Dangerous pests such as rodents, spiders, ants and fleas can be harmful to dogs and cats. Find Portland pest control services to keep pets safe.

Whether we like it or not, our home gets hundreds of unwanted visitors every year. No, it’s not human guests I’m taking about but ants, rodents and other pests. In the USA alone, you can find about 150,000 insect species and close to 60 species of rodents. If you live in Beaverton like I do (or in the surrounding areas), pests like ants, spiders and rodents are common during the different seasons of the year. While we shouldn’t fear all of them, some of these pests can be invasive and cause destruction to property. On top of that, they can be dangerous to your family and most especially to your pets.

Diseases Dogs & Cats Can Catch from Common Household Pests

What health issues can our pets get from common critters in the home? Getting in contact with certain bugs and rodents can cause the following diseases in your pets:

• Heartworm: A serious disease that can result in organ damage to pets caused by mosquito bites.  
• Leptospirosis: Bacterial infection from rat urine that can permanently impair kidney or liver function.
• Lyme disease: Bacterial infection resulting from the bite of Borrelia burgdorferi, also known as the black-legged tick. 
• Parvo:Canine parvovirus is a deadly and contagious virus that can infect a dog whatever their age. Feline panleukopenia is the cat equivalent of this disease.
• Rabies: A preventable viral disease transmitted through the bite of an infected animal. The virus can hit the central nervous system of mammals causing disease in the brain.
• Hantavirus: A very serious disease spread via virus-containing particles from rodent urine, droppings, or saliva.

Beaverton Pest Control Services can help you keep your pets safe and healthy! 

To prevent these, check your house for any signs of bugs and rodents that are dangerous to your pets. If unfortunately, you saw some, it is best to call a pest control company in Beaverton to see how expansive the damage is.

Here is the list of the top 10 bugs and rodents to keep away from your pets.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are small insects that can pierce the skin and feed on the blood of a host. They have been known carriers of malaria, filariasis, Zika, and other arboviral diseases. Some mosquitoes can pass heartworms to your dog which can infect your pet’s heart and lungs. Prevent this from happening by using natural and pet-friendly pest control products that repel mosquitoes and giving your furry babies regular heartworm medication.

Stink Bugs

Although considered agricultural pests, stink bugs are generally harmless and do not sting or bite. However, its defense mechanism of releasing a pungent odor can irritate your pet’s gastrointestinal tract. Deter this pest from entering your home by blocking cracked seals in doors and windows and using essential oils to ward them off. They are most likely to invade during the fall to winter seasons and are commonly seen in Beaverton and the Portland metro areas.

Ticks & Fleas

Ticks are common insects found in Oregon and can easily latch on to your pets. Once attached, they can gorge on your pet’s blood for up to three years. Even worse, they can cause Lyme disease which can result in arthritis and swelling of your pet’s joints. If you see one, quickly remove it to prevent it from reproducing and use tick and flea treatments at once. Disinfect and clean surroundings with eco-friendly products to safely prevent infestation.  Better yet, contact a Beaverton pest control service that can help you eradicate flea and tick infestations in your home with a thorough organic pest control treatment that is safe for your pets.      

Cockroaches

One of the most notorious disease carriers, cockroaches spread bacteria and can even bite. While it is not a parasite, it does carry a cocktail of germs that can make our pets ill when ingested. Cockroaches are usually attracted to the smell of uneaten pet food lying around. Remember to seal off pet food leftovers when they’re done. 

Ants

Pest control experts say there are about 8 different types of ants that can be found at homes. Usually, fire ants are the most aggressive and can cause a painful sting to humans when you get in contact with it. However, for pets, the alkaloid venom during their attack can cause a severe allergic reaction.

Caterpillars

Caterpillars look harmless and cute when they’re perched in leaves. However, our furry friends may do more than look and this can endanger them. The caterpillar’s stinging hair has hollow spines that contain cells with poison which can cause systemic effects when it pierces the skin. In some cases, pets experience allergic or hypersensitivity reactions when stung. If a pet eats one, it can cause drooling, pawing due to discomfort, gastritis, and difficulty in swallowing.

Spiders

Spiders are notorious for being scary and venomous. There are about 45,000 spider species known but only 1% of these are venomous. In the US, there are 4 types of spiders to keep away from your pets and family – black widow, brown recluse, hobo, and yellow sac spiders. They can cause your pets a range of illnesses from as mild as allergic reactions, diarrhea, or a bull’s eye blister to as serious as kidney damage, lethargy, and death. Spider pest control services in Beaverton can help you eliminate these pests using organic treatments that are non-toxic to your pets.

Bees

It might be a surprise to see the hardworking bee on the list, but their danger doesn’t lie on one sting but their colony. Multiple bee stings or massive envenomation can cause the development of life-threatening effects on the bitten pet. Studies and cases have shown 20 stings per kg of body weight can be lethal to average-sized mammals. It can also cause vomiting and lead to anaphylactic shock. 

Rodents

Rats and mice are known as an outstanding vector in the transmittance of diseases such as bubonic plague, trichinosis, typhus and the Hantavirus. For pets, it can cause leptospirosis that can come from direct contact like biting or indirect contact such as drinking water contaminated with rat urine. Dogs with broken skin or open wounds often get infected when playing in water puddles contaminated with rat urine. When your pet is infected with leptospirosis, they can have severe muscle pain, fever, and diarrhea. 

Raccoons

Raccoons are known to attack cats and dogs especially when they feel threatened. Although they look cute, they carry a plethora of diseases, one of which is rabies that can transmit to your pets. Like rats, they can also carry and transmit leptospirosis as well. They are omnivores but they tend to attack smaller animals like puppies or kittens. 

Pet-Safe Beaverton Pest Control Services

Bugs and rodents are everywhere. Although not all of them are dangerous, some of them can pose serious risks to your pet’s health and even your family. Once you see any of these pests in your home, it may be a wise move to contact a pest control company in Beaverton to help you address your pest problem.

Ant & Garden Organic Pest Control is the first and only pest control service in Beaverton using 100% organic treatments that are safe for your precious fur babies. Contact us today to help you keep your pets healthy and safe from dangerous bugs and rodents and give you complete peace of mind.