Will Bedbugs Hurt My Animal?

Bedbugs are small, bloodsucking insects that live in bedding and mattresses. Although largely eradicated, populations can flair up again and unlike mites, ticks and fleas, this has little to do with unsanitary conditions. As a pet owner there is also the secondary fear of bedbugs biting the family dog or cat, harming them by causing skin complaints or transmitting diseases.

  1. Pets' Fur

    • Bedbugs do not live on human skin or in pet's fur unlike other pests, like fleas. They are able to enter a house independently, will set up a nest in bedding and come out at night to feed. Bedbugs will however live in pet's bedding as much as they would in a mattress so your pet is at just as much risk of bites.

    Effects

    • There is no risk of catching a disease from bedbugs as they do not carry pathogens. They do inject an anti-coagulant when they bite which can cause a reaction, although this will only occur in humans. The symptoms for humans and pets are identical, small red bites, sometimes in clusters. These can cause dermatological problems, such as rashes and itches, but nothing more serious. The issue with pets is that if the bites go unnoticed, because of fur, and the pets scratches them as they are prone to do, they can lead to infection which is more difficult to treat.

    Prevention

    • There is a limit to what can be done to prevent bedbugs. As infestations of these pests have nothing to do with dirty conditions; it is a case of cure rather than prevention. Check your own skin to beginh. If there are bedbug bites on the owner, the pet is at more risk. Comb through their fur to look for bites. This is a long task, but it is cheaper than a veterinary bill for treating infection. Treat with an antibacterial skin ointment suitable for pets. Wash all bedding, human and animal, to remove the bedbugs and their eggs and call in a pest control expert to remove the problem. There is little that can be done by a person to eradicate bedbugs.

    Considerations

    • The biggest bedbug-related risk to pets is in the removal itself. Many chemicals used to remove pests can be harmful to the pets as they breathe it in and lick treated areas, and it can get into food and water bowls. Before using any pest removal device, check the label to see recommendations regarding pets. There are many available that are non-toxic and will not harm animals.