It's bed bug season.
"July, August and September are definitely busier than the rest of the year and we've seen that trend from every corner of the country," says Jeffery White, a research entomologist with BedBug Central.
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And they don't just bug humans. They can also be quite a pest to our furry friends as well. If you don't take proper precautions, these bothersome bugs may use your pet to hitch a ride home.
Charlotte Reed is like a lot of us. She too likes to travel with her dug. But she worries about exposing her pet to bed bugs when on the road.
"My dog sleeps in the bed with me. So, just like I'm exposed to bed bugs at night in the bed, so is she," says Reed.
It's a valid concern, says White. In fact, a recent survey found 67-percent of pest management companies have treated bed bugs in hotel rooms. And he says, all pets are fair game.
"Dogs, cats, birds, guinea pigs. Any pet, for instance, could be a food source for a bed bug," says White.
While bed bugs don't tend to live on pets long term like fleas and ticks, the American Veterinary Medical Association warns that doesn't mean your pet can't bring them home.
"Pets can transport bedbugs. Just mechanically, the bed bug hitches a ride on your pet and gets into your house," says Kimberly May, DVM, with the American Veterinary Medical Center.
Or more commonly, bed bugs can snuggle up in your pet's bedding.
"Their carrier could have a bed bug inside of it and that's how you introduce bed bugs into your home," explains White.
"You need to check their bedding. You also need to check their soft toys, because there could be bed bugs in there," advises May.
So how can you keep your pets and your home safe? First, experts say, when traveling, thoroughly inspect your hotel room for bugs before you bring your pet
through the door. The bugs are visible to the naked eye.
"One of the most common areas that you want to inspect when you stay in a hotel room is either the headboard, where bed bugs will typically hide, or the bottom of the box-spring," says White.
Second, consider leaving your pets' bedding in the bathroom where there will be less chance of bugs.
"Keep it separate. Keep it closed if you can," says May.
Also, consider treating the carrier with a pet safe bed bug repellent spray.
"I always spray the carrier prior to leaving my house," says Reed.
When you check out from the hotel, make sure to examine your pet's bedding thoroughly. And take further precautions once you get home.
"Immediately launder it in the hottest water that you can. If there are any rips or holes in it, you want to discard it," says May.
She goes on to say you may want to consider having your pet bathed and groomed before you even take him or her back into your house.
While none of these precautions can guarantee to keep your pets and home bed bug free, experts say they can cut down the risk.
It's worth noting, unlike fleas and ticks, bed bugs aren't known to carry disease. Experts say their bites are merely irritating and itchy to pets and people. Also, while there's no research to prove that flea and tick sprays can help keep pets bed bug free, experts say it can't hurt to use them and will at least keep your pet protected from other, more dangerous parasites.