Ectoparasites and bothersome pests, fleas are commonly found on dogs and cats. There are 2,500 different types of fleas in the world, and did you know that cat fleas are the most prevalent kind in the United States? Being a pet owner increases your risk of contracting fleas because your cherished pet may bring them inside from the outside. Even dogs that spend more time indoors can develop flea infestations. Fleas could be dangerous for both pet owners and the animal they bite. Fleas can enter homes in a variety of ways, including through clothing or pet fur. They later lay eggs that eventually hatch after the stagings of the larva and pupa. Your pet may become infested with fleas as a result of this cycle, which requires prompt treatment. Although fleas can bite people, we at Accurate Pest Control think they don’t actually live on people. The skin is not irritated at first from bites, but after prolonged exposure, the skin becomes hypersensitive.
What Do Flea Bites on Humans Look Like?
Here are some ways flea bites manifest on people so you can determine whether the red, itchy spot you’ve discovered on your skin is just a spot, a bug bite, or something more dangerous:
Other signs your household has fleas:
Red, itchy bites on your body may be caused by bedbugs rather than fleas, if you’re still unsure. Our helpful guide will explain the differences between bites from fleas and bedbugs.
How Can Humans Get Fleas from Dogs?
If your dog has fleas, they could jump off of him and bite you if they land on your skin. In other cases, fleas may infest the living space (carpet, bedding, crevices, etc.). ), and then jump onto a human and bite them. In the home environment, fleas may also lay eggs that can hatch, grow, and bite people.
The good news is that fleas do not “live” on humans the same way they do on dogs. For starters, flea bites are painful and difficult to miss, and most people will notice fleas on themselves right away. Because fleas need fur or feathers to hide in and require several days of feeding in order to lay viable eggs, they cannot reproduce on humans. Fleas can’t bite through clothing, but on rare occasions they may do so while hiding beneath clothing and repeatedly biting a person.
Common Types of Fleas
Fleas come in more than 2,000 different species. You’re most likely to come across cat fleas, dog fleas, and human fleas.
Cat Fleas
The most frequent and widespread flea you will come across are cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis). Most frequently, they are found on cats, dogs, as well as other hosts like foxes, raccoons, and rodents. They are typically black to brownish-black in color, but after feeding they can turn reddish-black.
Dog Fleas
Similar to their cat flea cousins, dog fleas (Ctenocephalides canis) prefer dogs as hosts, though they will attach to cats if they are present. Compared to cat fleas, which have elongated heads, dog fleas have more rounded heads.
Human Fleas
Pulex irritans, also known as “human fleas,” are one of the less frequent species of fleas and can survive on a variety of hosts, including dogs, cats, and pigs. These fleas actually prefer pigs over humans.
FAQ
How long can a dog flea live on a human?
If fed on human arms for 15 minutes each day, they can survive for 139 to 185 days. Females can survive for up to 30 days on 10 minute feeding intervals, while males can survive for 17 days. Fleas were given continuous access to human blood for 12 days in an artificial environment in a recent study.
Can dog fleas live on humans clothes?
No, again, adult fleas require food in order to survive. And your clothing isn’t going to provide that for them. Fleas can also be found in places like pet beds, sofas, or other linens that your pet may have touched in addition to carpeted areas.
How do you get rid of dog fleas on humans?
- 1 Wash your bedding in hot water.
- 2 Vacuum your carpet.
- 3 Vacuum your furniture and baseboards.
- 4 Steam clean your carpet.
- 5 Treat the fleas on your pet.
- 6 Use a flea comb on your pets.
- 7 Wash your pets’ bedding.
- 8 Use bug spray on your skin.