What Your Favorite Pet Says About Your Pest Risk
For millions of households, pet ownership is a source of tremendous joy, companionship, and benefit. What they do not realize, however, is the available pest risks their dear companions bring. Every pet generates a unique environment that draws specific sorts of pests, including fleas and ticks, to rodents and ants.
Almost 68% of American households own a pet, and that number is growing larger, acknowledging that this is a prevalent issue that affects most homes across the country. Pets require food bowls, water dishes, litter boxes, and outside access points. They can all be a source of appeal for unwanted beings. Fur, bedding, and waste are all dangerous breeding habitats for various pests.
Most situations develop slowly over time, making it difficult to see until they become hazardously severe. By recognizing the link between pet choice and potential pest issues, you can take preventative measures quickly. If the pest strikes, professional pest control guarantees safe and effective treatment to you, your family, and your pets. See more about pest control management with pets in our guide.
What Your Favorite Pet Says About Your Pest Risk
Dogs and Outdoor Pest Exposure
Dogs are the most likely to bring pests from the outside into your home. All that time outside on walks, in the yard, and interacting with other dogs brings plenty of chances to meet some pests. In the soft, warm coats of dogs and cats, fleas and ticks find their ideal habitat, so dog owners suffer especially.
Fleas spread in dog fur and can easily move on to your carpet, furniture, and bedding. Flea colonies will establish and can be impossible to remove without professional help. Ticks are a serious health threat to pets and people across the country, as they can transmit dangerous diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Cats and Indoor Pest Attraction
While indoor cats may appear to be free of pests, they have their own unique challenges, especially when it comes to maintaining or eliminating odors. All animals that live in foul, sawdusty habitats, such as litter boxes, cockroaches, and flies, are proud friends of feline kind, especially when feline kind does not clean up after itself. The protein in cat food left in bowls attracts ants and can result in recurrent ant trails into your home.
Mice and rats love houses with cats, despite the common belief. Pet food storage and feeding areas are a constant source of rodent meals. Many cat owners find that the best thing about having a cat is that they are really good at catching mice.
Birds and Flying Pest Issues
Pet birds also come with their own risk of pests that people fail to take into account. Moths and beetles can be attracted to seed hulls and food around a bird’s cage. Bird baths or drinking containers, which may have a continuous source of fresh water, attract many flying insects.
Pet birds are susceptible to mites, which can be passed on to people, causing skin irritation and allergic reactions. Cages that hold birds should also be cleaned on a regular basis to keep the tiny bugs from taking up permanent residence.
Small Mammals and Storage Pest Problems
Rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and other small animals are an ideal environment for stored product pests. They have hay, pellets, and grain-based foods that draw pantry beetles and weevils, which can infest the kitchen storage areas.
These animals also elevate the humidity around their habitat, which is a magnet for silverfish and other damp-dwelling pests. Their bedding can contain a number of insects that thrive in warm, dark environments.
Do not allow nasty pests to ruin your family’s health or pets’ health. Call a licensed pest control professional today to identify your home’s potential threats and design an integrated, pet-safe treatment program suited to your pet’s and your household’s specific needs.