If you’ve been dealing with bed bugs in your home and notice your dog scratching with small bite marks, blood spots, or dark smears in their bedding, the bed bugs may have moved from your bed to your dog’s bed. While bed bugs prefer humans, they will feed on pets when necessary. This guide will show you how to effectively eliminate bed bugs from your dog and their environment without causing harm.
Can Dogs Get Bed Bugs?
While bed bugs prefer humans, they will feed on dogs when human hosts aren’t available. Bed bugs consume blood from warm-blooded mammals, and although it’s harder for them to navigate through animal fur, they will bite dogs if necessary to survive.
Bed bugs go through several growth stages from eggs to adults. After hatching, they need a blood meal to progress to each subsequent stage. While they prefer to feed every few days, they can survive for months without a meal by hiding in dark places like your dog’s bedding, toys, or doghouse.
When bed bugs need to feed and humans aren’t available, they will target other warm-blooded animals including:
- Dogs
- Cats
- Birds
- Other mammalian pets
If you notice unusual behavior in your pet, especially excessive scratching or picking, it’s worth checking their environment for signs of bed bugs.
Signs of Bed Bugs on Dogs
Unlike fleas or ticks, bed bugs don’t live on your dog. They attach to the skin, feed for several minutes, then detach and return to their hiding places. Here are the signs to look for:
Physical Signs on Bedding
- Blood spots (if your dog rolled over on a bug)
- Dark spots that smear when cleaned (bed bug feces)
- Shed exoskeletons
- Tiny eggs on surfaces
Signs on Your Dog
- Welts or lesions
- Excessive scratching
- Hair loss in patches
- Skin rashes or blisters
- Anxiety or restlessness
It’s important to rule out fleas or ticks when you see bites on your dog, as the treatment approaches differ significantly. Fleas and ticks live on your dog’s body, while bed bugs only visit to feed.
Health Concerns from Bed Bug Bites
Some dogs may develop allergic reactions to bed bug bites, causing them to scratch constantly. This can lead to:
- Patches of hair loss
- Rashes or blisters
- Anxiety due to constant itching
- Secondary skin infections from excessive scratching
How to Prevent Bed Bugs on Dogs
The best prevention for bed bugs on dogs is keeping bed bugs out of your home entirely. Since bed bugs are travelers that easily move between locations, be vigilant when staying away from home.
Bed bugs have a distinctive odor that trained dogs can detect. Professional bed bug detection dogs can find even a single bed bug, allowing for early intervention before a full infestation develops.
Common places where bed bugs are found include:
- Hotels and motels
- Apartments and dormitories
- Hospitals and nursing homes
- Public transportation seating
- Private residences
Prevention Tips When Traveling with Dogs
- Place your dog’s bed and toys on a plastic sheet rather than directly on hotel furniture
- Inspect all your dog’s belongings before returning home
- Consider taking your dog to a groomer before returning home if you suspect bed bugs
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs on Dogs
Standard flea or tick treatments won’t affect bed bugs. Since the bugs primarily infest your dog’s environment rather than living on the dog itself, focus on treating their bedding, toys, and living area.
Heat Treatment: The Most Effective Method
High heat is lethal to bed bugs at all life stages. For your dog’s washable items:
While heat treatment works well for your dog’s belongings, treating your entire home for bed bugs often requires additional methods. Keep in mind that insecticides and pesticides are poisons that shouldn’t be used where children or pets play or sleep.
Safe Treatments for Dog Environments
Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is effective against bed bugs and generally regarded as safe by the FDA. This natural powder works by piercing the outer shell of bed bugs and dehydrating them.
Use only Food Grade DE, never pool grade. While Food Grade DE is considered safe, it can cause respiratory irritation if inhaled. Allow dust to settle before letting your pet near treated areas.
Quick Picks: Recommended Bed Bug Products Safe for Dog Environments
Editor’s Choice
Pet-Friendly
Recommended Diatomaceous Earth Products
Several Food Grade DE products are available that are generally considered safe for use around pets:
- Bonide Diatomaceous Earth Crawling Insect Killer (Powder)
- Concern Diatomaceous Earth Crawling Insect Killer (Powder)
- Harris Bed Bug Killer (Dust)
- Purefect Pet Diatomaceous Earth (Powder)
- Safer Bed Bug Killer (Granules)
Always read product labels carefully to ensure no toxic ingredients have been added, even if the DE itself is considered safe.
Harris Bed Bug Killer Dust
Editor's ChoiceHow Does It Work
How to Use
- Apply a light dusting in cracks and crevices where bed bugs hide
- Focus on areas around your dog's bed, toys, and resting areas
- Allow dust to settle before allowing your pet to return to treated areas
- Reapply as needed, especially after cleaning
- Registered with the EPA for bed bug control
- Includes powder duster for easy application
- Remains effective as long as the powder is present
- Does not rely on chemical pesticides
- May cause respiratory irritation if inhaled
- Takes several days to kill all bugs
- Requires careful application to avoid excessive dust
DiatomaceousEarth Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth
Editor's ChoiceHow Does It Work
How to Use
- Apply a thin layer in cracks and crevices where bed bugs hide
- Dust around your dog's bedding, focusing on seams and edges
- Allow dust to settle before letting your pet return to treated areas
- Reapply as needed, especially after cleaning
- 100% organic with no additives or fillers
- Safe to use around children and pets
- OMRI Listed for organic use
- Large 10-pound size provides excellent value
- May cause respiratory irritation if inhaled
- Can be messy to apply without a proper duster
- Takes several days to kill all bugs
Pet-Safe Bed Bug Sprays
For areas that can’t be treated with heat or DE, consider these pet-friendly spray options:
Ortho Home Defense Max Bed Bug, Flea and Tick Killer
Amazon's ChoiceHow Does It Work
How to Use
- Use as a spot treatment around your dog's environment (not directly on pets)
- Apply to bed frames, baseboards, and other areas where bed bugs hide
- Use the included Comfort Wand to target hard-to-reach places
- Allow treated areas to dry completely before allowing pets to return
- Kills even pyrethroid-resistant bed bugs
- Effective against bed bug eggs, fleas, and ticks
- Includes Comfort Wand for precise application
- Works as both immediate and residual treatment
- Contains chemicals that require careful handling
- Not for direct application on pets
- Must keep pets away from treated areas until dry
Other pet-safe options include:
- RestAssure Bed Bug Spray – EPA Exempt Proprietary Formula
- SayByeBugs Bed Bug Spray – Contains 3% Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, 1% Sodium Chloride, 0.2% Citric Acid
Always test these products on a small area first to ensure your dog doesn’t react negatively to any ingredients. For best results, use sprays in conjunction with heat treatment.
Complete Home Treatment is Essential
The most effective way to eliminate bed bugs on your dog is to eradicate them completely from your home. While bed bugs don’t typically transmit diseases, they cause discomfort and stress for both you and your pets. To achieve this, thorough cleaning and vacuuming are essential, especially in areas where your pet frequents. To help understand the extent of the problem, it’s important to learn how to detect bed bugs in carpets, as these pests often hide in fibers and seams. Regular inspections and the use of specific pest control methods can significantly reduce the likelihood of re-infestation, ensuring a comfortable environment for both you and your furry friend.
For extensive infestations, professional extermination may be necessary. If you hire an exterminator, always inform them that you have pets so they can use appropriate treatment methods that won’t harm your animals.
Ongoing Prevention
Once you’ve eliminated bed bugs, prevent reinfestation by:
- Regularly inspecting your dog after visits to other homes or public places
- Checking for bugs caught in fur or hiding in collars
- Promptly washing and heat-treating any suspected items
- Maintaining vigilance, especially if you travel frequently
With diligence and the right approach, you can successfully eliminate bed bugs from your dog’s environment and prevent future infestations. Remember that the most effective treatment targets the bugs’ habitat rather than your pet directly.
Conclusion
Dealing with bed bugs on your dog requires a targeted approach that focuses primarily on treating their environment rather than the dog itself. Unlike fleas and ticks that live on your pet, bed bugs only visit to feed before returning to their hiding places in bedding, toys, and living areas.
Heat treatment remains the most effective and safest method for eliminating bed bugs from your dog’s belongings. Washing and drying items at high temperatures (120-140°F) will kill bed bugs at all life stages. For items that can’t be laundered, food-grade diatomaceous earth and pet-safe sprays offer additional options that won’t harm your canine companion.
Remember that bed bugs on your dog typically indicate a larger infestation in your home. Taking comprehensive measures to eliminate these pests from your entire living space is essential for long-term success. With persistence, the right tools, and vigilance against reinfestation, you can effectively rid your dog and home of these troublesome pests and restore comfort for both you and your pet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can bed bugs live on dogs permanently?
No, bed bugs cannot live on dogs permanently. Unlike fleas or ticks, bed bugs are not parasites that live on hosts. They feed for 5-10 minutes and then return to hiding places near where the dog sleeps. Bed bugs prefer environments with cracks and crevices where they can hide, such as dog beds, toys, or nearby furniture.
How do I know if my dog has bed bugs?
Signs that your dog may be affected by bed bugs include: unusual scratching or skin irritation, small red welts or bite marks (often in lines or clusters), blood spots on their bedding, dark fecal spots that smear when wiped, shed bed bug skins near sleeping areas, and visible bugs in the seams or folds of their bedding. You may occasionally spot a bed bug caught in your dog’s fur.
Can I use flea treatments for bed bugs on my dog?
No, flea treatments are not effective against bed bugs. Standard flea medications, collars, and shampoos target parasites that live on your pet, but since bed bugs only visit to feed and then leave, these treatments won’t address the problem. Focus instead on treating your dog’s environment using heat, diatomaceous earth, or pet-safe bed bug sprays.
Are bed bugs dangerous to dogs?
Bed bugs aren’t typically dangerous to dogs in terms of disease transmission. However, they can cause discomfort, itching, and skin irritation. Some dogs may develop allergic reactions to the bites, leading to excessive scratching that can result in hair loss, skin infections, or hot spots. The primary concern is the discomfort and stress they cause your pet.
How long will it take to get rid of bed bugs on my dog?
With proper treatment, you can eliminate bed bugs from your dog’s belongings within 1-2 weeks. Washing and heat-treating bedding and toys can kill bugs immediately. However, complete elimination often requires multiple treatments and ongoing vigilance to ensure eggs don’t hatch and reinfest areas. For home-wide infestations, complete eradication may take 2-3 months.
Can diatomaceous earth harm my dog?
Food-grade diatomaceous earth is generally considered safe around dogs when used properly. However, it can cause respiratory irritation if inhaled, so apply it when your dog is elsewhere and allow dust to settle before letting them return to treated areas. Never use pool-grade diatomaceous earth, which is toxic to pets. Always read product labels to ensure no harmful additives are included.
I found two small bed bugs on my female dog she has a lot of hair and she had been scratching .I got my flash lite and went through her hair and found them and she has a lot of white looks like dandruff on her my make had nothing tomorrow I am shaving her hair off I have bites on my right arm and my arm Itches .l what can I put on. Them
My dog bed has real dark stain on bedding but he don’t itch how can I tell if it’s bedbugs
The bedding could have been set in dirt or rust stains. To be sure, it is important to use common sense when inspecting your dog’s bedding to see if there are signs of pest infestations.
If you find that your dog’s bed has dark spots, this could be caused by either dirt (which will not move), bloodstains (from licking the area excessively), fecal matter (the dried-up remnants of past bowel movements), or urine (similarly, dried up crystals). If you notice small red or black dots on your dog’s bedding, this may be the result of either flea dirt (which looks like tiny grains of pepper) or ant bites/fleabites to your pet.
What can I use on bites to my dog. Yes getting sprayed and doing all correct things. But what keeps them off and what is good for healing. Thank you.