5 Crucial Steps to Keep Your Pets Healthy and Pest-free
Our pets are an extremely important part of our lives. We love them like members of the family. You want the absolute best for them—and we do, too! Pests actually pose quite an obstacle to the health and well-being of your animal buddies. Not only can bugs carry disease, but parasites like fleas can be constantly uncomfortable and even painful.
We believe that your pets deserve to live their lives free from plaguing pests. And—an added bonus for you—when your pet is pest-free, your home is also pest-free. Clearly, most of us would agree that pest-free is the way to be…even if that is a groan-worthy rhyme.
1. Manage Your Pet’s Food
Open pet food is a literal pest magnet. In addition to ants and flies, your pet’s feasts also attract bigger marauders like cockroaches and rodents. Some pests don’t just take the food and flee, however. Pests like carpet beetles and pantry moths will devilishly set up shop inside the food source, so it’s a good idea to store all pet food in airtight containers.
Additionally, we recommend pet food not be left out in bowls all day. Instead, stick to scheduled feeding times and empty the bowl after every meal. This ensures that your pet food does not attract unwanted critters and that your pet gets the freshest meal possible every time.
2. Frequently Wash Pet Bedding and Carpets
Washing your pet’s bedding may seem apparent, but the truth is that this extra task can easily get forgotten in the busy day-to-day shuffle. Definitely try to keep it on your to-do list since a simple weekly wash does wonders to prevent fleas from infesting.
If they hitch a ride inside on a pet or yourself, fleas can quickly begin nesting in your carpet. To prevent a full-blown flea infestation, it is a good idea to vacuum a few times per week. As they can also hide out in your bedding, make sure to toss it in the wash each week as well.
3. Regularly Inspect Your Pets
We recommend regularly inspecting your pet for bites and scratches. While a few of these aren’t usual for a rough-and-tumble pet, any prolonged escalation in bite activity could signify the beginning of a serious issue. Catching a flea problem early dramatically reduces the time it takes to get rid of it.
You know your pets better than anyone; be alert for changes in behavior that may signal a pest battle. If you notice an increase in your animal companions’ itching, irritability, or sensitivity to touch, take them to their vet. Flea invasions are highly uncomfortable for our lovable friends, and we don’t want them to suffer.
4. Be Proactive in Flea Prevention
Although many pests can pose potential problems for your pets, fleas are unavoidable invaders that come into contact with virtually every dog and cat—they’re public pest enemy #1. Fortunately, you can curtail fleas before your pet even faces them.
Be certain your pets are up to date on the flea prevention method you use. This simple step can save both you and your furry friends a lot of headache. These products come in a variety of forms so you can see which type works best for your household. Flea sprays, bedding sprays, pet shampoos, powders, collars, topical applications, and oral medications all work to fight fleas early on. Check with your veterinarian for specific product recommendations based on your pet’s breed and weight.
5. Treat for Pests
Okay, so of course treating for pests is the most obvious way to keep your pets pest-free. However, many people feel nervous when it comes to pest control around their pets. There’s actually no need to be. As long as you and your pet are out of treatment areas until the products dry, you will both be completely protected.
Pests aren’t just potentially dangerous nuisances for us, but also for our pets as well. Knocking out everything from spiders and ants to fleas and ticks is beneficial for the whole family—pets included!.
