It sounds like the plot of a horror movie: an innocent hiker is bitten by a bug, and suddenly they become violently ill every time they eat meat. Their skin erupts in hives, their throat swells, and they’re short of breath. It’s the stuff of nightmares.

As unsettling as it is, this scenario is all too real and is affecting a growing number of people each year. It’s called alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), a tick-borne condition that causes an allergy to alpha-gal… a sugar found in the tissues of most mammalian species. Only primates – which aren’t typically a source of human food – lack alpha-gal. AGS is spread through tick saliva (particularly after the bite of a lone star tick) and results in an allergy to meat, dairy, and other products derived from mammals.

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In honor of National Pet Day, April 11, let’s unpack a frequently asked question: Can pets protect your garden from pests?

The assumption is that outdoor cats will kill rodents and large bugs, and dogs will chase off larger pests like squirrels and raccoons. The actuality is a bit different: your pets actually may attract pests looking for a meal or a host, and those pests can do them harm.

Can Garden Pests Harm Your Dog?

There are many garden pests that can harm dogs, cats, and other domestic animals. Pest threats include insect bites, rodent bites, and pest-vectored diseases.

Fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes are the worst offenders. Fleas can transmit babesiosis and tapeworms… as well as cause anemia and contact dermatitis. Ticks are carriers of Lyme disease, bartonellosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, hepatozoonosis, and babesiosis. Mosquitoes can infect dogs and cats with West Nile virus (although the symptoms are typically mild). The bigger mosquito threat comes from heartworm infections – which can be fatal if not treated.

Among other yard pests that can infest or sicken your pets are stinkbugs, mites, worms, and bottle flies. Don’t forget that rodents (such as rats, mice, and squirrels) can transmit diseases through their bites, urine, feces, and carcasses.

How Do You Get Rid of Pests without Harming Pets?

The first step toward keeping your pet safe is to avoid attracting pests in the first place. Be sure your yard is free of debris that could provide food or cover for pests.

Indoors, keep your home clear of food and water sources that can entice bugs and rodents. Pay close attention to your pets’ food dishes, clean them often and refrain from leaving food in them when your pet has finished eating.

Avoid forms of pest control that can sicken your pet. While domestic animals like dogs and cats are rarely attracted to poisons intended for insects and rodents… adventurous pets may chew or consume them anyway. They also may become ill (or worse) if they encounter a rodent that has eaten poison.

If you use pest control products commonly available at retail outlets, do your research to ensure they are pet safe. Just because you can buy garden control products at grocery and home improvement stores, doesn’t mean they can’t harm your pet. Even something as seemingly natural and benign as citronella candles can be harmful or fatal to your pets.

The best way to keep your pets safe and your home pest-free is to use the services of a qualified professional pest control company like Twin Forks®. We are trained in the safe use of pesticides and are committed to the well-being of your entire family, including your pets!

How Long Should Pets Stay Away from Pest Control?

Generally speaking, you should ensure pets stay away at least until the pest treatment is dry. Timing will depend on the product used, as well as environmental factors like humidity and rainfall. If you use a pest control product, read the instructions thoroughly and if it doesn’t state how long pets should avoid contact then don’t use it.

If you’re concerned about your pets’ safety, a professional pest control company will give you detailed instructions on how long to wait before allowing your pets to come in contact with treated areas of your home or yard.

Twin Fork Pest Control® Treats Your Pets Like Family

At Twin Forks Pest Control®, we understand that your pets are members of the family, and their safety is a priority. We eliminate dangerous pest threats from your home and yard, using the safest products available. We will inform you clearly, with specific instructions, if there is a need to temporarily exclude your pets from a treated area. For pet safe pest removal, contact us online for a free estimate, or call (631) 287-9020 in the Southampton area; (631) 324-9020 near Easthampton; or (631) 298-0500 in Southold.