People with animals may be wary of hiring an exterminator for fear of poisoning their pets. However, pet-safe pest control is effective and safe. Learn more.
Pests are a problem in a lot of different ways. They can cause severe damage to your home, create health issues, and are nearly impossible to deal with on your own. If you’ve noticed any of the signs that you have a pest problem, it may be time to call in for pest control in Sacramento.
However, homeowners may put their pets at risk if they don’t take preventive measures. That’s where pet-friendly pest control comes into play.
Here’s everything you need to know about pet-friendly pest control and how it works.
The Dangers of Pest Control Services
One of the most significant issues with pest control services that may deter someone from hiring them is the risk to their pets. Traditional pest control uses a variety of techniques and pesticides in order to deal with an infestation. Some are more localized, while others can extend throughout your house and have an effect for months.
While there are pesticide products for fleas and ticks you can apply on your pets, that doesn’t mean all pesticides are safe to use around them. In many cases, you’ll need to apply stronger chemicals to parts of your home that are toxic to breathe in or ingest.
For example, you can purchase roach gel online that you can then use around your house without worrying about your pets eating it. However, the roach gel only available to pest control professionals has much higher effectiveness and toxicity.
There are also other types of pest control that may use either heat or cold to do the job. While these are safer to use around pets, you’ll still need to relocate them so they don’t get in the way.
What is Pet-Safe Pest Control?
So, how do you get rid of pests without endangering the animals in your home? The answer is to use pet-safe pest control or integrated pest management.
Integrated pest management is an approach described by the EPA as an environmentally safe approach to controlling pests. Consequently, both pet-friendly pest control and integrated pest management only use pesticides when it is absolutely necessary.
One of the most essential details when looking for something safe for your pets is whether or not the service accounts for them. Some of the questions they should ask include:
- How many pets do you have?
- What kind of animals do you care for?
- Which rooms do your pets spend the most time in?
- What kind of access do your pets have to your house?
- Is there another place you can keep them until we complete our services?
They should be able to change up their tactics depending on your answers. That may require using weaker pesticides in certain rooms or avoiding aerosols.
In addition, your pest control company should focus its efforts on all areas of your property. This includes removing spider webs from the exterior of your home, addressing termites, and reporting any other harmful conditions.
Harmful Pests
One of the first pests a person with a pet thinks of is the dreaded flea. Not only are fleas annoying but they carry pathogens that can cause human disease. It’s also not uncommon for an infestation to get so bad that the bites cause extensive scarring.
There are also ticks and bed bugs to consider. Ticks latch onto your pets and can transfer all kinds of diseases to them and their owners. Bed bugs favor humans, but they’ll also cause irritation for your pets.
Rodents are less aggressive to your pets but can still cause problems. They carry viruses, bacteria, and parasites that can pass onto your pets if either one gets a hold of the other. They can also carry other pests into your home.
Managing Pets During and After Pest Control
Homeowners don’t always have to remove their pets during a pest control visit. However, there are some guidelines you should follow to keep them and your guests safe.
Keep them out of the rooms being treated. If possible, have them stay inside your pet carriers or crates. Make sure to off any treated surfaces until dry (carpet).
Follow the technician’s instructions regarding when to reintroduce your pet to an area. You may need to wait for the product to dry.
Remember to wash any of your pet’s items, including bedding, toys, and bowls. Keep an eye out for any signs that they have ingested or come into contact with the pesticides.
Pet-Safe Pest Control Products
If you want to try out pest control products between services, there are some options available that are safe to use around your pets.
Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a good option if you’re fighting off bugs like roaches, bedbugs, and fleas. It causes insects to dry out by absorbing the oils and moisture from their exoskeleton. Pets are not harmed by it, and all you need to do is sprinkle some around your house where you notice the most bugs.
Another safer option are citrus oil extracts. They’re labeled to use around your family and pets, but they’re deadly to fleas, ants, roaches, and other similar pests. You can spray it around your home and garden to help repel insects.
Pest Removal Safe For Your Pets
Pet-safe pest control doesn’t have to be hard to find. You just need to make sure that the company you hire doesn’t jump straight to pesticides. Instead, they should take the time to assess your home and yard and find the best solution possible.
Official Pest Prevention is a family-owned, licensed pest control company celebrating 20 years serving over 100,000 satisfied customers in five area codes throughout Northern and Central California. Starting with a few contacts, and only four full-time employees, our small company has grown into an organization that today employs over 100 people, maintains a fleet of 75 vehicles, and has serviced over 100,000 Northern California households. This tremendous growth has come from loyal customers, who have recommended our work to their friends, family, and neighbors.
We are a full-service pest control company. Whatever your pest problem, we have a solution. Our goal is to make your property pest-free. Guaranteed. Contact us online or by phone (877) 711 2847 – for immediate assistance. Same-day bookings and flexible payment plans available – because pest invasions wait for no one.
