More than 90 million households in America have pets. Your friendly little buddy can provide comfort, companionship, and entertainment!
Because of this, most owners invest a lot of time and money in keeping their pets happy and healthy. But did you know that you also need to protect your pet from pests that threaten your pets around your home? Certain pests can seriously threaten your pets and could make them very sick.
So which pests that threaten your pets do you need to look out for? Read on to find out which kinds of pests are especially dangerous for your indoor and outdoor pets.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are incredibly annoying for both humans and animals alike. However, they can also be incredibly dangerous for animals because they can carry a variety of diseases.
Perhaps the most dangerous infection they carry is heartworm disease. Heartworm affects cats and dogs and can prevent blood flow around the heart and lungs.
Heartworm disease treatment is available but is incredibly expensive and doesn’t always work. Without effective treatment, this condition can be fatal.
Fortunately, you can do plenty of things to reduce the risk of mosquitoes coming into your home. These things won’t eliminate the danger of mosquito bites, but it is an excellent way to start protecting your pets.
Snakes Endanger Your Outdoor Pet
There are several snake species in North Carolina that threaten your pet.
Copperhead snakes, for example, are venomous, and a bite from them can prove fatal if left untreated.
Black rat snakes are the most common garden pests and aren’t venomous. However, they can kill their prey using constriction and pose a threat to small cats or dogs.
Keeping snakes completely out of your garden is an impossible task. However, there are plenty of things you can do to make your garden less habitable for them. Some of these are:
- Removing low-growing shrubbery
- Getting rid of wood piles or tarps
- Tackling rodent problems around your home (so that you cut off their food source)
If you have an issue with snakes around your home, you should deal with it sooner rather than later. An experienced snake control agency will help you tackle the problem.
Spiders
Spiders might seem harmless, but they are pests that threaten your pets and can pose a severe risk .
The black widow, for example, can deliver enough venom to kill a cat or dog. The good news is that black widows tend not to bite unless they feel cornered.
Symptoms appear within a few hours, and prompt intervention can get your pet on the road to recovery quickly.
The red hourglass mark on the underside can identify black widow spiders. Most black widows are roughly an inch wide.
Black widow spider bites can also be extremely dangerous for humans. So if you think you have an infestation, it is a good idea to get professional help.
If you are doing yard work, it is a good idea to wear heavy gloves to protect yourself. And you should be especially careful when cleaning out secluded areas of your home.
Rodents
Cats might have a long history of chasing mice, but these rodents are pests that threaten your pets, and they can pose a real threat to your feline. In fact, mice and rats can cause issues for most household pets.
They carry dangerous bacteria and parasites that could infect your pet, including:
- Roundworm
- Toxoplasmosis
- Hantavirus
- Leptospirosis
Rodents can also carry fleas which take a long time to get rid of.
If you are concerned about rodents in your home, it is a good idea to get professional help.
You can put down poisons and traps for the rodents. However, if you have pets, there is a risk that these could hurt them as well. Rodent poison can be particularly harmful to household pets.
A professional company will find a way to help you take care of your problem with these pests that threaten your pets, without putting your pets at risk.
Other Pests That Threaten Your Pets
Insect bites can also be a big issue for outdoor pets. The bites can be incredibly uncomfortable, inflamed, and itchy.
However, they can also lead to complications further down the line. Some insects carry dangerous diseases, and bites can become infected quickly.
Some pests to look out for include:
- Ticks
- Fleas
- Botflies
While these pests are less likely to kill your pet, they can make them uncomfortable. So it is a good idea to get on top of any infestations when possible.
Signs That a Pest Has Hurt Your Pet
Keeping an eye out for your pests that threaten your pets in your home can help protect your pet.
However, it is also critical to recognize the signs that a pest has bitten your pet. These signs include:
- A change in appetite
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- A rash or skin irritation
- Lethargy
- Scratching, biting, or rubbing a specific spot on their body
- Drooling
- Swelling around the mouth and face
- Unusual behavior
If you notice that your pet is acting out of character and has any of the symptoms above, you should take them to the vet right away.
Your vet may ask about potential pests that threaten your pets in your home. The more information you can give them, the quicker they will be able to give your dog appropriate treatment.
Get Help Keeping Pests at Bay
As you can see, many pests can threaten your pets. So if you have an adorable indoor or outdoor pet, it is important to get on top of your pest control issues.
While this will help reduce the likelihood of a pest hurting your pet, there is no guaranteed way to eliminate all risks.
Contact Pest Management Systems today for more support on keeping pests at bay. We’re happy to help.
