6 Pest Control Tips for Pet Owners

While you welcome your pets into your home, you certainly do not want otheranimals, like rats and cockroaches, to take up residence in your abode. As apet owner, however, you’ll have to adhere to some specific tips and guidelinesif you want to keep pests at bay while also keeping your own pets safe andhappy.

1. Choose Your Dog Door Carefully

Having a dog door can make caring for your dog so much easier, but you don’twant rats or raccoons to follow your dog in at night. Thankfully, you caneasily prevent this. Choose a dog door that seals tightly. This will preventscents from leaking outside around the flap, so rodents won’t be attracted toit. Also, choose a flap made from an opaque material so the light does notshine through it. This will keep bugs, which are notorious for loving light,from entering through the dog door.

2. Keep Pet Food Cleaned Up

Especially in areas where cockroaches and rodents are common, make sure youfeed your pet meals instead of just leaving food out all of the time. Leftunattended, a bowl of uneaten dog food can be very appealing to pests. Pick upanything your pet does not eat within an hour. Also, make sure you sweep up anyfallen food bits around the bowl.

3. Don’t Feed Your Pets Outside

Avoid feeding cats and dogs outside, as any food left behind may attractpests. Once the pests have settled in your yard, they do not have to travel farto enter your actual home. If you notice strays around your home, contact yourlocal shelter rather than feeding them — and potential pests — yourself.

4. Let Professionals Handle the Pesticides

Applying pesticides is tricky when you have a pet. You need to choosepesticides that are safe for your animals or make absolutely certain that thechemicals are not in areas your pet may come into contact with. The best way tohandle this is to leave it to the professionals. Knowledgeable pest controlexperts know how and where to apply pesticides without putting your pets atrisk. They may request that you temporarily remove your pets from the home, andthey’ll tell you when it is safe to return.

5. Give Your Pet Regular Flea Treatments

Fleas are a nightmare to get rid of once they enter your home. Their eggsand larvae can linger in the carpet for months, hatching and re-infesting youranimals. It’s far easier to prevent aflea infestation in the first place. Ask your vet to recommend agood flea-prevention treatment. These include both topical and oral options.Many repel ticks as well as fleas. Since fleas spread tapeworm, regular fleatreatments will also protect your pets from worms.

6. Wash Pet Bedding Often

The odor of unwashed pet bedding may attract roaches and other insects. Petsmay also hide pieces of food or treats in their bed, which is attractive topests of all types. You should launder your pet’s bedding once a week. If yourpet has sensitive skin, use a scent-free laundry detergent to reduce flare-ups.If you notice any bugs in or around the pet bed, clean the area well. If theproblem persists, contact a pest control company — and also your vet if yoususpect the bugs are fleas. It is possible to keep your home pest-free when youhave pets; you just have to pay attention to details. Contact Jones Bros Pest Control, Inc.,for all of your pest control needs. We’re experts at dealing with rats, ants,and other pests.