What Are Fleas?
- Fleas are parasitic insects that feed on mammals, including household pets — and, if necessary, humans.
- Fleas can spread diseases and are adept at rapidly multiplying in your home.
- While there are 2,500 species of flea in the world and more than 300 that make the United States their home, the majority of pest flea species are cat and dog fleas.
Cat Fleas
The most common flea species in the U.S. is the cat flea. Despite their name, cat fleas are happy to live and feast on both dogs and cats. If there are no dogs or cats in your home and you happen to be the only mammal in your home, cat fleas are happy to feed on you instead — although humans are not their number one choice. Cat fleas have short life spans, but make up for short time by reproducing at an alarming rate: Adult female cat fleas can lay one egg per hour!
Good to Know
Once a dog flea finds the right host, she can lay eggs continuously as long as she has a furry place to live.
Dog Fleas
Dog fleas look a lot like cat fleas. Both are about 2 millimeters long, wingless and reddish-brown in color. Female dog fleas can live as long as two to four weeks, and can lay several hundred eggs during that time. Once a dog flea finds a good canine host, she can lay eggs continuously as long as she has a furry place in which to do it.
Flea Bites
Probably the most common effect of flea bites is something called “flea allergy dermatitis.” More than just the typical itching, swelling and irritation that comes with other bug bites, many animals are allergic to flea saliva that can cause this dermatitis. Flea allergy dermatitis is very uncomfortable and can lead to painful skin infections that are costly to treat.
Flea bites aren’t like other kinds of insect bites, such as the ones you get from flies or even bed bugs. Like mosquitoes, which are also parasites, fleas are vectors for other parasites, viruses and other diseases. Fleas can transmit several other illnesses, including:
- Bartonella, which is associated with heart disease, eye inflammation, and seizures in cats, dogs, and humans.
- Tapeworms, a serious parasite that can cause malnutrition and weight loss if left untreated.
- Flea-borne typhus, which is transmitted to humans by flea-infested cats and causes body aches, stomach pain, rash and fever.
- Plague, a disease passed to humans and other mammals by rodent fleas.
Reach Out for Help with Fleas
There are mitigating treatments and measures that you can take to prevent and control flea infestations in your pets. Call a veterinarian in your area for advice on the right method of control that is best for your pets. To find out what methods work best for controlling fleas in and around your home, reach out to At Home Pros. We’ll connect you to top-quality pest control specialists in your area to help protect against fleas.
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