For many years, it was a common belief that bed bugs only feed on human blood. The possibility of bed bugs feasting on pets wasn't considered, as people often thought that thick fur on pets was enough to keep these little insects away.
However, bed bugs do feed on pets, especially in the absence of human blood. This means that while bed bugs do prefer human blood, they will still crawl through your dog's or cat's fur in search of a meal. Therefore, you may have thoroughly treated your clothes and furniture for bedbugs, only for your furry companion to re-introduce them into your home.
The good news is that you can develop a strategy for keeping your pets bed bug–free. Read on to find out.
Start by getting rid of the infestation in other areas
Even before you begin treating your pets with special soaps or shampoos, address the bed bug infestation in the rest of your home. The reality is that getting rid of bed bugs is an intricate and time-consuming process. To be successful, you'll need to work closely with a pest control service.
You will typically start by having specific sections of the home treated. Bedrooms are often the highest infected, including other areas where you sleep or spend the most time. As each section is treated, make sure you keep your pets away from such areas. Your pets may unknowingly enter a treated room and re-introduce bed bugs that are hiding in their fur.
Wash your pet
While your home is being treated for bed bugs, make sure you take your pet for professional cleaning. A certified veterinarian can help you remove fleas, bed bugs, and other pests from your animal's fur. They will also use safe and effective solutions for getting the job done.
Limit access to highly infested areas
Once your pet has been treated, keep it away from untreated areas of your home. Your pets can be quite sneaky and stubborn if you don't want them to do something. Therefore, you should always block untreated rooms and furniture to avoid re-infesting your pets.
Getting rid of bed bugs in the home is a lengthy process, and you may need repetitive treatments to eliminate all bedbug eggs and offspring. When you're in-between treatments, it's critical to keep your pets away from any potentially infested areas.
Have your pet supplies disinfested
Have any supplies that your pets use disinfested as soon as possible. This includes blankets, pillows, and toys.