We know that bed bugs like to bite humans, but what about our furry, four-legged friends? Here’s what you need to know about bed bug bites on dogs.
Q: DO BED BUGS BITE DOGS?
A: Bed bugs prefer to feed on humans, but they can bite just about any animal. This includes dogs, cats, rodents and birds. Dogs aren’t a major host of bed bugs, but their bedding can be a great hiding spot for these pests.
Q: WHAT DO BED BUG BITES ON DOGS LOOK LIKE?
A: If your dog is bitten by bed bugs, you may find tiny red bumps, likely on their belly and limbs. Bed bug bites typically occur in a straight line, in groups of two or three. Depending on the length of your dog’s hair, these can be difficult to spot. If your dog scratches a lot, their skin can get irritated and a bed bug rash can appear.
Q: WHAT BED BUG SIGNS SHOULD YOU LOOK OUT FOR?
A: Bed bug bites itch, even for our canine friends. Watch for scratching, biting, licking and general irritability. Aside from the actual bed bug bites, check for spotting around your pet’s bedding. These marks can either be your dog’s dried blood from the bite, or a darker spot, indicating bed bug feces. Shed exoskeletons around your pet’s bedding is another secondary sign of bed bugs to watch out for. Shed skins look exactly like bed bugs, only translucent and empty. Bed bug eggs are very small and hard to find, but offer a good indicator that a bed bug infestation has begun. You might also be able to identify bed bugs crawling around your pet’s bedding. Adults are small, flat and shaped like apple seeds. They are reddish-brown in color before taking a blood meal, and bright, blood red afterward.
For bed bug bites on dogs, or any member of your family, getting rid of bed bugs is the only solution. Call Terminix® right away and don’t give one more ounce of blood to these home invaders.
