Pest Control and Your Pets

We all love having our pets in the home, but did you know that they can also attract household pests?

Keeping a pet can involve occasional visits from fleas, ticks, bedbugs, and even rodents. An animal’s body is an ideal environment for some of these creatures, and once introduced to your home, they can quickly infest your carpets and bedding, not to mention biting humans and potentially spreading disease.

Fortunately some simple pest prevention will keep your pet happy and healthy, and your home pest free. Here are our top tips for keeping pets without the pests in your Toowoomba home.

Preventative treatment

Keep your pet on a regular flea, worm, and tick treatment schedule. Your local vet will be able to advise the right treatment for your animal. This is especially important if your pet spends time outdoors.

Long grass and bush land is often home to fleas and ticks, and a walk in the park may lead to bringing home some hitchhikers.

Pest control experts can advise you on what treatments or repellent devices are suitable. Preventative treatments are the most important step in avoiding a pest infestation of this kind.

Cleaning

Make sure to groom and bathe your pet regularly, keeping an eye out for any fleas or other parasites that may appear in the brush or bathwater at the same time.

Regularly wash animal bedding, and vacuum your carpets, sofas and mattresses. Household pests prefer dark, sheltered places to hide and lay eggs, and soft furnishings offer plenty of these.

Some pests may also be attracted to animal droppings, and cleaning up after your pet in the garden can also prevent unwanted visitors.

Food Safety

Ants, spiders, and rodents are attracted to pet food. It doesn’t take long for a single ant to spread the word and quickly bring the whole colony back for a feast.

Avoid leaving food out in the open for long periods of time, and rinse pet bowls after use.

For dry feed for chickens or livestock, airtight containers that can be properly sealed offer the best protection.

Regular Inspections

Being aware of changes to your pet’s behaviour can alert you to a minor issue before it becomes a full blown infestation.

Look out for excessive scratching or chewing of fur, or if any fleas or small black grit appears in a grooming brush. The grit is flea faeces and can indicate your pet is playing host before you notice any live ones.

Check food storage areas for ants, or rodent droppings. A pet’s sudden interest in a dark corner of the pantry or the base of a cupboard may indicate something hiding underneath.

Humans may also experience disturbed sleep, and develop red itchy lumps as a result of bites from fleas or bedbugs. Consult with a pest control expert for a full inspection to avoid such instances today.

Keiran Mortimer Pest Control offers business and residential building inspection and  pest control Toowoomba and surrounds, including termite control. Get in touch with us to discuss how we can help you achieve a pest free home this season.