Animals should be protected only during the summer
Even though many people believe that animals should be protected only during the summer season, it is clear that the “mosquito season” can fluctuate depending on the region, and other factors that can affect the whole year. Hence, you should protect your animals as long as possible and don’t hesitate to go to the vet when you notice something strange in the behavior of your pet.
“Generally, mosquito activity will begin when the temperature reaches the 50 degrees Fahrenheit level and typically tapers off as the temperatures cool,” Dr. Hatton says.
“It’s not unheard of for mosquitos to be active in 40-degree temperatures,” says Dr. Susan Jeffrey, a veterinarian with Truesdell Animal Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin.
Unfortunately, there are some species of mosquitos that can hibernate, so they can emerge during the winter. So, it’s quite impossible to predict when the last mosquito will appear and if it is infected or not.
“Mosquitos also seek out warm, protected places like crawl spaces and decks where they can survive until well after the last leaves have fallen. For these reasons, the AHS recommends year-round prevention for all pets,” says Dr. Rehm.
