Submitted by HomeMasters Pest Control
There are plenty of reasons to want to reduce the number of mosquitos in your yard, but did you know that the health and safety of your pets is one of them?
Heartworm disease in dogs and cats can result in severe lung disease, heart failure, other organ damage and even death. It is caused by a parasitic worm called Dirofilaria immitis, and those worms are spread through mosquito bites.
Unfortunately, Eastern North Carolina is one of the nation’s hotspots for heartworm disease, as it is most common along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. So, it’s important to do what you can to reduce the number of mosquitos in your yard.
There are a few things you can do yourself:
- Reduce standing water — Mosquitos need it to breed, so any flower pots, buckets or other sources of standing water should be removed.
- Bird baths — Change the water at least once a week.
- Check around the house — Clean gutters and downspouts to ensure they aren’t clogged.
- Do the yard work — Keep your lawn mowed and free of debris. Mosquitoes like to hide in tall grass and weeds.
Sometimes, you still need a little more help cutting down the mosquito population. A professional pest control company can come out and treat your yard. Pesticide should be sprayed outside and applied to the foliage, grass, fencing and exterior areas of any building.
And with any chemical you’re spraying around the house, make sure it’s safe for your pets.
“With our treatment, as soon as the chemicals are dry, they’re safe for pets,” Katie Crowder, with MomeMasters Pest Control, said.
For the best protection, consider asking your neighbors to have their yards treated as well. That way, everyone’s pets can be heartworm-free.
For more information on mosquito treatment, contact HomeMasters Pest Control at 919-938-4575.
