One of the biggest things you can do is to keep your dog in at night. Anyone who thinks they may have found a kissing bug … Chagas disease is transmitted whenever a kissing bug bites an animal, defecates T. cruzi and the parasite enters the bite opening. The bugs can also bite dogs, and they can get the same heart issues as people, but in a shorter timeline, Gunter says. The kissing bug can infect all dogs of all breeds, though rarely. They prefer to bite around the mouth and eyes, which is why they are called Kissing Bugs. These beetles lay in the bedding of dogs and other animals, feeding on the animals' blood as they sleep. Kissing bugs are nocturnal feeders that take blood from people and other hosts such as dogs at night while they sleep. Chagas disease is an infection caused by T. cruzi, a one-celled, parasitic microorganism. There are several things you can do to help your dog avoid exposure to kissing bugs. With no preventative vaccine and no effective treatment for Chagas disease, the best practice for dog owners is to reduce chances their dogs will encounter a kissing bug. Both male and female kissing bugs bite. Since the bites are painless, hosts usually do not wake up. The disease affects many different species — most notably dogs and people. Sometimes. The common hosts of kissing bugs include wild rodents, other wild mammals, domestic dogs, and of course people. Kissing bugs are insects that may be infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease.They are commonly known as cone-nose bugs or chinches. Many people and pets are sensitive to the proteins contained in the saliva or venom of biting insects. Dogs can be bitten too. Kissing bugs feed on blood during the night, and they are called kissing bugs because they prefer to bite … Dogs eat bugs and will snatch up kissing bugs. They don’t kiss. When the kissing bug bites again, it also defecates on its host. Read more about symptoms, transmission from kissing bugs, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, history, and research. Kissing bugs will bite you when you’re sleeping, feed off of your dogs and cats, but other than typical bug bites, they’re not really dangerous. By Patrick Mahaney, VMD . The good news is that not all kissing bug bites result in Chagas disease. That’s why recognizing, treating, and preventing bug bites is an essential component of responsible pet ownership. Kissing bugs are blood-feeding insects that live in the southern and western United States, Mexico, and parts of Central and South America. The kissing bugs are attracted to light and live in woodpiles and crevices. Learn about specific really good tips on how to help your dog avoid kissing bug bites. Yes. Chagas disease is an infection caused by a protozoan parasite (Trypanosoma cruzi) that can result in acute inflammatory skin changes (chagomas). The kissing bugs bite an infected host, and then T. cruzi develops within the bug's body.