guide to common tick-borne diseases in the US and the areas where the ticks that transmit the disease are most active:

LYME DISEASE:

  • Transmitted by the black-legged tick (deer tick).
  • Prevalent in the Northeast (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont), Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin) and West Coast (California, Oregon, Washington).

EHRLICHIOSIS:

  • Transmitted by the lone star tick
  • Prevalent in the South (Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia), and Midwest ((Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma).

ANAPLASMOSIS:

  • Transmitted by the black-legged tick and western black-legged tick.
  • Prevalent in the Northeast (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont), Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin) and West Coast (California, Oregon, Washington).

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever:

  • Transmitted by the American dog tick, Rocky Mountain wood tick, and brown dog tick.
  • Prevalent in the Southeast (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia), South-Central (Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas) and Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico).

Alaska:

  • Alaska does not have native tick species that transmit diseases to dogs or humans.
  • Occasionally, non-native ticks like the American dog tick can be introduced by pets or wildlife.
  • While the overall risk is low, introduced ticks can still pose potential dangers such as tick paralysis in dogs.

Hawaii:

  • Hawaii has an established population of the brown tick, which thrives in warm climates. These ticks can carry and transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever to dogs, making tick prevention important even in Hawaii.
  • Unlike Mainland regions, Hawaii lacks ticks that spread Lyme disease or other common tick-borne diseases found elsewhere in the United States.

PREVENTION TIPS FOR TICKS:

  • Use tick preventatives such as oral tablets, collars, or topical treatments.
  • Apply tick repellents before hikes or time in wooded areas.
  • Perform tick checks after outdoor adventures—especially around the ears, neck, and between the toes.
  • Keep grass and bushes trimmed in your yard to reduce tick habitats.
  • If you find a tick, remove it with tweezers, pulling straight out without twisting, and clean the area with antiseptic.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR DOG HAS BEEN BITTEN BY A TICK: If you find a tick on your dog, take them to a vet for a blood test, such as 4Dx test, to screen for tick-borne diseases. If caught early, your vet can prescribe treatment to prevent the disease from causing severe or irreversible damage.

To keep your dog protected this Spring, research the pests common in your region and what preventatives work best in your area. Stay on top of prevention, and take precautions before and after a hike in wooded areas. 

Do not underestimate how devastating the effects of vector-borne diseases can be on your dog, they can lead to serious, long-term health issues or even be life-threatening without proper preventative measures. 

I hope these tips can help you safely enjoy the best parts of the season with your dog: longer days, fresh air, and all the adventures that spring has to offer. 🌼🌸Have a blessed Spring!!!🌼🐇

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