March 1, 2023
Bed bugs are usually a nightmare, and even though they’re not dangerous, treating a bed bug infestation can be expensive and complicated and take months to clear. The easiest way to deal with a bed bug infestation is to get on top of it before it turns into a nightmare and get a bed bug treatment done as soon as possible.
Before getting a bed bug treatment, understand what it means to have a bed bug infestation and what bed bugs are.
Bed bugs are notorious little creatures the size of an apple seed that suck human or animal blood for survival. They have flat bodies and are dark brown when they haven’t sucked any blood; however, their bodies turn red when full of blood.
They live in and lay eggs in dirty, damp surroundings like used beds or beddings. They can quickly move to other parts of the house from here because of their flattened bodies.
Bed bugs are easily noticed since they suck on blood; the first sign of a bed bug infestation is usually red spots on the skin when you wake up or blood stains on the bed. Some signs also include skin itchiness when sleeping, which happens when they bite. Here are some signs that you have a bed bug infestation.
They mainly occur when you have previously owned or used dirty bedding, a bed, or furniture. If you suspect and have seen the signs that you may have a bed bug infestation, a bed bug treatment is due.
First, you can dry all your begging outside in the hot sun before calling an exterminator. Check the headboards, your clothes in the closet, the seams of the wood framing, the books, the carpets, the electricals, etc.
A bed bug inspection company is usually contacted when the infestation gets out of hand. It takes roughly a month to get the bed bug inspection company to come for a visit. The company comes and tests the extent of the bed bug infestation on the client through sniffing dogs, amongst other ways.
Amidst a lot of doubt, bed bug sniffing dogs can detect bed bugs. They are trained in specialized scent detection, which helps to distinguish the scents of dead bed bugs, live bed bugs, or even bed bug eggs. Sniffing dogs are trained for a duration of six to nine months, usually paired with a human who is a certified and professional canine inspection team.
Certified sniffing dogs have an impressive 98% accuracy rate in finding live bed bug infestations in whichever form they take, i.e., dead or alive, because of their olfactory receptors. Their olfactory receptors are 250 million, compared to the 5 million ones in humans.
This makes them very good at locating bed bugs compared to humans, whose accuracy is 40–60%. The accuracy depends on the level of experience and training of the canine, so vetting from the NESDCA (National Entomology Scent Detection Canine Association) is essential.
The bed bug inspection company brings in a team of people consisting of a dog and a human handler. The two go through different bed bug hiding spots, and the dogs go through sniffing and inspections. Usually, at this time, the rest of the habitat, both humans and pets, leave the premises to reduce the number of scenes being picked up by the canine. This ensures the dog sniffs out the bedbugs, and the job is well done.
Once the dog has detected a bed bug, the human handler is alerted and comes to confirm the bed bug for himself. A visual inspection follows, which leads to a detailed report of the findings accompanied by evidence and recommendations for treatment options.
If bed bugs are found on the premises, depending on the state of the infestation, an objective and unbiased recommendation for treatment will be provided, and soon you will get back to being bed bug-free.
A sniffing dog inspection clears up:
For the sniffing dogs to be effective, several variables must be considered.
No distractions: As mentioned above, ensure the dog doesn’t pick up other living being scents and clear the habitat of humans and pets, pet food, or pet toys in the area. Anything that might distract the sniffing dogs Close the windows to reduce the air and noise coming into the house.
Decluttering: Like any inspection, clearing the clutter is one way to allow easy access to the premise. Pulling furniture away from the walls gives the team ample space to move around and do the job.
Reduce Odors: Because sniffing dogs rely on their sniffing abilities to give a good report and good judgment, clearing anything that emits odors helps the dogs better identify the bed bugs. Avoid smoking, cooking, strong soaps, and scents, among others.
Bed bug treatment is the last option after inspection. It comprises of
At Discreet BedBug Inspections, we are all about bed bug control. We offer professional bed bug detection in NYC through our specialists, bed bug exterminators, canine inspection dog specialists, and bed bug exterminators, and canine inspection dogs. Our canine sniffing is trained to detect bed bug infestations through inspections. If you’re going through the bed bug menace, don’t hesitate to get in touch!