Blood, Sweat and Mosquitoes The animal responsible for the most human deaths worldwide is the mosquito.  But humans are not the only ones who can suffer from the effects of mosquito-borne disease.  Mosquitoes can also carry a variety of illnesses that dogs, cats, birds and horses are susceptible to as well, including heartworm, encephalitis, and the deadly threat of West Nile Virus.  The mosquito feeds on an infected animal and acts as a host of the disease transmitting it when it bites an uninfected human or animal.   Heartworm infestation is rampant in these parts and it is dangerous; untreated pets will die and treated pets go through weeks of discomfort while the worms are killed and expelled from their bodies.   Heartworm prevention is simple and has been available for sometime, however, it is only as effective as the pet owners who administer it   One reason mosquitoes are prolific and difficult to control is because of their rapid life cycle, which spans from egg to adult in as little as four days.  An adult female (the only mosquito that can draw blood) can lay more than 200 eggs at a time, and in the perfect weather conditions, the eggs will hatch sometimes in as little as four days.  Although mosquitoes generally only live a few weeks as an adult, one species of mosquito that has been found to carry the West Nile virus can survive through the winter, hibernating until warmer temperatures to emerge again. For all mosquitoes water is the critical component of a successful habitat when laying their eggs.  Pet owners should be aware of any sources of stagnant water around their property, in buckets, rain spots, clogged gutters, birdbaths, etc.  Because mosquitoes like to rest on weeds and in other vegetation, pet owners can also help reduce mosquitoes by cutting down weeds near their homes and mowing the lawn regularly.  Other effective measures include keeping pets inside at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active, and installing bug tight windows and door screens, and replacing outdoor lights with yellow “bug” lights. Mosquito-borne diseases are a serious threat to both pets and humans, but with control and prevention, it is possible to protect our pets from the deadly diseases they carry.