Pests aren't just an annoying nuisance — in some cases, they're harmful or seriously dangerous. If you have pets, the perils of hosting common pests like mice and rats in your home can be even worse than if you live alone. Because pets rarely pay much attention to hygiene or sanitation, they can end up with infections and parasites humans typically avoid. This is why it's important to call pest control in Cambridge as soon as you identify a problem in your home.
What Kinds of Parasites Can Pests Spread?
By definition, a parasite is any organism that derives nutrients from another to the detriment of the host. Two of the most common parasites that can feed on dogs and cats are ticks and fleas. Because these parasites also consider rodents to be perfectly suitable hosts, they are often happy to hitch a ride into your home and jump off when your pets come into view. Though fleas and ticks are small and their bites mostly painless, the main threat they pose to pets and humans is infectious disease. Fleas can carry several relatively rare diseases, one of which is the infamous bubonic plague. While plague has been mostly dealt with by medical science and hasn't broken out in earnest for hundreds of years, it's always best to avoid taking risks when you can. Fleas can also cause itching and bleeding, both of which are unpleasant and can prompt further infections. Ticks pose a serious threat to both pets and humans because they carry Lyme disease, rocky mountain spotted fever and other serious nervous system pathogens. Some studies have found that as many as 40% of ticks capable of carrying Lyme disease are infected at any given time. Most dogs in high-risk areas are vaccinated for Lyme disease at early vet appointments, but no effective vaccine has been developed for cats.How To Reduce the Risk of Parasite Transmission to Pets
Dogs and cats can both be treated for fleas and ticks with medication. This is perhaps the simplest safeguard against parasites and is popular among many pet owners. Unfortunately, these medications do little to prevent parasites from being redirected onto human residents. As no effective vaccine for tick-borne illness exists for human use, medications for pets aren't ideal solutions. Further, ingestible tablets have been known to cause cats and dogs unpleasant side effects and can sometimes take months to fully disappear from animals' bodies. To decrease the dangers parasites pose to your pets, you should take a few preventative measures. After going for a walk in dense vegetation, always inspect your pets carefully. If your dog has a dark brown or black coat, a flea and tick comb can help you pick out camouflaged bugs. Though you don't need to bathe pets every day, you should develop a regular bathing schedule to keep them clean and free of eggs or parasite nymphs. Since bedding and carpets are similar to outdoor vegetation, check areas where pets often stay. Rough, overgrown yards are often to blame when pets pick up fleas and ticks close to home. Because they use tall grass, branches, and brush to attach to or leap onto warm-blooded creatures, parasites often find it difficult to travel across well-mowed lawns. By keeping your outdoor pet areas neatly trimmed, you can cut down on a large percentage of potential ambush spots. If you've found mice and rats in your home, there's a good chance that many more are hiding nearby. Don't attempt to deal with your problem on your own. You should call a pest control specialist immediately. At Truly Nolen, we have years of experience keeping rats and mice away for good. We understand exactly how to handle pests at no risk to your beloved pets. Call us today.Related Posts
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