Can Dogs Get West Nile from Mosquitoes?

It is possible, though uncommon, for dogs to contract West Nile virus from mosquito bites.

Because of their thick coat of fur, dogs are fairly resistant to mosquito bites, although they are much more vulnerable to flea bites.

This reduces their susceptibility to West Nile virus because mosquitoes are the primary vector of the disease, and they feed on infected birds that are the primary reservoir for West Nile virus.

Fleas, which are the primary vector for disease in dogs, feed on mainly terrestrial mammals, rather than birds.

For these reasons, a human is more likely to contract West Nile virus than a dog.