

In November 2012, the CDC's Health Alert Network issued an advisory about health concerns associated with the misuse of pesticides for bed bug control. Tell the pest service that you have pets and you need them to use a product that is as safe as possible for your family and your pets. Keep in mind that it's likely to involve more than one visit – these are tough bugs! "Bug bombs" purchased at the local store will not work against bed bugs.
BAT BUGS PROFESSIONAL
What do I do?Ī: First, contact a professional pest management service, and let the professionals inspect your house and work with you to develop a plan to get rid of your infestation. Q: I think I've got bed bugs in my house. We also know that bed bugs are very efficient hitchhikers and can be transported to your home via luggage, clothing, bedding, furniture, etc., so it's possible that bed bugs could also hitchhike in your pet's fur or its bedding or clothing. However, bed bugs are pests of significant public health importance and can cause a variety of negative physical health, mental health and financial consequences.Ī: Bed bugs don't live on pets or spend as much time on your pet as the more common pests (such as fleas, ticks, lice and mites), but they can bite your pets.
BAT BUGS SKIN
Q: Do bed bugs carry diseases like ticks, fleas or other pests?Ī: They're annoying and their bites can cause skin irritation and itching that, if severe, might require some minor treatment, but the good news is that bed bugs aren't known to transmit disease. Don't forget to check your pet's bedding and stuffed animal toys! Look for evidence of bed bugs in many places, including along mattress seams behind head boards and on bed frames in ceiling/wall junctions along baseboards in the seams of clothing and other personal belongings such as purses behind pictures at electrical outlets in curtain seams where they gather at the curtain rod and behind loose wallpaper or chipped paint.
BAT BUGS HOW TO
For more information (including pictures) about identifying bed bugs, view How to Identify a Bed Bug Infestation (PDF). Bed bug poop (fecal spots) are small, round, black spots – similar to the "flea dirt" produced by fleas. A bed bug that has just fed on a person or pet is somewhat torpedo-shaped and more reddish in color. Immature bed bugs are smaller, but still visible to the naked eye, and are more translucent white-yellow in color. Adult bed bugs are reddish-brown in color and about the size of an apple seed. They're very efficient hiders, and can get into very tiny crevices (and you thought your cat was good at hiding!).

They are usually active at night and tend to hide close to sleeping areas during the day. Other signs include visual evidence in the form of actual bugs, molted skins, fecal spots (bed bug poop) or aggregations of all of these.īed bugs are sometimes mistaken for ticks or cockroaches. Blood spots on your sheets are an early and consistent indication of an infestation. Q: How would I know if I have bed bugs in my house?Ī: The first clue might be unexplained, itchy bug bites, but these bites can also resemble other bug bites and the reactions to bed bug bites can vary. Effective bed bug elimination usually includes vigilant monitoring, prevention, a combination of chemical and non-chemical treatments, and teamwork. So, how do we get rid of these unwanted house guests? Unfortunately, there's no silver bullet for getting rid of them. After all, bed bugs aren't discriminating – they'll set up home anywhere there are food sources, and those food sources are people and pets.īed bugs don't live on people or pets they live in the environment and feed on people and pets by sucking blood. American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF)īed bugs are a growing concern in the U.S., and people are realizing that bed bugs aren't only found in filthy environments – they've been found in the nicest homes and hotels, too.American Journal of Veterinary Research (AJVR).Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA).AVMA Center for Veterinary Education Accreditation.AVMA Congressional Advocacy Network (CAN).Donate to American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF).
