Although reports about bed bugs aren’t in our faces the way they used to be months ago, bed bugs still possess a huge threat to you and may lead you to question do bed bugs bite animals? The results of a survey done by the National Pest Management association showed that 99.6% of respondents complained that there was still an increasing case of bed bug infestation, even in locations that had already been treated by pest control professionals.
The report showed that private residences, motels and hotels are the leading targets of infestation. It is therefore very important for you to protect your pets when staying in a pet-friendly hotel. Check the mattress, box springs and your luggage meticulously to ensure there are no bed bugs around. If your pet starts scratching, be at alert and clean both the pet and the surroundings up immediately. Giving clothing twenty to thirty minutes tumble in the clothes dryer should kill all bed bugs and their eggs.
Common Questions and Answers
Below are common questions and answers that’ll help you to understand how to protect your pets from bed bugs, and how to get rid of the annoying insects.
Q: I just realized that there’s bed bug on my bed, and my pet sleeps on the bed. Could it be that bed bugs have bitten then?
A: It is possible that they’ve been bitten. Bed bug only needs blood to suck, and they rely mostly on humans because we don’t have fur all over our body. However, if animals are readily available, bed bugs will still feed on them.
Q: What should I do if I find bed bugs on my pet?
A: Wash your pet with the appropriate shampoo that’ll kill the bed bugs. Note that dog shampoo may be harmful to cats, so contact a veterinary to know the right shampoo to use. This step is actually important once you notice bed bugs in your apartment, because bed bugs may hide under your pet’s fur, and you may not see them clearly in the day.
Q: Is there anything else I need to do if I find bed bugs on my pet’s body or bed?
A: Thoroughly wash the bedding and everything else the pet plays with, then check for signs of infestation such as fecal stains, blood stains and shed skins.
More Questions and Answers
Q: How to kill bed bugs?
A: 10 to 20 minutes exposure to heat of 120 degrees Fahrenheit and above kills bed bugs. You can subject bedding and other materials to this temperature by putting them in a dryer. If the item can’t be washed or dried, you can place them under the sun on a very hot and sunny day. Prolonged freezing also kills bed bugs. Some pest control professionals use a combination of freezing or steaming, followed by vacuuming. This procedure may, however, not exterminate bed bugs hiding deep in crevices.
Q: Can my pet catch bed bugs when playing with other pets?
A: Ideally, bed bugs feed in the night and hide in the day, but in some rare cases, they may hide under the fur of an animal. When pets play together, bed bugs can fall from the fur of one onto that of another.
Q: Can topical tick and flea treatments like Frontline protect my pet from getting bed bugs?
A: No. Those topical treatments don’t affect bed bugs.
Make sure to heat-launder all pet clothing as well as your clothing, whenever you return from a trip. This will help reduce the chances of introducing bedbugs to your home.
Check this website to learn more about bedbugs, as explained by experts from the University of Kentucky. Please note that it contains graphic and disturbing images.
