How to Deal with Pest Control Treatments When You Have Indoor Pets
If you have pets in your home, you may not give much thought to how pests like spiders and roaches will affect them. Pests are dangerous for your pets too. Your dog may chase a rodent and be bitten. A dog or cat might play with a spider and get a bite, or they may eat roaches and other bugs. Regular pest control treatments protect not only your family but also your pets, especially when your home and yard are treated for fleas, mosquitoes, and ticks. Here are some suggestions for getting pest control treatments when you have pets.
Let the Exterminator Know about Your Pets
Be sure to tell the pest control company before they go to work that you have pets. Let them know the specific type of pets you have since fish and birds are highly sensitive to chemicals. The exterminator will instruct you on where to keep your pets during the process. You may need to protect a fish tank from the chemicals, and you may even need to take your bird outdoors until the spray has dried.
Cats, dogs, and small mammals may need to go outdoors or stay in the garage or other restricted areas while your home is being treated and for a few hours after until the spray has dried. When the exterminator knows in advance about your pets, he or she may adjust the treatments being used and apply them in a way that is safer for the type of pets you have.
Pick up Food Bowls and Bedding
Pick up all your pet's toys, bowls, and bedding before the treatment begins. This keeps the chemicals from getting on things the dog or cat will put in their mouth later. You may need to treat your pet's bedding at the same time your home is sprayed for fleas. You can do this by washing cloth items in hot water. If your dog isn't on a flea medication from the vet yet, you may want to schedule your vet visit for the same day as the pest control treatment.
Be Cautious with Home Treatments
When you have pets in your house, it's safer to let an exterminator apply all the treatments so your pets aren't in danger. Sprays you buy at the grocery store can be toxic because they are often applied inappropriately. Also, avoid using bait unless you're sure the pets can't reach it. Dogs might chew on the bait trap if they can fish it out from under a cabinet. Cats have fewer boundaries than dogs, and they may climb up on counters or jump behind appliances and get into bait traps. An exterminator knows the proper precautions to use so your animals stay safe.
You probably won't need routine pest control treatments very often, and getting them as a preventative measure is a better option than battling the pests once they've moved in. Your dog or cat may enjoy chasing pests around the house, but they can be exposed to diseases and bites by doing so. When you have indoor pets, keeping pests under control is more important than ever. Contact pest control companies like E & R Exterminating Company, Inc. for more information.
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