Make A Flea Trap Out Of Dish Soap
Call A Professional Exterminator If You Need To
What Do Flea Bites Look Like
If they are not causing an allergic reaction, the bites look just like red small dots, which you might not even notice. But when the bites start to itch, the person or pet may scratch a hole in the affected area, which can cause skin infections. If you get an allergic reaction to the bite, you usually have large areas of redness, severe itching and small pimples that require treatment.
Visit the flea bite pictures section to see what the bites look like.
Also Check: Essential Oils To Stop Cats From Spraying
Flea Bite Vs Mosquito Bites
Mosquito bites and flea bites may both be obtained while enjoying the great outdoors. Mosquitoes are most aggressive at dawn and dusk, but if conditions are right, they will attack at all hours. Differentiating between flea and mosquito bites is usually done in the moment because you feel the attack! Mosquitoes buzzing around your face then coming in for the kill bite will be the clearest indication of a mosquito bite. However, mosquito bites are not always that crystal clear. Mosquitoes inject a mild painkiller into your body when they pierce your skin. This may cause you to not notice a mosquito bite at night while you are sleeping. The mosquito bite itself is often painless, whereas flea bites tend to be mildly painful. Stepping into a dry sandy area and your ankles and legs inundated with small jumping fleas, indicate flea bites.
Mosquito bites and flea bites look different as well. Although both insects pierce your skin then suck your blood, a mosquito bite usually results in a larger red welt than a flea bite. In addition, mosquito bites sometimes spread out with time and turn more whitewhiter in color as they progress. In most individuals, flea bites remain small and very bright red.
How Can You Identify A Flea Bite
It is difficult to tell the difference between a flea bite and a mosquito bite. Similar red spots can also be the result of a different type of insect bite or skin reaction. Noting how frequently the bites occur, and at what times of day or night, can help narrow down the culprits. Finding evidence of the actual bug is best. If the bites persist, a pest management professional can identify what type of infestation you might have. You should seek medical advice if you become concerned.
Don’t Miss: How To Check A Cat’s Pulse
Professional Flea Control Treatment
A licensed pest control operator can determine the type, source and extent of the infestation, then use registered insecticides to control the fleas. Good hygiene practices, such as frequent house cleaning, should reduce the risk of further infestations.For further information about finding a professional pest control operator, please refer to the Better Health Channel fact sheet Pest control services.
Pets Allergic Reaction To Flea Bites Or Fad
FAD, or Flea Allergy Dermatitis, is a serious consequence of flea bites. In affected dogs and cats FAD can be terribly disruptive and painful. Scratching and biting can lead to difficult to control infections and hair loss. To diagnose FAD in a pet, veterinarians look for live fleas or evidence of fleas, such as flea dirt. The flea triangle, which is down the middle of the back, down the base of the tail, and the hind legs are most likely to be harboring fleas, flea dirt, and bite marks and other skin irritations caused by fleas. In general, areas that the animal can not easily groom are the most likely to contain fleas.
Excessive scratching, licking, and biting at their body should alert you to check for fleas. Extremely red and irritated skin is common and eventually the large patches of hair will fall out. Secondary infections from rampant scratching can occur.
Don’t Miss: Kittens For Adoption New York
Where Do Fleas Come From
With the ability to jump nearly 150 times their own height, fleas can easily hitch a ride from place to place. While theyre able to attach themselves to clothing, bedding, furniture, or pet toys, fleas are highly attracted to warm-blooded mammals with fur, such as livestock or pets. Fleas on dogs or cats can transport themselves inside your home by grabbing onto a pets fur as they play outside or cross paths with another infested pet.
Fleas that feed on blood are attracted to animals, as their blood is needed in order for a female flea to produce healthy eggs. Fleas on cats or other pets that enjoy time outdoors are common, since fleas await future hosts by patiently sitting in cool, shady places such as under trees in yards, or inside kennels and dog houses.
To help prevent your pet from getting fleas and minimize the chances of encountering flea bites on humans, make sure to keep up with flea treatmentespecially during the summer months or if your pet is spending time at a doggy daycare or dog park.
Treatments Your Physician May Prescribe
Prescription-strength mid- or high-potency topical corticosteroids can alleviate the severe itch. Antihistamines may be prescribed for the relief of the itching. Be aware that some antihistamines cause drowsiness.
- Diphenhydramine hydrochloride 25, 50 mg tablets or capsules, 2550 mg nightly or every 6 hours as needed
- Cetirizine hydrochloride 10 mg tablets, 10 mg per day
Oral antibiotics may be necessary if secondary bacterial infection develops.
Also Check: Getting My Female Cat Fixed
What An Allergic Reaction To Flea Bites Looks Like
Some people are hypersensitive to some of the chemicals found in flea saliva. This makes the bites swell up after a few minutes and form an itchy blister or hives that lasts for several days or weeks.
These blisters may ooze or form a crust when they are scratched, known as papular urticaria.
Papular urticaria is normally harmless and will go away on its own . But it can be very irritating. So if youre struggling with a swollen bite, it may be worth talking to a pharmacist about taking an
How Do Fleas Spread Disease
Fleas spread disease through their bites. Fleas are vectors . Vectors often carry infections through blood. Many of the creatures classified as vectors are bloodsuckers. Other vectors include ticks, mosquitoes and sandflies.
In rare cases, fleas can spread tapeworms and other parasites to animals and people. Parasites can spread if a person or animal were to swallow an infected flea accidentally. In houses with a flea infestation, young children are more likely to get a parasite than adults. Young children spend more time on the floor, and fleas like to hide in carpets and cracks.
You May Like: What Does Gabapentin Do For Cats
Identifying Flea Bites On Humans
You may be able to identify a flea bite based on its appearance.
Fleas have the following physical characteristics:
- they are wingless
- they are oval-shaped, with a length of around 28 millimeters
- they are light to deep brown in color
- they have six legs, with larger hind legs
- they have a small head and larger body
You may also be able to identify fleas from their feces, which resembles dark specks.
To identify feces from fleas, use gloves to place a few specks on a slightly moist, white tissue. Look for any blood that leeches visibly into the tissue. This may be an indication of flea feces.
If flea feces is present in your environment, a flea may be the cause of your bite.
Use A Flea Comb On Your Pets
Don’t Miss: Older Cat Hissing At New Kitten
How To Prevent Cat Flea Bites In Humans
The first step to avoid cat fleas bite on humans is to prevent and treat cat fleas in cats as cats are the main source.
You can follow the below instructions to prevent cat flea bites in humans
- Clean the area where your cat lives every day
- Shower your cat at least once in 2-4 weeks
- Comb and shampoo your fuzzball frequently. Combing your cat will remove the eggs from its fur.
- Vacuum the house regularly
- Spray the baseboards with flea insecticides
- Dispose of any dirt as soon as you can as it can be a source of flees.
- Steam clean the carpets to get rid of any fleas and eggs.
- Carbaryl , resmethrin, Methoxychlor, and Malathion can be used around the house to get rid of the fleas.
- Use chemicals such as lufenuron , imidacloprid , fipronil around the house to control flea infestations.
- Keep your cat indoors as the cats that go outside can get fleas from other stray and unhygienic cats.
Tip: Cat fleas migrate to the head if they notice water on the cats body. Therefore, apply shampoo on the neck of your cat first before applying it to the body. This way, you can get rid of the fleas and eggs from your cats body effectively.
How Do Humans Get Fleas
A flea can jump more than 200 times its body length. On a human scale, that’s nearly 400 meters. The Olympic record for the long jump is less than 10 meters. With that knowledge, it is easy to understand how a flea might jump from a household pet to you. But pet owners aren’t the only ones at risk. Fleas can also live in your backyard and feed on outdoor animals, or find food sources in your neighbor’s yard.What do flea bites look like? How can you be sure you are dealing with fleas? Has your home been infested? These questions can be difficult to answer alone. Fleas can pose a threat to you, your family and your pets. If you are concerned about a flea infestation, call a pest management professional. A Terminix® Service Technician will rid your home of any unwelcome invaders and recommend the best prevention methods to keep fleas out.
Recommended Reading: 8 Week Old Kittens Nh
When To Seek Medical Help
Contact your doctor for any symptoms that do not improve after a couple of days.
Seek prompt medical advice for any signs of infection. Symptoms of infected bites can include:
- painful discolored lesions
You may be able to treat uninfected flea bites with at home care.
Self-treatment for flea bites can include:
- avoiding scratching or catching any bites or lesions
- using over-the-counter products such as:
- calamine lotion or anesthetic creams to relieve itching and reduce the urge to scratch
- colloidal oatmeal products for baths
- topical antihistamines, antipruritic, and antibacterial creams
Even if your bites seem mild, talk to your doctor about treatment for a possible tapeworm infection.
Always consult a pharmacist or doctor before taking OTC medications. All drugs can carry a risk of side effects, and safe doses will vary depending on the person.
Fleaborne Diseases Of The United States
In the United States, some fleas carry pathogens that can cause human disease, including:
- Plague most commonly transmitted to humans in the United States by infected ground squirrel fleas, Oropsylla montana, and globally by infected Oriental rat fleas, Xenopsylla cheopis. Also, may be transmitted by improperly handling an animal infected with plague bacteria. Most U.S. cases occur in rural areas of the western United States.
- Flea-borne typhus transmitted to people by infected cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis, infected Oriental rat fleas, Xenospylla cheopis, or their feces . Most cases in the United States are reported from California, Texas, and Hawaii.
- Cat scratch disease transmitted to humans most often after a scratch from a domestic or feral cat that has been infected by a Ctenocephalides felis flea, or through flea feces being inoculated through a cat scratch. CSD occurs wherever cats and fleas are found.
- Fleaborne parasites, such as tapeworms can spread to people and animals if they accidentally swallow an infected flea. Small children are at a higher risk than adults, as they may spend more time close to the floor and carpeted areas where fleas are found. Most infected people will not show symptoms and will not know they are carrying tapeworms.
Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website.
You May Like: Katy Perry Cat Eye Mascara
Treatment Of Cat Flea Bites In Cats
Visit the veterinarian, and the veterinarian will inform you about the on-cat treatment. The on-cat control of fleas begins by treating the cat with products to attract the fleas. Then, the cat roams around the house to attract the fleas, and when the fleas suck the treated blood of the cat by pills and liquids, the fleas die. The fleas can also be killed as they come in contact with the products sprayed on the cats body.
You can also use anti-flea collars or anti-flea sprays. Begin by applying the anti-flea sprays on a small area of the cats body. If you dont observe any adverse effects for an hour, you can apply it to your cats body by avoiding eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and the genital area.
However, make sure never to buy anti-flea collars and sprays containing permethrins or cypermethrin, as both compounds are toxic to the cat.
Symptoms Of A Flea Bite
The bite of a flea has certain features, including:
- It is extremely itchy.
- A red, swollen weal develops within half an hour of the bite.
- After a day or so, the weal may develop into a blister or small wound.
- The legs and feet are often targeted.
- Secondary infections caused by scratching are common.
- Some people may become hypersensitive to bites.
You May Like: How To Bathe Cat With Fleas
Flea Bite Vs Bed Bug Bite
The most decisive method of differentiating between a flea bite and a bed bug bite is finding the bug itself. Bed bugs establish themselves in cracks or crevices in or near the bed. Bedbugs are rarely found on their host. Similarly, fleas are usually concentrated on their host or around their main hosts bedding. Fleas prefer to feed on your pet, so they will most likely be found in your pets resting area and bedding. Fleas do spend most of their time on their host so inspect any pets closely. Fleas jump on and off their hosts while bed bugs walk from their hiding places and bite exposed skin.
Unlike bed bugs, most people feel the bite of a flea. If you feel a sharp prick, usually near your ankle or foot, but dont react quickly enough to catch the insect that bit you, it probably wasnt a bed bug. Bed bugs anesthetize the wound so as not to awaken or disturb their host. Fleas do not have this ability. Fleas quickly attack, bite, and are often swatted off humans as quickly as possible.
Cat Fleas Symptoms On Humans
Surprisingly, the symptoms of cat fleas bite on humans and cats are the same. Following are the signs that you should search for if you suspect cat flea bites on humans
- Red skin at the site of the bite.
- Severe Itching: Cat fleas release anticoagulants, present in their saliva, during the bite. Anticoagulants improve the flow of your blood, which makes it easier for cat fleas to suck your blood. However, our immune system recognizes the anticoagulant as a foreign substance that leads to inflammation and itching.
- Irritability and discomfort at the site of the bite.
- Infection: If you have scratched the bite area multiple times, the site will get infected by the bacteria, resulting in further discomfort.
So, if you ever notice your cat scratching and biting her body, stay away from the cat and visit the veterinarian as soon as possible to get rid of the cat fleas.
You May Like: Rabies Vaccine Side Effects In Cats
How To Treat Flea Bites On Human Skin
In most cases, flea bites dont hurt humans and will disappear by itself. But, some people are very sensitive to flea bites, because it causes some allergic reactions that require a medical emergency immediately.
If you have flea bites on the skin, follow these few suggestions below to treat your flea bites problems:
- First of all, you must resist the urge to scratch. Infection may occur in doing so!
- Wash the bites with an antiseptic soap as soon as possible on the affected area to avoid infection.
- Reduce swelling and itching on the skin by compresses the skin by using an ice pack.
- Use calamine lotion and/or anti-itch topical cream which contains menthol ingredients to relieve persistent itching.
However, you must stay alert and seek medical care if the bites become infected due to scratching and the itch doesnt alleviate within a week even after applying anti-itch topical cream to the skin.