How to Kill Mosquito Larvae in Pet Water

Mosquitoes carry a wide array of diseases harmful to both humans and pets alike. From West Nile Virus to the heartworms that can weaken and kill a dog, mosquitoes are more than just a biting nuisance--they transmit deadly diseases. Adult mosquitoes will breed in any standing water, including your pets' bowl. There are safe and effective ways to kill mosquito larvae in any water your pets have access to.

Instructions

    • 1

      Refresh the water in your pets' outside water bowls every day. Prevention is the best approach, and by providing your pets with fresh, clean water every day, you eliminate the risk of mosquito larvae developing in the water bowls. Ingestion of small amounts of mosquito larvae will not harm a healthy dog, but it is important to give your pet uncontaminated, fresh water.

    • 2

      Use a safe, biological approach to eliminating mosquito larvae in other water your pet may have access to. Check the link below for mosquito dunks, which are effective and safe for all pets and wildlife. This product and others like it need to be replaced every thirty days and will only kill the mosquito larvae, not other beneficial organisms in the water.

    • 3

      Check with your local hardware or garden store if you don't want to buy online. There are several pet-safe products available over the counter. Some work by creating a film on the surface of the water, which kills the mosquito larvae within 24 hours. Others contain methoprene, which retards the growth of larvae so they don't mature. The product linked to below contains Bt, which is a bacterium that is only lethal to mosquitoes and their larvae.

    • 4

      Consider buying gambusia fish if you have ponds or troughs. These are little minnows that eat only mosquitoes and their larvae and need no other care as long as there is a supply of mosquitoes. If the temperatures dip below freezing during the winter, gambusia will not survive and must be restocked every spring.

    • 5

      Add unfiltered apple cider vinegar to the pets' water. Some people believe this to have many health benefits for dogs and cats, and it will also kill mosquito larvae if the concentration is at least 15% vinegar to 85% water. However, most pets will refuse to drink water with this concentration of vinegar, so it may be better used for other standing water. Always make sure your pet has at least one container of clean, fresh water available at all times.