Pests are those unwelcome guests in our homes that can cause severe damage to our property and our health. They may either be insects or animals that can adversely affect human activities. Some humans can be pests too, but that one is best left for another article on another website.
Since pests are unwelcome visitors, there is no doubt a need to exterminate them at first signs of their existence in your home. You may either opt to perform DIY pest control, or you may decide to call for pest exterminators at Fort Mill. Whichever you choose, make sure you also put into consideration the welfare of your pets, if you have one.
We all like to think that our house is a well-protected fort; that no intruder can get to it because we had it protected. Yet, how do we protect ourselves from tiny insects and animals such as ants, termites, roaches, mosquitoes, rats, and mice? They are so small that they can get through our defenses. Our first instinct will probably involve getting a chemical pesticide and spray them on these pests. But be careful, a lot of these pesticides can cause harm to your beloved pets. Insecticides, rodenticides, and herbicides can prove toxic to your pets. But does that mean we should forego pest control if we have pets? No! Cohabiting with them is not an option. You will have to do it safely.
Residents of Fort Mill are surely aware of the dangers posed by pests. Go-Forth Home Services, the best pest control company in Fort Mill, has some tips on how to keep these pests away while keeping their pets safe.
The Danger To Pets
By nature, your beloved dogs or cats are very curious; they like to investigate. Dogs especially. They like to sniff around and are always active. They can reach places we humans cannot. They put things in their mouth because that is just the way they are. That is why they are so lovable. Unfortunately, our pets cannot tell if what they are eating is poisonous or not. Dogs and cats also hunt, regardless if you feed them well or not. So it is possible for them to eat rodents, birds, or insects that have already eaten the poison. They can absorb the poison through secondary poisoning, and this makes it harder for pet owners.
Now, they will not immediately show signs. Signs of secondary poisoning would not appear until after several weeks. It is possible that as our pets eat poisoned rodents or insects, the poison would simply accumulate until our pets cannot handle them anymore. A lot of times, they are misdiagnosed by vets because of the amount of time that has lapsed. Thus treatment can be very difficult.
Modes of exposure to poisons by these pests include absorbing them through their nose, eyes, and mouth. It can also happen through the exposure of the skin when pesticides stick to the fur. Then there are also huge risks when they groom themselves and ingest the poison that got stuck to their fur. Lastly, inhalation of poisonous substances is also another mode of exposure.
Sometimes Even Natural Pesticides Are Not Safe
Natural methods of pest extermination are fast becoming popular right now. It is deemed safer for humans than the usual chemical pesticides that you can buy in the market. While this is true for humans, it is not so with pets. Some natural pesticides may still be harmful to pets so great care must still be taken.
Take diatomaceous earth for example. These are made from fossilized remains of tiny aquatic organisms known as diatoms. It looks like a powder, but under a microscope, it looks like tiny shards of broken glass. It contains plenty of silica and is actually safe when ingested. Unfortunately, these are dangerous to pets, especially cats. If our pets accidentally inhale them, it could cause damage to their lungs. Diatomaceous earth should not be used around pets who have respiratory issues. It could also irritate their skin and eyes.
Tea tree oil is a popular oil that can be used for repelling pests, yet it too can be harmful to pets especially if it is still in its undiluted form. Tea tree oil application can cause weakness, lethargy, unsteady gait, and tremors for both dogs and cats. Cats are actually more sensitive than dogs. Tea tree oil can also cause liver toxicosis, vomiting, drooling, and oral irritation.
Garlic is another natural insect repellent but can cause anemia and damage to red blood cells of pets when ingested. This is true for both cats and dogs.
How To Control Pests When You Have Pets
Make Your Home Less Appealing To Pests
Pests invade homes for three main reasons: food, water, and warm shelter. There may be other reasons, like simply stumbling into our houses but that could be rare. In order to make our houses less attractive to pests, the most basic principle is to put these three things as far away from their reach as possible. While this may be easier said than done, it is not impossible at all. Good housekeeping is the way to start.
Prevent having mosquitoes around the house. Before the attack, remember that it does not have to get to that point wherein they can attack your house. Do not put the mosquitoes in a position wherein it would be easier to invade your home. Mosquitoes are noted for being the most dangerous creatures on the planet. Do you know that they are responsible for killing millions of people all over the world every year; that is more people killed than in all of the wars in history. They do this by transmitting dengue fever, malaria, West Nile fever, encephalitis, and elephantiasis. We would not want to mess with these little insects. Remove all things that can hold water, like old tires, old cans, abandoned birdbaths, old gutters, and other similar items. Mosquitoes love to breed in standing water, and they will get attracted to your property when it has standing water.
Prevent roaches from getting into your home. Prevention is better than cure, so they say. Cockroaches are the filthiest pests around; they carry several bacteria and viruses. This allows them to transmit several dangerous diseases like salmonella, cholera, and food poisoning. You see, once you have roaches it would be very hard to get rid of them; they are very hardy insects. They can live for a month without eating, and a week without a drink of water. They can live for a week with their head cut off; they can still breathe through the tiny holes in their bodies. They die only because they cannot drink water.
To prevent roaches from infesting your home, clean your house regularly. Vacuum floors, carpets, and couches. Sweep the floors regularly. Inspect your house for cracks, crevices, and holes then seal them by caulking. Do not leave unwashed dishes in the kitchen sink overnight. Put a cover on your trash cans and throw away your garbage regularly. Place your food in sealed containers to protect them from roaches.
Prevent Mice Infestation
Mice may be cute, but they do more harm than good. Mice not only do damage to your property, but they also transmit several nasty diseases. Mice gnaw on books, boxes, cardboards, papers, food, and electric cables. The reason why they seem to chew non-stop is that they have incisors that are constantly growing, so they need to chew on something to prevent it from growing. They also transmit diseases by contaminating our food through their droppings, urine, saliva, and vomit. When we ingest food that is contaminated by mice, we are at risk of getting diseases like salmonella, leptospirosis, rat-bite fever, and Haverhill fever. To prevent mice from getting to your house without using any pesticides, seal off cracks, crevices, and holes around the house. A mouse can fit into a hole the size of a nickel. Put your food inside sealed containers. Remove clutter where they can hide. Wipe off drink spills and sweep away food residue.
Keep Bed Bugs Away
Bed bugs are tiny, blood-sucking insects the size of an apple seed. They are brown in color, with flat and oval-shaped bodies. After a blood meal, they bloat and turn red. They bite, and their bites are very itchy. To prevent bed bug infestation, make sure to check the clothes and furniture that were bought from garage sales. When traveling, check the bed, sofa, carpets, and other furniture in the place you will be staying in. It does not matter whether it is a 5-star hotel room or a cheap motel, bed bugs do not choose the places they will stay in.
If you are going to hire a pest control professional, inform them that you have pets so that they can take steps to avoid harming them. For your pest problems, call the best pest control company in Fort Mill, SC: Go-Forth Home Services.