Bed Bugs & Pets: How to Keep Your Animals Safe & Happy | Pest Control

As America?s bed bug infestation continues to spread, families across the country wonder what it could mean for their pets.

First the good news: nature seems to be on your side. Bed bugs aren?t known to carry any diseases transmittable to mammals. Then again, studies indicate that these nasty parasites prefer the blood of humans to those of household pets. This means that the health risks to your dogs or cats are relatively low.

Nevertheless, that does not mean that your pets are immune. When humans are not an available menu option, bed bugs will feed on the blood of other mammals. They can also use pets to hitch a ride and spread to a new location.

Here are a few tips on keeping your furriest family members safe.

Prevention: The Best Defense

You can save yourself the headaches of dealing with a bed bug infestation by taking some preventative measures.

There are some pet medications that protect cats and dogs from bed bugs (in addition to the usual ticks and fleas). If your pet is currently on meds, be sure to check the label. If it does not list bed bugs among the pests it protects against, assume that it does not repel them.

This might be an important part of this study. Perhaps the best way to protect your pets is to protect your home. One of the easiest things to do? Open the curtains and windows. Bed bugs hate fresh air and sunlight, so let in as much as you can. Making your bed in the morning will also help circulate air through your sheets, as well as let you check for any signs of an infestation.

Beyond the bed, make sure to vacuum at least every 2 days, keep clothing off the floor, and tend to dirty laundry promptly and often. Most importantly, keep your dog or cat off the bed ? their fur will attract bed bugs to the mattress like a magnet.

What To Do If You Have an Infestation

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If you see bites on your pet, inspect them closely. Bed bug bites are tough to distinguish from the marks of other insects, but they?re usually small, red, and appear in a line instead of scattered. If you are not sure, check your linens (and your pet?s bedding) for small spots of blood, feces, or shed skins the bugs may have left behind. If the results are still uncertain, take your pet to a veterinarian.

If you do find hard evidence of bed bugs, gather the linens in a plastic bag for transport, and then empty the bag into your laundry machine. Wash and dry at the highest temperature setting.

It is also a good idea to call a pest control service if you suspect your home has bed bugs. A professional exterminator can provide a thorough examination of your house and take the necessary steps if you do have a problem. But when making an action plan, be sure the exterminator knows you?re a pet owner, so that no harmful pesticides or chemicals are used. Do not forget this, because bed bug extermination often requires more than one visit.

Ultimately, knowledge is your best weapon against bed bugs. Knowing what to do will save you lots of mental energy. With these tips in mind, you can keep dog tails wagging, cats purring, and safely cuddle up to your pets without worry.

Tim Taylor, President of Heritage Pest Control in Randolph, MA, is an expert in pest control, with more than twenty years of education and experience in residential and commercial pest control. Tim has an extensive background in entomology, and is a member of the National and New England Pest Management Associations and the Randolph Chamber of Commerce. Tim is also a 29-year member of the National Guard and is active in national and community activities including Pop Warner Football. Heritage Pest Control serves the greater Boston area including the suburbs of Brookline, Cambridge, Brighton, Allston, Milton, Quincy, Braintree and Canton. For more information, or to contact Tim, visit the Heritage Pest Control website at http://heritagepestcontrol.net or call 781-986-0701.

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Source: http://my-pestcontrol.com/bed-bugs-pets-how-to-keep-your-animals-safe-happy/

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