Ugh! Fleas!!!!

It is never fun to find a flea on your pets. They are blood-sucking parasites that pose serious health threats. They can multiply fast and wreak havoc on your home. We do not realize their presence until their population has grown to an overwhelming number. Therefore, to stop fleas, it is important to look for early signs.

That said, fleas are very extremely tiny and often go unnoticed. So, how do we look for signs of flea in our pets?

Worry no more! This blog has compiled a list of the top 5 signs that indicate flea infestation in your pets.

Without any further interruption, let’s jump straight in.

7 Signs Your Pet May Have Fleas

  1. Biting and Scratching: One of the most obvious signs of flea infestation in your pets is constant scratching and itching, which is often caused by a bite of a flea or their saliva on your pet’s skin that triggers allergic reaction and itching. Fleas target darker areas like the behind the ear, armpits, neck, groin, and tail.
  2. Fur Loss: With uninterrupted scratching, your pet will eventually rip out the fur. Moreover, in some cases, the fur will fall out due to reactions of a flea bite. If you notice bald patches on your pet’s skin, be sure that fleas are feasting on your pet. However, it is difficult to find bald spots in pets with longer fur. Therefore, groom your pet regularly and inspect for bald patches.
  3. Red Skin: Some pets are allergic to the saliva injected into your pet’s skin when fleas bite. Pets with this type of allergy usually develop itching, small red dots, rashes, and irritated skin. In cases of severe itching, the red rashes in your pet’s skin can rip open and cause the infection to spread.
  4. Mysterious Bumps: Along with red skin, flea bites also create small, red bumps that, upon deep inspection, can be found in clusters on ankles, feet, neck, and arms. If you find some on a pet’s skin, your pet probably has fleas.
  5. Jumping fleas: Fleas are very tiny but have long black legs. These reddish-brown critters can make a 12-inch jump in a single leap, upward and outward. If you notice any jumping bugs on your pet, take a flea comb and inspect the fur thoroughly.
  6. Flea Dirt: If you notice little flakes that look like sprinkled pepper near the roots of your pet’s fur, it is nothing but flea dirt. You may also find flea dirt on your pet’s bedding, carpet, or other places around your house, which indicates that flea infestation has moved beyond your pet and has taken a severe form.
  7. Eggs and larvae: Flea eggs are white and oval-shaped. If you find one in your pet’s fur, be sure that that is not the only one, there may be hundreds. Also, be vigilant and keep an eye out for flea larvae that are about the size of a grain of rice and look like little white worms. If you find any, get rid of them immediately before they invade your house.

Wrapping Up

If you can relate to any of the above signs, you are dealing with a flea infestation. In that case, visit a vet to treat your four-legged companion with veterinarian-recommended products and clean your home and the pet beds thoroughly.

Identification of a flea infestation in your pets may look easy but eradicating them is a difficult task. Therefore, flea control demands experts. Hiring pest control professionals will help to get rid of these pesky critters and prevent the entry of fleas into your home. Moreover, regular pest control services will ensure that the fleas don’t make a comeback.