Summer is officially here, and the weather is starting to warm up. While it’s fun to go out and enjoy the sun with your furry friends, the humid temperature may also bring irritants.
During summer, pests usually appear in full force, harming the more susceptible member of the family – your pets. Some of the pests that bug pets during this season include mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks. As pet owners, it’s natural to seek ways on how your pets can be protected from these pests.
When problems continue to occur, consider making use of pet safe pest control. The use of pesticides and other chemicals is a known option, but while it may be tempting to purchase a pesticide to prevent these pests from bugging you and your pets, caution must always be exercised.
But first, let us find out how these pests breed so you know how to prevent your pets from being harmed.
- Mosquitoes
Surprisingly, it’s not only humans that can be affected by mosquitoes. While it’s more common to hear mosquitoes bringing diseases to people, pets are no exception. In some cases, mosquito bites may cause Heartworm Disease in dogs. The bad thing is that it is harder to see mosquito bites in animals because they are rarely visible. While it’s tempting to use of mosquito repellent on your pets, it is not advisable. The best preventive measure is to get rid of stagnant water and watch out for mosquitoes lurking around your home.
- Fleas
The tiny eggs of a female flea come from the host, falling into places such as furniture, beddings, carpets or areas near your pets. Fleas can infect the skin and coat of pets. It is no wonder why pets get irritated when they are inflicted by fleas. One control strategy is to keep your house clean. Vacuum and fog your home to prevent larvae from developing.
- Ticks
Ticks are bloodthirsty pests that humans and animals encounter during warm months. Female ticks breed while on a host such as pets. They lay their eggs on the ground thereafter. Ticks are harmful pests because they may bring diseases such as ehrlichiosis, Lyme Disease, “tick paralysis”, and anaplasmosis among others. Keeping the grass in your backyard cut low and using lawn tick treatments may lessen the chance of ticks’ presence in your home.
Aside from keeping your environment clean and maintained, there are many ways by which you can help safeguard your pets. According to Mark Beavers, Ph. D., you can protect your pets by doing the following:
- Get rid of shaded areas in your house as fleas like shade aside from humidity.
- Change the water in your potted plants and fountains regularly.
- Wash and dry pet bedding.
- Give your pets frequent baths and make sure they are clean.
Final Thoughts
Today, healthier and better options are made available with the help of science. A pet-safe pest control is a wise choice to consider if you want to get rid of pests without causing harm to your pets. When in doubt, it’s always best to seek professional advice.