How to Have a Pest-Free Home as a Pet Owner

How to Have a Pest-Free Home as a Pet Owner

Pets have a large impact on the mood and state of our homes. Our beloved dogs and cats in particular are wonderful companions that make us happy and provide a unique bond that is not easy to replicate with any other being. There is something to be said about the love that we share despite not speaking the same language, no matter how much we tell our pets about our lives. But one downside that comes with owning a pet is the higher risk of pests invading our homes. Pets that spend even some of their leisurely time outside can be vessels for some pretty gnarly insects. Let’s look at some easy tasks and habits to get into in order to ensure that the only non-human beings in the house are the ones that you consciously chose to be part of the family. 

Clean the Floors Regularly

The last thing you need is more chores in your busy day, but this one should be relatively quick. Dogs and cats shed quite often, even when they aren’t actively shaking. Even the breeds that don’t have traditional fur shed in some way by producing dander and dead skin like humans do. Vacuum the carpets and sweep the hard floors semi-frequently, at least once a week, and be sure to focus more on the spots that your pet loves to lay on. Pests are attracted to fur and dander for the protein as food and warmth for nesting, so eliminating the material means preventing tiny pests from treating it as a free invitation to your home. 

Keep Pet Food Sealed

This is a good habit to have whether you store the food in the garage, in the house, or outside. Pet food is a huge draw for many pests, especially rodents. There are a couple of ways you can go about this. One is to just put the whole bag of dried food in a large plastic garbage can with a locking lid. This will keep out pests of all sizes, since they don’t have the strength (or dexterity) to get into a sealed can. Clean up any food pieces that may have spilled in the bottom for extra security. Another option is to get a more aesthetically-pleasing container, specifically if you have a smaller pet that doesn’t require a giant bag of food every couple of weeks. You could pour the food into a container with a locking lid and keep it on a shelf away from human food if you want to make everything more visually-appealing. 

Remove Food Bowl Immediately After Eating

Speaking of pet food, it is a huge help to put the food dish away right after your pet is finished with their meal. This is a good practice whether they eat wet or dry food. Since pests, like rodents, ants, and yellowjackets are attracted to the protein in pet food, they will gladly invade the dish that has remnants of the filling meal. If you have the enclosed garbage can from earlier, it’s easy to throw the dish in there with the food since the lid locks. If not, make sure to wipe the dish out before leaving it out. If you notice the ants and yellowjackets swarming the dish no matter how quickly you try to remove it, try feeding your pet in a new spot. Insects are creatures of habit and will take longer to find a food dish that is clear on the other side of the yard. Your pet may be a little thrown off at first, but they will appreciate not being bugged (get it?)by pests when they’re trying to enjoy their food. 

Check Bed & Blankets for Insects

There is nothing more adorable than a pet curled up in their own little bed with their favorite blanket. The one thing that ruins this picture is the possibility of other critters joining your pet in their own space. This is more of a risk if their bedding is outside on the back patio, since it’s easy for insects to crawl inside without the pet noticing. Check in the folds and corners of the bed for any insects or eggs that may be hidden. Shake out their blanket outside and check for small holes that you know did not come from your pet’s claws or teeth. If your dog or cat frequently scratches after laying in their bed for a while, there is a chance that some kind of insect is biting them from the comfort of the bed. You may have to cut your losses if a pet’s bed or blanket is completely covered in eggs or insects, since a new one might be the best route to take in that case. We don’t want any pests in our beds, so imagine how our furry friends must feel when their bed is invaded by unwanted pests. 

Don’t Leave Doors Open

If you have a pet that loves to spend an equal amount of time inside and outside, it seems like a good idea to just leave the back door open on a temperate day. But this is the biggest invitation ever for pests of all sizes. They will have no problem marching in and invading any room they want without much trouble. Even doggy-doors pose a risk since they aren’t the tightest-sealed openings. Even though it likely gets annoying to constantly accommodate your pet who wants back on the other side of the door five minutes after they switched, it will help in the long run. Keep the door closed and only open it for your pet to walk through so they can go lay down and debate if this new location was actually what they wanted in the first place. 

Repair Any Holes in Screens

If an open door is a huge invitation for pests, a screen with a hole or two in it is a more subtle invitation for insects to travel through. Opening the sliders and windows on a beautiful day is one of the best parts of warm weather, but it is less fun when you see an insect casually fly through the hole like it’s nothing. It’s also fun to open the house up when you have outdoor pets since you can feel close to them despite the door being between the two spaces. If you have a small hole or two, it could be a simple patch job. Use the same netting material of the screen to cut small squares and attach to the screen with clear silicone adhesive. If there are much larger holes, it is probably worth it to just replace the whole screen to start fresh. There are plenty of tutorials online on how to do this the right way so that both you and your pet can enjoy the flow of fresh air without pests using it as an easy access point. 

Check Your Pet’s Skin Regularly

While their fur or hair is a great help in keeping pets warm in the winter, it is unfortunately an easy way for insects to hide and bite them to no end. Bloodsucking pests like ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, and mites can hide within the deep folds of the skin and fur to drink the blood for as long as they want. Depending on the size of the pest, your pet may not notice them at first. This is why it is important to help out your beloved dog or cat and check them in a way that they couldn’t. Gently move your pet’s fur around, especially around the neck, and look for any red marks or bumps. These are signs that the pet has been bitten. Or you may find an actual insect or two, which should be removed as soon as possible. If it’s a tick and you want to remove it yourself, use a pair of tweezers and pull the tick straight out from the skin. If you pull to the side, the head can detach and continue transmitting bacteria through the bite. 

Watch for Behavior Changes

Similar to the last tip, this one is more subtle than running your hands through your pet’s fur, as much as they like that. Different pests can transmit disease and bacteria through their bites. Ticks are known to carry Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which both have physical effects on pets and humans. Fleas can also carry diseases, including cat scratch disease. Even roaches and rodents, as little as they bite pets, can transmit dangerous pathogens to pets if they are bitten. Some of the more obvious physical effects of these disease include lethargy, joint swelling, loss of appetite, and swollen lymph nodes. If any of these disease are left untreated, they could lead to kidney complications or arthritis in dogs and cats. If you see your pet acting strangely or way more tired than usual, take them to the vet as soon as you can. It’s better to get them checked out and have a quick fix than to leave it alone and have larger problems down the road. 

Get Your Pet Groomed Regularly

This tip is especially true for pets with thicker fur or longer hair, but it is helpful for all species. Pet groomers and vet techs know the signs of bites and infestations to watch for, so they can catch the problem as they care for your furry friend. The best case scenario is that everything is fine and your pet is now clean and trimmed. This will not only make your pet feel like a million bucks, it will also lessen the chances of pests latching on to their skin. Many pet shampoos have natural pest repellents in them, so the bath is double-duty for pets. Shorter hair also makes it harder for pests to hide within the animal, so you can spot them sooner. Plus, who doesn’t want to have a clean-smelling dog or cat in their home?

Pay Attention to Where Pets Investigate

If your dog or cat has suddenly darted to a corner of the yard or house with its hair standing up, you know the special kind of stress you get as a pet owner. Part of you worries what is causing your normally docile pet to react this way, and part of you hopes that they will take care of the problem so you don’t have to. But this can be a sign of a larger issue that will leave you thanking your pet for warning you. Dogs and cats have acute senses that allow them to detect movement that we wouldn’t, so they often find rodents, possums, squirrels, birds, and a neighbor’s pets where we would not. Some of these are just part of having a yard with trees and bushes, since no one can help having some birds land on the branches and squirrels crawl up the tree trunks. But if your dog or cat picks up a rat and brings it back like some kind of twisted offering, it could be a sign of a beginning infestation. Look at the area that the pet was invested in and see if you can find signs of a nest or habitat. A pest control inspection is a great tool, since the technicians know what to look for when searching every part of a yard.

Keep Pets Inside During Dusk & Dawn

If you bring your pets inside at all, the best times to do so are around sunrise and sunset. These picturesque times of the day are also the times when many pests are active. Mosquitoes in particular love dusk and will bite quite often during this time. Bed bugs and chiggers are active at night, but they continue their annoying activities into early morning as well. If your pet does double duty outside and inside, try keeping them in during these changing times to keep them safe from the frustration of biting insects. There are definitely still bloodthirsty pests in the middle of the day, but these are easier to avoid since they are more obvious with their eating habits and the pet is likely awake to fight them off. 

Don’t Let Them Explore Thick Brush

One of the most fun parts of owning a dog (and some very canine-like cats) is taking them for a walk around the neighborhood or on nature trails. Both of you enjoy the fresh air and wildlife, and your pet gets to sniff to their hearts content. But this can quickly turn into a problem when the pet follows its nose straight into the densest shrubbery you’ve ever seen. While they may be having the time of their life, the insects that are likely hiding in that brush are eagerly waiting for the animal to get close enough to hitch a ride on them. Ticks love hiding in tall grass to wait for a host, and many types of spiders hide in bushes to wait for their prey to come along, which could unfortunately be your pet if they get too close. A good rule of thumb when you take your pet on a walk is to keep them on the sidewalk or trail as much as possible, and keep an eye on them if they stop to sniff the edge of a plant or tree. There is nothing wrong with letting your pet explore a little, but there can be limits for the safety of both you and your pet. It also wouldn’t hurt to do a quick check of your pet’s fur when you get home just to make sure that there aren’t any tiny critters hiding on their skin. 

Change Water Bowls Frequently

Water is one of the essential materials that every creature needs to survive. This is why pets need constant access to water, just like humans do. But no matter how deep their water bucket is or how aesthetic their bowl is, it is nearly impossible to keep the dish free of insects forever. Most of the time, insects accidentally fall in and drown when they try to sneak a drink, but there are certain kinds that actually lay their eggs in water. Mosquitoes are one of the most common, which creates problems for pets and humans alike when they start biting us for protein. If you feel it’s necessary, you can change the water in the dish once a day, but it is often not required. Once every couple days should do the trick, or even longer in the winter when the insects are overwintering or dead. It’s important for your pet to have water at all times, but they shouldn’t have to share with tiny insects that do nothing but annoy them all day. 

Talk to Your Veterinarian About Medication

If you live in an area that seems to be alive with insects no matter what you do, it’s a good idea to keep your vet in the loop and update them on any changes in your pet’s habits and living situation. Since your vet is likely in the same area as you and knows your pet’s medical history, they will know the best medications and treatments for your pet when it’s necessary. The vet can also walk you through preventative medicine or treatments to make sure that your pet is as protected as possible against bloodsucking pests that could cause major problems later on. And again, if you notice any big behavioral changes in your pet, make sure to contact the vet to get the problem taken care of before anything gets worse.

Wash Sheets Often

This is a good habit to get into anyway, but it is especially true if your pet shares the bed with you or your children. It’s nice to share the bed with a protective animal that loves cuddling with you (in an ideal situation), but it can pose a problem if they’re affected by pests and no one knows it. Insects on your pet means insects in your bed, and no one wants that. Wash your sheets weekly or biweekly to have the most insurance that your bed is free of tiny pests, like fleas, ticks, bed bugs, mites, and carpet beetles. Sharing your bed with a dog or cat is one thing, but sharing it with a slew of tiny biting insects is an entirely different scenario that no one ever wants. 

Keep Lawn Trimmed

If you have looked up any pest control advice, this kind of tip has likely popped up a few times. But it’s because keeping landscaping somewhat trimmed is important in preventing pests from having an easy hiding spot while they wait to cause more problems for you. The taller the grass is, the more pests that can live in there. Ticks in particular favor long grass while they wait for a host to walk through. Make sure the lawn is mowed somewhat frequently to prevent ticks from hiding out. It is important to keep the general landscaping in your yard trimmed to an extent, since thick shrubbery and long tree branches are easy spots for pests to live in while they feed off of our food or pets. But since most dogs and cats love the lawn when they go outside, we want to make sure they are protected from bloodsucking ticks while they lounge in the grass. 

Contact Pest Control 

Whether or not you have a pet, pest control is a great way to be sure that your home won’t be overrun with pests. But if you do have pets, it would be a great benefit to both of you to have some services help with the pest problem. Contact our team today to learn more about how our EPA-approved treatments can keep the pests away from your home without harming your furry friends that are important members of the home. 

Citations

5 ways to protect your pets from insects. (n.d.). OFF. Retrieved May 2, 2022, from https://off.com/en/inspiration/family-fun/5-ways-protect-your-pets-from-insects 

10 steps to keep your pets pest-free. (n.d.). Pest World. Retrieved May 2, 2022, from https://www.pestworld.org/news-hub/pest-articles/10-steps-to-keep-your-pets-pest-free/