While bugs can be a nuisance for you, they can also be problematic for your pets. Fleas, ticks, stinging insects, and other pests can bug your furry friends. Removing attractants and implementing other preventative measures can help to keep your pets safe. Check out a few tips to help protect your furry family members from pesky bugs.
1. Check Your Pet for Pests
One of the best things you can do to protect your pets is to regularly check them for pests, especially when they’ve spent time outside. Fleas and ticks will use pets as a host, feeding on their blood. Identifying an issue early will make it easier to control an infestation. Ticks are often spotted under collars, on legs, around eyelids, and in and around ears. Fleas like to hang out on your pet’s neck, back, and underside. Brushing your pet can help you to check their fur. You’ll also want to be on the lookout for other warning signs, such as excessive scratching or licking.
2. Give Your Pet a Bath
It can also be helpful to regularly give your pet a bath. Scrubbing your pet’s fur can help to dislodge and remove fleas. If their fur is clean, it will also be easier to spot any pests hanging out on them. It’s important to use a shampoo or product that is designed for pets. Some shampoos are labeled for flea or tick control. If using these products, be sure to always read and follow the label instructions. You can also check with your veterinarian for recommendations for your pet’s specific needs.
3. Work with Your Veterinarian
To protect your pets from pests, it’s important to work with their veterinarian. You’ll want to maintain their appointment and medication schedule. Talk with your veterinarian to see if a preventative medicine or treatment is best for your pet. They will be able to recommend the best medications or flea collars to help prevent a bug problem. If your pets are dealing with fleas or a tick bite, your veterinarian is a great resource. They can help you determine the right treatment plan.
4. Take Precautions When Going Outside
If you have a dog, they likely enjoy spending time outside, which can cause a run-in with bugs. To help prevent mosquito bites, you’ll want to avoid heading outside at dusk or dawn when these pests are most active. It’s also best to stick to the path if you go on a walk or hike. Ticks like to hide in overgrown vegetation. Remaining on the path will help to minimize potential contact with pests. Using a plant-based insect repellent can also help to keep bugs away from you and your furry family member. Our Natural Insect Repellent can be applied to dogs to help protect against mosquitoes, ticks, and house flies. After heading indoors, you’ll want to check to make sure your pet didn’t bring home any bugs with them.
5. Bug-Proof Your Yard
Your backyard is the most common spot where your pet will be exposed to pests. Making your outdoor space as unwelcoming to bugs as possible can help to protect your pets. Mow your lawn regularly, keeping the grass cut short. Trim shrubs, bushes, and plants to minimize potential hiding spots. Remove weeds, leaves, and other yard debris. Ticks struggle to walk on hard surfaces, so adding woodchips or gravel to your yard can minimize their movement. Cleaning up after your pets can help to deter fly activity as well.
6. Check for Stinging Insect Nests
Wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets can also be problematic for your pets. These stinging insects will sting pets if they get too close. Locating and treating any nests can help you to keep your pets safe. Wasps typically construct nests on tree branches or in shrubs. Hornets will also build nests in trees and bushes as well as on the exterior of homes. Yellow jackets often build nests underground, with entrances marked by a round hole. If you locate a nest, you’ll want to carefully treat it. Our Wasp & Hornet Killer is a foaming jet spray that reaches up to 18 feet, allowing you to treat the nest at a safe distance.
7. Remove Food Sources
Pests, like cockroaches, are attracted to places where they can find something to eat. To deter pest activity, you’ll want to remove potential food sources from your home. Clean up crumbs and wipe up spills as soon as you notice them. Avoid leaving dirty dishes in the sink overnight. Store your pet’s food in a sealed container to keep bugs from getting into it. It’s best to pick up your pet’s food bowl when they aren’t eating. Wash their bowl to remove food residue that could attract hungry bugs.
8. Minimize Moisture
Moisture build-up is another attractant of pests. You’ll want to minimize excess moisture in your home and yard. Repair or replace leaky pipes, and make sure your drains aren’t clogged. Clean up any water bowl spills, and replace the water frequently. If there are items in your yard that are collecting water, you’ll want to empty and remove them. Make sure your gutters are working properly so that water isn’t pooling in them.
9. Use Pet-Friendly Pest Control Products
Using pest control products in your home and yard can help to prevent and control infestations. Our products are formulated using plant and mineral-based ingredients. When used as directed, they are safe for use around people and pets. To protect your outdoor space, you can spray your lawn and vegetation with our Yard Bug Spray. You can also do a perimeter treatment by spraying the lower portions of your home’s foundation to help keep pests from entering your house. Our Home Bug Spray can help to kill common home-invading pests. It may also be applied to possible pest entry points, such as around window frames and doorways, to deter pests from sneaking inside.
Keeping your furry family members happy and healthy is always a priority, which is why it’s important to take steps to protect them from bugs. If you’re dealing with pests, we have your back! Check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective™ Pest Control products for a more environmentally and family-friendly solution when used as directed.