
Keeping your dog clean and healthy will go a long way in keeping flies at bay, but there are other steps you can take to get them off your dog’s back, literally. However, solving any medical issues that may predispose your dog to a fly infestation is most important. “Mosquitos are worse, as they bring heartworm disease (especially in the South), which is fatal to dogs and cats.”įlies are particularly active during the day in hot weather, she added, so if they tend to bother your dog, make sure to keep her inside during those times. Though these bites are certainly irritating to our pets, flies don’t present the same health risks to dogs that other insects do, Sinnott. Some flies, such as horse flies, can take a bite out of your dog’s ears, belly or backside which can hurt, bleed and become infected. This type of infestation is preventable by keeping an ill dog clean and indoors, she said. Virginia Sinnott, an emergency doctor at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston. “Diarrhea around the perineum attracts flies they lay eggs, and the infestation happens,” said Dr. Why do Flies Bite My Dog?įlies can be drawn to a dog’s coat, especially if it is matted or unclean as a result of an illness, skin condition, or diarrhea.

Fortunately, there are ways to keep flies away from your dog for good. Though we can swat these pesky pests away with a hand or a swatter, our dogs are often at their mercy, which can be both frustrating and potentially dangerous to your dog’s health. There is something particularly annoying about a fly buzzing around your head while you are trying to relax outside on a beautiful day.
