We all know that termites can be dangerous to humans. Termites bite and these bites can become infected, and then there is the psychological damage of dealing with termite infestations. In extreme cases, they can cause structural collapse in buildings. But it is not only humans who can suffer from a termite infestation. What about your beloved pet dog — dogs are a very important part of a family. Are termites dangerous to dogs? Termites may not be a direct threat to dogs, but these household pests can indirectly affect their well-being.
How termites can indirectly affect your dog
- Dogs can get allergic reactions and gastrointestinal problems from termites. Termites release a lot of allergens in their day-to-day life, such as their feces and saliva. Dogs are less likely to understand the dangers of these allergens, so they may not be as mindful as you are in staying away from them. Exposure to these allergens can lead to allergic reactions, such as itching and skin irritation. This can be particularly problematic if your dog happens to be inherently sensitive. Dogs also like to put a lot of things in their mouths. Unfortunately, they can have gastrointestinal problems if they consume termite-infested wood.
- They can get injured by weak and collapsing structures. Termites can be indirectly dangerous to dogs because of structural collapse. If a termite infestation thrives long enough in a property, the termites can cause enough damage to cause a structure to collapse. This can lead to injury or even death. Since dogs are smaller than humans, they are more vulnerable to such threats. The only good thing here is that termites take a significant time to collapse a structure. You may see significant damage in three to five years, but it may take up to fifteen years for a structure to collapse. But these are just guidelines. The amount of time will depend on a variety of factors, such as the severity of the infestation and the overall strength and condition of the structure.
- They can get exposed to chemical treatments. Termite control methods are often invasive because of how resilient these pests are. For example, in termite fumigation, your entire home is covered with a tent and bombed with a fumigant gas. If you don’t follow proper procedures, you and your dog can be exposed to termite-killing chemicals.
How termites are dangerous to humans
- Termites can bite and cause allergic reactions. Sure, termites are indirectly dangerous to dogs. But they are directly dangerous to humans. This is because termites bite and cause allergic reactions. Termites don’t usually bite dogs because dog activities usually don’t involve areas with termites. Humans, on the other hand, stay in wooden structures like beds and other furniture. We also touch a lot of wooden structures throughout the day, such as doors. The only positive thing here is that termites don’t really go out of their way to bite humans and animals. They have no incentive in doing so, unlike bed bugs and mosquitoes, for example.
- Termite infestations can be psychologically stressful. Termite bites can be painful and itchy. Generally, termite activity can also lead to the development of mildews, molds, and spores. These are not just allergens. They can also be psychological problems. It’s difficult dealing with all of these at the same time. And you still have to think of a way to get rid of the termites troubling your home. It doesn’t help that termites are also very difficult to eliminate. There are just so many problems associated with termite infestations that they can cause a significant psychological toll on you.
- Termiticide exposure can have negative effects on the human body. Termiticide exposure can be a problem for both you and your dog. In humans, termiticide exposure can lead to a variety of symptoms, including eye irritation, skin irritation, and respiratory issues. There are even instances where termiticide exposure resulted in the death of humans even if termiticides are already heavily controlled by regulatory bodies. In dogs, termiticide exposure can lead to coughing, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, itching, seizures, and vomiting.
What you can do to avoid these dangers
- Call pest control professionals. Whether they are direct or indirect threats, at the end of the day, termites can be dangerous to both humans and dogs. Treat termite infestations immediately with pest control professionals. Termites hide deep within their colonies, so DIY pest control solutions are not very effective. If you want a surefire way to get rid of these annoying pests, get help from pest control professionals. There are many different termite control methods out there, with termite tenting and spot treatment being some of the most popular ones.
- Avoid DIY pest control solutions. There are many ways to control termites with home remedies and natural solutions. For example, you can combine water and salt to get rid of termites. But the problem with these solutions is that they have very limited effectiveness. If you want a more effective way to get rid of termites, call pest control professionals. Their methods are much more invasive to termites and their colonies. DIY solutions may work on very mild termite infestations. But the worse the infestation gets, the less effective they become.
- Coordinate with your landlord. If you are renting a termite-infested home, make sure to inform your landlord, keep a record of all communications, and coordinate with them to deal with the termites effectively and as soon as possible. If they are not coordinating with you or are not treating the situation with urgency, you can even get authorities and lawyers involved. This can be an aggressive move, but it can be worth it, and it can save you and your dog from the dangers of termites.
Termites can affect the well-being of dogs
Termites are not a direct threat to dogs. However, they can indirectly affect the well-being of dogs. Termites can cause allergies and gastrointestinal problems and collapse structures. They also put your dogs at risk of termiticide exposure, giving symptoms like coughing, vomiting, and even seizures.
Keep yourself and your dog safe from termites by trying to get rid of termites immediately. Call pest control professionals. There are DIY termite control methods, but they are often not very effective.