Are Bed Bugs Attracted to Pets?

Let’s face it. No one wants to deal with bed bugs. Just the thought of being bitten by one of these little critters makes our skin itch. We know that bed bugs are a still a big problem in the winter months for us and our families, but have you ever wondered about your four legged family members as well? Are bed bugs attracted to pets?

Are There Signs of Bed Bugs in Your Home?

You wake up with strange new itchy bite marks on your body, yet you can’t understand why. Are you having an allergic reaction to something? Maybe you were outside too long and they are mosquito bites (highly unlikely during this time of the year)? Whatever the case, you don’t see anything in your bed and no one else in your home is having an issue, including your pets, so you just move on with your day. When this continues to happen, you may start to become concerned. You shake it off, because you couldn’t possibly have bed bugs in your home… right?

Wrong. Anyone is susceptible to a bed bug infestation. It doesn’t matter if your Northwest Ohio or Southeast Michigan home or business is big, small, clean, or dirty. You can determine whether you have a bed bug infestation by looking for the right signs. Early detection helps make the elimination process easier and less frustrating. 

One of the easiest ways to identify a bed bug infestation is by the tell-tale bite marks on the face, neck, arms, hands, or any other body parts while sleeping. However, these bite marks may take as long as 14 days to develop in some people, so it is important to look for other clues when determining if bed bugs have infested an area (CDC).

Check all cracks and crevices around your home to help you determine if you have some unwanted visitors. There are signs that you may have bed bugs around your home without you even knowing it.

Are Bed Bugs Attracted to Pets?

Whether you have determined you have bed bug infestation or not, if you notice new bite marks on your beloved pet, the last thing you likely think about is bed bugs. Should you? Are bed bugs attracted to pets?

Just like fleas can bite humans, bed bugs can fed on pets. In addition to biting and feeding on people, bedbugs are known to feed on cats and dogs in infested homes.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, “Bed bugs don’t live on pets or spend as much time on your pet as the more common pests (such as fleas, ticks, lice, and mites), but they can bite your pets. We also know that bed bugs are very efficient hitchhikers and can be transported to your home via luggage, clothing, bedding, furniture, etc., so it’s possible that bed bugs could also catch a ride in your pet’s fur or its bedding or clothing.”

What do You do if You Think Your Pet has Been Bitten by Bed Bugs?

Now that we know that bed bugs aren’t just attracted to humans and may also feed on your four legged family member, you are probably wondering what that means for your pet. The first thing to do is not panic. As we have reviewed before, the bite of a bed bug is not known to transmit any infectious disease. While itchy, irritating, and sometimes causing a rash, usually symptoms of bed bug bites are rather mild for both you and your pet.

If you suspect your pet has come in contact with bed bugs, have your home treated and pay special attention to your pet’s belongings. Wash their bedding, toys, and anything else they have come in contact with and dry them in the dryer. The heat of the dryer should help eliminate these pests from your pet’s things.

While bed bugs are attracted to pets, they usually don’t live on them; however, you should be safe and take precautions to make sure your pet is not transporting any. We recommend contacting your veterinarian for advice on how to handle this.

The best and only way to get rid of bed bugs in your home and business effectively, is to contact a local pest control company. At Delving Pest Control, we are able to provide discreet bed bug remediation in residential or commercial settings where bed bugs infestations have occurred. We use a safe and effective solution to exterminate bed bugs with thermal treatment. Delving Pest Control treats your infected home with heat and it eliminates bed bugs from beds, walls, floors, furniture, and bedding.

Call us immediately to end your bed bug nightmare.