Bed bugs are small reddish-brown parasites that are about the size of ladybugs. They can infest your home, bite both you and your pets and they are extremely difficult to get rid of. Bed bugs got their name because they usually live in or near beds. They are most active at night and bite humans while they are sleeping. They feed for a few minutes but usually go unnoticed until the bites are found on the skin. They prefer to feed on human blood, but will also bite other warm blooded animals like the cats and dogs, unlike fleas that prefer cats and dogs, but will also bite humans.
Because their bodies are small and flat, they can easily hide in tiny cracks and crevices around the house. They are often found hiding along baseboards, in mattress crevices, box springs, bed frames, headboards, luggage, pets bedding and stuffed toys. You may also see their shells which have been shed or their dark feces which resembles flea dirt.
If you spot what looks like pepper flakes, dampen them and they will smear red if they are indeed feces as they consist of digested blood .Like fleas, these bugs donʼt live on their host, they take the blood they need and go back to hiding. Bed bugs can live without food for up to a year, but normally like to feed every 5-10 days.
Their life span is 5-10 months and the average female will lay more the 200 eggs in her life time. Signs of bug bites on your pets include a small red spot that may or may not be itchy. The look alters if the animals bites and chews, which may also lead to infection. If your pet develops a rash or skin infection, see the veterinarian. They may need to treat them with antibiotics or if even steroids or Benadryl if there is an allergic reaction.
Bed bugs have been around for thousands of years, but since the mid 1990ʼs, they have become much more prevalent. This is because they are more resistant to insecticides and because of increased travel. They are nicknamed “hitchhikers” because they like to hitch a ride in luggage or fabric items. . They can very easily be passed on via second hand furniture and clothing and even books. Bedbugs are most often found where lots of people live, shelters for the homeless, hotels, military facilities and apartments. They can also migrate through duct work in large buildings. If you purchase any used clothes, furniture or rugs, make sure you treat for bedbugs before using them
If you do find you have bedbugs in your home, unfortunately it is extremely difficult to get rid of these pests. One treatment alone is not sufficient, you must treat multiple times. Bedbugs are resistant to many insecticides.
Bedbugs will die from exposure to high temperatures; therefore you can put any clothes, bedding soft toys, and dog and cat beds into the dryer. They need to be put in for at least 20 minutes on the hottest temperature. You may need to discard bedding or furniture.
Also as with fleas, vacuuming is important as you can vacuum up not only the adults but also the eggs and larva. It is essential to get rid of the vacuum bag immediately, before the cycle continues inside the vacuum bag.
You will probably need to succumb to Pest control. It is best to remove any pets form the house for a few days and talk to the professionals about the chemicals that they use. Research before you allow them to spray in your house, many pesticides are toxic to cats and dogs, birds and fish.
The good news is bedbugs are not known to transmit disease to humans. It is realized also that bedbugs are not only found in dirty environments, they can be found in the cleanest home and high end hotels. They can be found where ever humans and warm blooded animals reside. Prevention in this case is the best medicine and donʼt blame your pets if bed bugs appear in your house!
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