When it comes to bed bugs, humans are the preferred food source, but bed bugs are equal opportunity insects. While bed bugs don’t live on your dog like fleas, preferring to feed and leave, they may inadvertently catch a ride on your dog and/or his bedding. Sadly, flea and tick products are not effective against bed bugs.
Recognize Bed Bug Bites on a Dog
Bed bugs make small, red bites that can be very itchy. At this time, their bites are not associated with any diseases, but if your dog is biting and chewing at the bites, he can develop secondary bacterial or fungal infections.
Some dogs may have an allergic reaction to the bed bug bites and require corticosteroids to treat the reaction while you work to eliminate the bugs.
How to Recognize Bed Bugs
Look for the bugs themselves as well as reddish brown stains under sheets, at mattress corners, and on box springs. One of the best methods for identifying bed bugs is a trained bed bug dog, but most families don’t travel with one.
Bed bugs are flat, brown bugs, about the size of a grain of rice. These bugs become active at night when you and your dog are sleeping. Pet beds, dog crates, and pet blankets can all provide homes for bed bugs. During the day they hide in any cracks related to a bed (frames, headboards, mattress seams). Eggs are also laid in those locations. Bed bugs have five nymph stages, all of whom are blood thirsty.
Startling as it is, adult bed bugs can go months without feeding, so they can live is a closed off room until the unwitting person or pet enters.
Avoiding Bed Bug Infestations
Many people have learned, often the hard way, to check bedbugreports.com when booking a hotel room. Not only will checking save you some itchy bites, but it will also save your dog from bed bug bites.
You can inadvertently bring bed bugs home if you stay in a contaminated place. The bugs can hide in your clothes, your suitcase, your purse, anything you carry out of an infected room and into your home. Bed bugs can, and will, also walk from one room to another such as in a hotel or an apartment building.
Eliminating Bed Bugs
Getting rid of bed bugs is war. Vacuuming, being sure to get into all cracks and crevices, and then dumping the vacuum bag outside in a sealed bag can help. Doing laundry of any possibly contaminated clothes or bedding helps. Be sure to include pet bedding, toys, and blankets. Use hot water for the wash and run the dryer on high heat.
For an infected mattress, enclosing it in an airtight plastic covering will kill the bugs. But, honestly, if you can, get rid of the mattress and buy a new one.
If your house is infected, you will most likely need a EPA-approved pesticide, and you would be wise to use a professional exterminator. Be sure to follow all guidelines on the use of these chemicals. You and all your pets will need to be out of the house.
Avoiding bed bugs is the ideal way to go. Always check hotels, dorms, and cabins before you unload any luggage or supplies.
