Are Stink Bugs Dangerous to Pets?

We all know how annoying stink bugs can be. In this area, we usually encounter the brown marmorated stink bugs. The brown, shield-shaped pests somehow always find their way into your house through cracks or openings and they quickly make themselves comfortable. Sometimes they even invade in large numbers in the fall as they seek warmer temperatures. They usually hide in the walls or attic until spring and they become active in your living space.

Their unpleasant odor is the biggest reason homeowners hate stink bugs, but people often wonder if they should be concerned about these intruders for other reasons. Thankfully, they don’t bite, suck blood, spread diseases, or cause structural damage to your house.

That’s good news, but what about your furry family members? A common question we get is, “are stink bugs poisonous to pets?”

Are Stink Bugs Dangerous For Pets?

Pets and Stink Bugs

Many cats and dogs enjoy chasing stink bugs and eating them. Pet parents worry that this may be dangerous for their four-legged friends. Thankfully, stink bugs are not poisonous. They can, however, cause pets to vomit or drool excessively because of irritations in the gastrointestinal tract. These symptoms should pass on their own, so you don’t need to worry.

In extreme cases, if your dog eats a large number of bugs, this can form a hard mass called a bezoar in the stomach that can’t pass through the digestive tract. This may require surgery to remove the mass. You should consult your veterinarian if you think your pet has consumed an unsafe number of bugs.

Keeping Stink Bugs Out

Even though stink bugs won’t kill your pet, you probably don’t want him or her vomiting or drooling because of them. So, you should take the proper precautions to protect your home from stink bugs.

How to protect your home from stink bugs

1. Seal doors, windows, and gaps inside and outside your home.
Check for cracks around utilities, chimneys, siding, trim, fascia, baseboards, exhaust fans, light fixtures, and trim.
Use caulk or weather strips to close these openings
2. Replace damaged or torn screens.
3. Search for egg masses in your garden and destroy them. 
Their light yellow, elliptical eggs are found in clusters of 20-30 on the underside of leaves.
4. Cap your chimney.
5. Tidy up around the home to reduce clutter where stink bugs can hide.

If you find stink bugs in your home, use a shop vac or an old vacuum cleaner to suck them up—this will prevent them from emitting their foul smell. Beware of using your daily-use vacuum cleaner, because the odor from the bugs may linger in the vacuum.

The most effective long-term solution to getting rid of stink bugs is to call in professional help. Contact DC Mosquito Squad so we can treat the outside of your home to prevent stink bugs from entering. Ask about our various packages that target the pests specifically based on their habits during each time of year.