Bed bugs don’t just affect humans. In fact, they’ll go for both your cats and dogs at home if they’ve got some skin that the bed bugs can bite on to get their fill of blood for the day. Unfortunately, these pests can make their way into your home unnoticed and cause some stress for both you and your furry friend. We’ll be having a closer look at bed bugs and your dogs, before giving you some tips on how to get rid of them.

How do I know if there are bed bugs in my home?

A lot of the times you won’t notice that you have bed bugs until you notice some of these common signs that you or your dog have been bitten! 

• Check for little raised red bumps on your skin or your dog’s skin as this can be a sign that those bed bugs have been busy at work while you’ve been sleeping. 
• If your dog starts itching themselves more than usual, this might be a sign that their skin has been irritated by bed bug bites. When checking your dog you shouldn’t discount the fact that it could be fleas that are making them itch themselves constantly, so check on some of the other signs before jumping to any conclusions. 
• Look for signs of bed bugs on your mattress itself and see if you can spot any darker spotted areas that weren’t there before. In some cases, you can actually spot the bed bugs crawling around. 

Washing your dog bed 

The quickest way to get rid of those pesky bed bugs from your dog’s bed is through the power of heat. Many designer dog beds have a removable cover that you can take off and put into the washing machine. 

Make sure that you put the machine on a high-temperature wash cycle. You’ll need to place it on the highest temperature in the dryer too in order to make sure that you’ve killed off the bed bugs and any other nasty pests like ticks or fleas that may have been lurking on your dog’s bed. 

After the wash and dry, hang out the dog bed cover outside for a little while just to air it out. You might want to use this time to give your dog a proper wash and grooming session. Think about sending them to a professional groomer if you can as this will help to keep their fur in good condition and remove any other pests from their coat. 

Pest Control

It may also be beneficial to get in contact with a professional pest control company to help deal with the bed bug problem. They may choose to vacuum and chemically treat your bed frame and other items of furniture around your home. If you go for one of these fumigation or chemical application solutions, you’ll need to keep your dog out of the house for most of the day. Make sure to check with the pest specialists as they’ll advise you on when it’s safe for you to return to your home.