The 5 Pet Pests That Really Bug Dogs and Cats

Summary: Dogs and cats are members of pet-loving families, and it’s important to protect them from dangerous pet pests. This blog discusses the health risks and problems that the 5 worst pet pests bring, as well as Green’s prevention tips. The featured pests are: fleas, ticks, rodents, stinging insects, and mosquitoes. Green Pest Services provides family-friendly pest control all year long.

National Pet Day is tomorrow (April 11), and it’s the perfect excuse to celebrate our furry friends. We naturally do a lot for our pets since they add so much to our lives. From giving them nutritious food to buying them fun chew toys, it’s fun to spoil our beloved pets. We aren’t the only fans of our pets, though…

Protecting our pets from pests isn’t a new phenomenon. Flea and tick medicines have been around for a while (remember those TV commercials with the talking dogs?) since these pests are big threats. Let’s talk about the five most common pet pests and the risks they bring to our wonderful dogs and cats.

Fleas

This is definitely the pest that’s on our minds as pet owners. Like other bloodsucking pests, fleas need warm blood to survive. They can start producing eggs 24 to 48 hours after their first feeding as adults. Since fleas lay up to 50 eggs a day, these aggravating pests can infest a dog or cat in a matter of days.

Bitten mammals experience a worse reaction when they are allergic to proteins in flea saliva. It’s easier to see fleas and flea dirt (droppings) on light-colored fur. You’ll know if your pet has fleas if it’s constantly scratching, chewing, and licking itself. All of these actions in excess can cause your pet to lose hair and develop infections.

Ticks

Although ticks don’t actually work with fleas (thankfully), these pests are often lumped in with their smaller counterparts. Female ticks lay thousands of eggs under leaf litter and natural debris, then their hatched larvae are responsible for finding their own hosts. Young ticks have to feed in between their molts so they have energy to grow.

Ticks live in tall grass and wooded areas until a mammal walks close enough for the pest to crawl onboard. As it feeds, the tick uses digestive enzymes to keep the blood from clotting. This pest needs to be attached for at least 24 hours to transmit pathogens if it’s infected. That’s why it’s crucial to find and remove a feeding tick ASAP.

The East Coast species to watch for are American dog ticks, black-legged (deer) ticks, brown ticks, and lone star ticks.

Rodents

Moving away from bloodsucking pet pests for a second, it’s time to address all of the risks that rats and mice bring. Rats have their own parasites and tiny pests (like fleas and ticks!) that they can transmit to other animals. If they get into your pet’s dry food, the food is contaminated with dozens of pathogens. A bite from a rat or mouse opens a world of new problems.

It’s already cause for concern if your pet grooms itself after touching a rodent or its droppings. But the real trouble starts if your fierce hunter eats a rodent it finds (gross!). Your pet can get secondary poisoning if the rodent was treated, toxoplasmosis if the rodent was infected, or internal parasites if the rodent had them. Long story short: do not let your pet have a rodent snack!

Stinging Insects

This is the outlier on the list since the issues start when our pets bother these pests, not the other way around. Curiosity can get the best of our dogs and cats, leading them to disturb a nest full of buzzing insects. Wasps, bees, and hornets are all very territorial. Yellow jackets and bumblebees nest in the ground, which makes it easy for a pet to accidentally disturb them.

Your dog or cat may experience an allergic reaction if they’re stung many times, especially in their face. Bees leave their stingers behind, so use a flat-edged object (like a credit card) to scrape the stinger out without making it release more venom. Ice packs reduce swelling, but these should be used sparingly to protect your pet’s skin.

If your pet has any symptoms (fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, etc.) after being stung, take them to your vet or animal hospital immediately.

Mosquitoes

Back to the bloodsuckers! Mosquitoes are annoying to humans and animals alike. They need just half an inch of water as their egg-laying site, so a yard full of puddles and stagnant water can be a mosquito breeding ground. These pests take 2 weeks to fully mature, so the mosquito population grows quickly.

You’ve probably heard of heartworms and how dangerous they are for dogs and cats. Well, heartworms are spread by mosquitoes! When a mosquito bites an infected mammal, heartworm larvae develops in the mosquito’s gut until they’re transferred to their next host.

Heartworms take 6 to 7 months to mature. The group of parasites — also called a worm burden — reproduces near the animal’s heart. Heartworm disease can be fatal to pets when left untreated. Heartworm prevention, usually in chewable vitamin form, is essential to guard your pet against this disease.

The Risks of Pet Pests

We’ve discussed the risks specific to each pest, but there are still some general risks that need to be mentioned. As much as we wish we could, we can’t fully communicate the dangers of these pests to our wonderful pets! We can just do our best to keep them safe from harmful pet pests.

One of the main risks of pet pests is the snowball effect they cause. Pests can cause other pest issues when they invade. Fleas can transmit tapeworms and rodents can bring fleas and ticks.

On that note, there are a lot of pest-related diseases that impact animals. Lyme disease from ticks and heartworm disease from mosquitoes are two of the most common. Our pets can develop lasting health effects, like joint pain and loss of appetite, if a disease is left untreated.

We continue to stress the importance of taking your pet to the vet or animal hospital at the first sign of health issues. We also acknowledge the expenses and limitations that come with animal treatments. It’s best to avoid these risks and stresses altogether by preventing pests from invading your home.

Pet-Friendly Prevention Methods

The risks of these pests are clearly concerning, but we have good news! There are plenty of ways to prevent these invasive critters from harming your pets. When you keep an eye on your pet and their favorite hangout spots, you’ll be able to catch any pest problems as soon as they start.

The most efficient ways to prevent cat and dog pests include:

• Look for signs of a pest issue — In every season, keep an eye out for the signs of a pet pest issue. If your pet is constantly scratching, loses its appetite, and has trouble sleeping, it could be signs of an early pest problem.

• Keep the yard tidy — Fleas and ticks love overgrown greenery, so an easy way to prevent them is to trim plants and mow the lawn on a regular basis.

• Give your pet regular baths — Whether you pay a professional to bathe your pet (we understand) or do it yourself, bathe your pets regularly. This is especially important if your cat or dog spends a lot of time outdoors.

• Clean the floors — If your pet spends a lot of time inside, a good habit to get into is to clean the floors often. Use your preferred cleaning methods (vacuum, sweep, etc.) to remove dirt and pet dander from your flooring.

• Check their bedding and toys often — When bloodsucking pests aren’t living on our pets, they try to stay in the pet’s area for close access to their food. Check the creases of your pet’s bed, blankets, and toys for tiny pests.

• Implement pest prevention measures — There are all kinds of pest prevention methods made for pets. Tick collars, flea/tick prevention medications, and flea combs are popular options for pest prevention. Annual check-ups are also important.

• Utilize professional pest control — If you see the beginnings of a pest problem, contact your local pest professionals ASAP. The sooner that a pest problem is addressed, the easier it will be to solve it.

• Contact your vet with any medical emergencies — Your pet’s health and safety are the most important. If you notice your dog or cat acting strange — coughing, vomiting, scratching, etc. — take them to your vet or animal hospital immediately.

Protect Your Furry Friends with Green!

Our dogs and cats are important members of our households, so why wouldn’t we want to protect them from harmful pests? The licensed technicians of Green Pest Services leave no stone unturned in their quest to guard East Coast households from destructive pests. We provide long-term solutions by providing a customized combination of treatments for every customer. Safety and efficiency are always our top priorities, as we understand the importance of reliable pest prevention.

Protect your family and furry friends with the best in pest control. Contact us today for a free quote on our dependable pest control services!

Citations

Kearley, M. (2022, July 21). 8 things to know about the tick life cycle. PetMD. Available at https://www.petmd.com/general-health/8-things-to-know-tick-life-cycle (Accessed on March 31, 2025).

Prevent common pests from bugging your pet. (2023, August 8). Island Animal Hospital. Retrieved March 31, 2025, from https://islandanimalhosp.com/prevent-common-pests-from-bugging-your-pet/

Stevenson, T. (Dr.). (n.d.). Mosquitos: The harm they can cause to your pet. Advanced Pet Care Clinic. Available at https://www.advancedpetcareclinic.com/services/blog/mosquitos-harm-they-can-cause-your-pet (Accessed on March 31, 2025).

Stregowski, J. (2022, May 25). Rodent illnesses in cats. The Spruce Pets. Available at https://www.thesprucepets.com/dangers-of-mice-552522 (Accessed on March 31, 2025).

Vetstream. (2023, July 4). Wasp and bee sting on dogs and cats. Everypaw. Available at https://www.everypaw.com/all-things-pet/wasp-and-bee-stings-on-dogs-and-cats (Accessed on March 31, 2025).