Have you noticed signs of rats around your property? These unwelcome visitors aren’t just messy—they can pose serious health risks to your pets. From spreading dangerous diseases to causing injuries, rats can threaten the safety of your home and furry companions. Learn how to protect your pets and keep your property free of these pests.
Dangers Rats Pose to Pets
Rats can cause both physical harm and serious health issues for your pets. By spreading diseases through their urine, droppings, or fleas and potentially injuring curious pets during encounters, they are a risk no pet owner can ignore.
Diseases Transmitted by Rats
Rats are infamous carriers of diseases that can affect both humans and animals. Diseases such as tularemia, leptospirosis, and plaque are commonly spread through pathogens unknowingly picked up by pets. Additionally, fleas carried by rats can infect pets with murine typhus or flea-borne spotted fever. That’s why you need to act quickly to protect pets from rats if you spot them or rats nests near your home.
Physical Injuries from Rat Encounters
Pets have a natural instinct to investigate and protect their space, which could lead to dangerous encounters between your domesticated best friend and a wild rat. Injuries from rats, such as bites or scratches, can cause wounds that can become infected if not properly treated.
Keeping your pets safe from these interactions is vital for their well-being.
Common Rat-Borne Diseases that Affect Pets
Understanding the rat-borne illnesses and diseases that could harm your pet is helpful for prevention. In case your pet gets in harm’s way, let’s look closer at three significant diseases rats can introduce.
Leptospirosis
This bacterial infection is transmitted through rat urine. If you think your pet has been exposed, watch for symptoms like fever, vomiting, or lethargy. Left untreated, leptospirosis can lead to severe health complications like liver or kidney damage, which may be fatal. Seek immediate veterinary care if you suspect exposure.
Salmonella
Salmonella is commonly associated with unsafe food but can also be spread through rat droppings. Pets exposed to salmonella may exhibit symptoms like diarrhea, fever, or abdominal pain. Severe cases require swift medical attention to avoid complications.
Rat Bite Fever
Another infectious disease to watch out for is rat bite fever. Spread through any type of rat secretions, including saliva from bites, it can cause fever or joint pain in your furry friends. Early detection and treatment are crucial to prevent further health issues.
Signs Your Pet May Have Been Exposed to Rats
Rats are dangerous to pets. If you suspect your pet may have been exposed to a rat or its droppings, stay alert for signs. Some symptoms, such as unexplained wounds, will be immediately noticeable. However, other symptoms, such as lethargy, fever, diarrhea, or loss of appetite, might not appear for weeks after exposure. Monitor your pet closely during this time, and contact your veterinarian at the first sign of illness. Quick medical attention is essential to prevent long-term complications or fatalities.
Preventing Rat Encounters to Keep Pets Safe
The best way to protect your pet from the danger of rats is to prevent these encounters from happening in the first place. Let’s discuss some tips on keeping your pets safe and when to call in the professionals.
Indoor and Outdoor Rat Control Tips
It’s pretty simple. If you want to keep rats out of your home, you have to make it harder for them to get in. Inspect your property regularly for holes or gaps around pipes, vents, windows, or doors and seal any openings to block access. Remember that it doesn’t take a large opening for rats to enter.
Rats are attracted to food and garbage, so store food securely in airtight containers and dispose of trash promptly to keep them away from your home. This includes pet food! Store all kibble and treats in sealed containers to prevent unwanted access.
Remember to protect your outdoor areas from rats, too. Remove clutter, debris, and yard waste, as these provide shelter for rats. Trim overgrown vegetation and eliminate standing water to reduce attracting pests. Added benefit? You’re also robbing mosquitos of breeding grounds by removing standing water.
Safe Rat Deterrents for Pet Owners
Keeping your home and yard clean is the first line of defense, but additional deterrents can enhance protection. Eco-friendly options, like peppermint oil and other rat deterring scents, and traditional chemical solutions can help repel them from your property. If stronger measures are needed, traps and enclosed bait stations can help, but must be placed carefully to avoid accidental contact with pets.
For the safest and most effective results, professional pest control services like Mosquito Joe® can provide expert solutions tailored to your needs.
Protect Your Pets with Professional Pest Control
Mosquito Joe is here to help you protect your pets by keeping rats and other pests like fleas and ticks away. Whether you have a rat on your property or want preventative measures, our rat exterminators can help. You can trust we’ll get the job done right because the Neighborly Done Right Promise™ and Mosquito Joe Satisfaction Guarantee back our services.
Protect your pets from rats—schedule your free estimate today!
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and may not be applicable to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your home and property. Mosquito Joe is not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of this blog content or your actions. For the most accurate guidance, contact your local Mosquito Joe location for a comprehensive, on-site assessment.
