Everything You Need to Know About Pets and Pests

January 26, 2021

When you have a pet, you do everything you can to make sure it’s safe. Dogs and cats especially become like a part of the family. You’re probably careful to make sure your pets get enough exercise and are eating well, and are visiting the vet for regular checkups. You should also be careful when it comes to pests and pets in Central Illinois. Even pests like mosquitoes and bed bugs, which usually cause more trouble for humans, can end up harming your pets. Here are some pests to watch out for with your pets.

Ticks

If you spend a lot of time outside in the summer, you probably already know to check yourself for ticks when you come inside. These tiny, oval-shaped, eight-legged bugs are parasites that will choose to feed off your pet’s blood as easily as yours. Any time your pet spends time in long grass, you should check their face, ears, neck and legs to make sure they’re not carrying any ticks inside with them.

Fleas

When it comes to pests and pets, fleas are probably the first that come to mind. Another parasite that feeds off your pet’s blood, fleas are known for their long jumps and the incessant itchiness of their bites. If you notice your pet scratching, you should look to see if there are small black fleas visible on their fur.

Botflies

Botflies are parasites that usually go for rabbits and rodents, but they can also be found on cats and dogs. Botflies lay their eggs in grass, so they’re a risk in the same way ticks are. An adult botfly looks like a cross between a fly and a black bumblebee, with a black, hairy body about the size of a bee. However, the pest bothers pets when it’s in a maggot stage, latching onto animals from where they hatched in grass and burrowing under the skin. Botfly infections can cause serious problems for a pet, anything from cough and fever to blindness and seizures.

Rodents

Though rats and mice will likely run as fast as they can away from your cats and dogs, they may still be able to hurt them in less direct ways. Mice and rats can carry diseases, parasites and even toxins that can harm your pets in your home. Everything from fleas to the leptospirosis bacteria might show up in your home with a rat.

Protecting your pets from pests

It can be hard to know what to do when it comes to pests and pets. If you have pest troubles in your home in Central Illinois, you’ll want to do everything you can to get rid of them. But at the same time, you never want to expose your pets to something that might hurt them. The experts at Crist Termite and Pest Solutions, Inc. can help you keep your pets safe while getting rid of any pests in your home. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with our trained and highly-experienced pest removal professionals.

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