Best Mosquito Repellents for Dogs

Angela Vuckovic
by Angela Vuckovic

Mosquitoes aren’t just pesky – they transmit heartworm disease and can pose a serious threat to our precious pets. Make sure to protect your pooch on time with mosquito repellents for dogs.

It doesn’t get better than spending time in nature with your four-legged friends, but mosquitoes can seriously ruin the mood. Not only is their constant buzzing maddening, and no one likes scratching like crazy after being bitten by one, but these bloodsuckers can also infect your dog with a potentially fatal disease. Dirofilaria immitis, or heartworm, is a parasite transmitted only through the bite of an infected mosquito. In addition to being irritating as heck, mosquitoes put your pooch at risk for heartworm disease. To make sure your dog stays safe from these pesky pests, it’s best to prevent their bite altogether, and there are many mosquito repellents for dogs on the market.

We selected some of the best mosquito repellents for dogs – be it sprays, collars, spot on, or chewables – each of them ideally suited for different conditions and situations. Read on to find out which one is the best for your fur baby!

1. Editor’s Choice – Wondercide Flea and Tick and Mosquito Control Spray

Organic, natural, efficient and extremely popular among customers, Wondercide sprays, kills and repels fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. The unique combination of organic, dog-safe therapeutic-grade essential oils with other natural ingredients results in a potent spray with a scent that makes mosquitoes (and hundreds of other insects) avoid your pooch at all costs. It’s simple to use: just spray your pooch, rub it in and repeat that 2 to 3 times a week. The Wondercide spray comes in 4 scents: lemongrass, rosemary, cedar and peppermint, as well as in various sizes: 4 oz, 16 oz, 32 oz, 128 oz.

2. Runner Up – Insect Shield Premium Tee Insect Repellent

Insect Shield products are truly unique in every aspect, and their Premium Tee is no different. This T-shirt for dogs is made from patented materials. It’s a breathable, lightweight fabric with a bound proprietary permethrin formula. In other words, Insect Shield produces a fabric that’s infused with a very efficient insecticide, but they use a secret formula that makes it long-lasting and completely safe to be worn by pets. Next time when you hit the trail or go camping, just dress up your pup in this insect repelling tee and no mosquito will come close to them! The Premium Tee is available in two colors and seven sizes.

3. Best Chewables – Flea Away Natural Flea, Tick & Mosquito Repellent Chewables

What’s the best way to get rid of any parasite? Well, it’s quite simple, really: make the environment inhospitable to them. This is the principle behind the Flea Away insect repelling chewables. Bloodsuckers, such as mosquitoes, fleas and ticks are all attracted by the C02 your pet emits, and these chewables mask it. The vitamin complex chewables rely on natural ingredients to change your pet’s body odor (in a way that’s undetectable to the human nose), so that they won’t smell like a meal to every mosquito or insect out there. Also, it doesn’t hurt that these chewables are liver-flavored, so you can use them as a treat, too.

4. Best All-in-One – K9 Advantix II Spot On Treatment

Not many spot on treatments repel and kill mosquitoes in addition to fleas and ticks, but K9 Advantix II is one of the exceptions. This topical mosquito repellent for dogs kills mosquitoes on contact – they don’t have to bite your dog to be dead. The broad spectrum protection from parasites makes this spot on treatment a popular choice with pet owners, especially considering one monthly application gives your pet protection for up to 7 weeks. When applied properly, this topical repellent is waterproof, so you won’t have to worry that a dip in a nearby lake will lower your pet’s protection from mosquitoes and other pests. There are various products available for dogs of different weights, and this treatment is available in 1, 2, 4 and 6 doses.

5. Best Plant-Based – Vet’s Best Natural Mosquito Repellent Spray

This DEET-free, natural, plant-based mosquito repellent for dogs will keep your pooch protected, and you can safely use it, too! The combination of certified natural lemongrass and geraniol oils makes mosquitoes steer clear from their initial targets, and the same scent doesn’t bother dogs or their owners. This USA-made repellent is made only from high-quality natural ingredients, and as a result, it can be used on dogs and cats older than 12 weeks, and even humans over 2 years of age. It seems that the only ones that are not impressed by Vet’s Best are the mosquitoes!

6. Best for Sensitive Skin – Medella Naturals Insect & Mosquito Repellent

When it comes down to it, nature is best. That is why we love the Medella Naturals Insect & Mosquito repellent. It’s DEET free, all-natural formula works great on kids and pets, plus it’s made here in the USA. Each order gets you a two pack of their 4 ounce spray bottles. The skin-loving formula consists of lemongrass, Vitamin E, Caster Oil and a hint of Vanilla for a pleasant smell. There are no synthetic fragrances, dyes, phthalates, pesticides, alcohol, formaldehyde or petrochemicals. This safe product truly repels nasty bugs without leaving a greasy residue. A mosquito repellent your whole family can love, whether they walk on two feet or four!

7. Best Natural Formula – Nantucket Spider Bug Repellent For Dogs

Despite what you might have hoped for, this repellent spray doesn’t work on spiders. The DEET-free natural bug repellent spray for dogs uses essential oils to deter a host of flying and biting insects, mosquitoes included. Unlike many other mosquito repellents for dogs, this product doesn’t use citrus oils in its formula, which many dogs tend to dislike. Instead, they rely on thyme, rosemary, geranium, cedar, and peppermint oils for their repelling properties.

8. Customer’s Choice – Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Yard and Kennel Spray

In addition to keeping your dog protected from mosquitoes, it’s important to keep the place they spend the most time free of pests, too. A combination of a topical mosquito repellent on your dog’s body, as well as efficient treatment of your backyard or kennel where your dog sleeps, is the most powerful deterrent for potentially dangerous insects such as mosquitoes, fleas and ticks. This product has been highly rated by thousands of happy customers, and it’s also one of the most budget-friendly recommendations on our list.

9. Also Consider – Only Natural Pet EasyDefense Insect Repelling Collar

Using scent to repel hungry mosquitoes away from your precious pet, this natural dog collar works instantly and stays effective for up to 4 months. The pleasant scents of geranium, citronella and cinnamon keep bloodsuckers at bay and your pooch safe. This collar is water-resistant and you can combine it with other mosquito repellents for dogs, such as sprays, if you deem it necessary.

What to Look for in Mosquito Repellents for Dogs

Needless to say, not all insect repellents are made the same, and not all of them will suit your pet’s preferences. Every pooch is unique, and what works wonders for one dog might not work the same for yours. That’s why it’s important to do your research before you put anything on your pet – both to make sure you’re not doing more harm than good, and to save money and time. To make sure you’ve picked the right type of mosquito repellent for your pet, be sure to consider all of the features below and choose accordingly.

Application method

There are so many different types of mosquito protection out there, and the type you pick will determine how easy the preventative treatment is to apply and how long it lasts. The most common types of mosquito repellents by application methods are:

  • Sprays
  • Spot-on topical treatments
  • Insect-repelling collars
  • Insect-repellent clothing
  • Shampoos
  • Powders
  • Wipes

It’s up to you to determine which of the options is the most convenient. For instance, if your pet likes to swim or you want to boost the effects of the repellent in certain situations (e.g. before going in nature) then go for sprays or wipes. In case you want something that works for weeks, then spot on repellents will be your go-to option. The longevity and potency of the repellent vary with each type, and while it’s easy to assume that some are more efficient than others by default, that’s not the case. It’s important to look at the active ingredients to figure that out.

Active ingredients

There are two main categories of mosquito repellents: those made with natural ingredients and those that use dog-safe insecticides. Depending on the amount of protection you need, your pet’s sensitivities and your own preferences, one will work better than the other. As a rule of thumb, these are the active ingredients frequently used in mosquito repellents for dogs:

  • Permethrin: An insecticide used in flea and tick preventive treatments that also deters and kills mosquitoes.
  • Pyrethrin: A substance found naturally in chrysanthemums that kills mosquitoes on contact.
  • Essential oils: The overpowering scents of some essential oils are known to have a repelling effect on many insects, including mosquitoes. The most common are citronella, geranium oil, eucalyptus oil, thyme oil, clove oil, lavender oil and lemongrass. The repellent can be based on one type of essential oil or mixed with more than one. While these natural solutions can be effective, the strong fragrance can be an issue for some. Dogs have a powerful sense of smell, and if your pooch is sensitive to harsh smells, he might be bothered by essential oils.

Another ingredient worth mentioning – but the one to avoid in dog mosquito repellents – is DEET. While DEET is an effective insect repellent, it isn’t safe for pets. In fact, DEET is toxic to dogs and can cause a range of neurological and gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting, diarrhea and seizures, so steer clear of any formula that mentions this in its ingredients.

Does vinegar repel mosquitoes on dogs?

As mosquitoes are known to find the smell and taste of vinegar unpleasant, this is a great ingredient to use in a repellent, and you’ll find that many products do include vinegar in their formulas.

How do I know if my dog has a mosquito bite?

Any signs of excessive scratching on a particular area, redness or raised spots you can see, swelling or general restlessness/irritation might be an indicator that your dog has a mosquito or another insect bite.

Can mosquitoes bite dogs with thick fur?

Yes, dogs with a thick fur or coat can still get bitten by mosquitoes, as the mosquito is able to bite past the thick fur to reach their skin.

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Angela Vuckovic
Angela Vuckovic

A proud mama to seven dogs and ten cats, Angela spends her days writing for her fellow pet parents and pampering her furballs, all of whom are rescues. When she's not gushing over her adorable cats or playing with her dogs, she can be found curled up with a good fantasy book.

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