Humans think November in Florida means hoodie weather, open windows, and less sweat. But my sensitive snoot knows the truth: those annoying, airborne needle-bugs—you call them mosquitoes, I call them the worst things ever invented—are still out there lurking in the bushes.
Most humans only worry about itchy red bumps. But for us dogs, a bite from one of those buzzing bandits is a whole lot more serious than an itchy ear.
We need to talk about heartworms.
The View Over the Fence: Archie’s Endless Marathon
One of my favorite pastimes is hanging out in the warm Florida sun, letting my fur get toasty and shiny without a care in the world.
Then there is my neighbor: Archie.
Archie is the fluffy spaniel next door. Instead of relaxing, he spends his afternoons running back and forth from a huge swarm of angry, buzzing mosquitoes chasing his tail! He is zooming past the fence line like a furry rocket. Zoom! Around the dandelions! Zoom! Over a stick!
I poked my nose over the fence to check on him. He panted and barked, "Help me, they want to eat me alive!"
I just tapped my paw on the little sign behind me in the mulch: Top Bugman.
Why Mosquitoes Are Definitely NOT Good Boy Material
Living here in Tarpon Springs, Palm Harbor, and around the Tampa Bay area means bugs love our yards year-round. When tall grass, shaded beds, and damp corners get out of control, mosquitoes throw an absolute party.
And mosquito bites do not just itch—they carry nasty microscopic parasites that cause heartworms. If one infected bug bites a pup, those larvae hitch a ride into our bloodstream, set up camp inside our hearts, and make us very, very sick. It is super scary, painful to treat, and means months of zero running.
WAIT SQUIRREL...
...oh right, back to my story.
Stopping heartworms works best when mosquitoes never get the chance to land on our paws, noses, or bellies in the first place. That chewable tablet we get every month is essential, but pairing it with a guarded perimeter is the ultimate defense.
My yard has zero buzzing bullies because the friendly team from Tarpon Springs handled it with their monthly barrier sprays. No bites, no scary heartworm bugs, just green grass and pure nap time. Archie, on the other hand, is currently on lap twenty-seven.
Do a Sniff Test for Me This Weekend
Do your four-legged best friend a favor. Walk your yard this weekend and dump out the standing water sitting in:
- That empty plastic saucer under the patio planter
- The bird bath nobody has refreshed since September
- The forgotten frisbee flipped upside down behind the pool filter
Keep our backyards safe, keep the chewable tablets coming, and tell the Top Bugman crew to set up their mosquito defense so every dog in the neighborhood can enjoy outdoor zoomies completely itch-free.
