Insect bites are annoying and potential threats to both humans and animals. Fortunately, flea bites are not as dangerous as many other insect bites. Although you do not need to contact your doctor as soon as it starts itching all over the body, you must still be aware of allergic reactions and rashes. Fleas can be carriers of many different types of bacteria and viral diseases, and they are known to transmit tapeworms. Even if the fleas do not have infections, flea bites can still drive both animals and humans mad when they come in big groups, and they are not easy to get rid of. I’ll show you how to treat and prevent flea bites.
If you need help figuring out if you were bitten or not, and how you get rid of fleas, try asking a question in our forum.
Flea bites on humans
We do not see fleas on humans, as often as on cats or dogs. Flea bites on humans usually comes from dog fleas, cat fleas or human fleas. Bites are often seen in large groups or in clusters. Some people are very sensitive to flea bites, and they risk getting some kind of hives, that looks like a large number of red bumps or bubbles on the affected area.
Fleas from cats and dogs often bite below the knee, usually on the ankles. You can also get flea bites on the forearms, if you have stroked or held your pet. In fact it is only the human flea that comes in groups of two to three, or even more at a time. Bites from dog fleas or cat fleas are usually spotted as areas of red dots. There are a few people, that develop severe allergic reactions to flea bites and can get irritated by a single bite. Although it only happens rarely, you can also get nasty diseases from the bacteria and viruses, that fleas transmit.
Flea bites on your pets
No matter if you have a dog, cat, rabbit or another animal, it is most likely that your pet gets cat fleas. Flea species prefers specific hosts, although if there is someone nearby, they can easily live on other animals or humans. Often it is not even sure you notice if your dog or cat gets flea bites. But if fleas are allowed to spread, they may end up invading your home. Pets, like dogs, are very sensitive to certain substances in flea saliva. Much more than humans are. They may develop allergic reactions after just one bite.
How fleas bite and why they do it
All fleas are parasites, that needs to suck the blood of animals to live. The adult female fleas also need blood to be able to reproduce. In fact, they need food two to three times every day. They only need to mate once in a lifetime though, to be able to reproduce. So flea bites are serious business, they bite because they need to survive.
Evolution has shown that fleas have evolved to store 15 times more blood than their own weight. They have a lot of short spikes on their legs, allowing them to stick very firmly to their host. Once they have penetrated the animals or humans skin, they inject the saliva. The saliva is known to have more than 15 different substances, that may cause severe allergic reactions. Especially dogs are at risk of developing flea allergy.
How flea bites look
If they are not causing an allergic reaction, the flea bites look just like red small dots, which you might not even notice. But when the flea bites itch, the person or animal is likely to scratch a hole in the affected area, which can cause skin infections. In allergic reactions, there will most probably be large areas of redness and severe itching. There will also be small pimples that require treatment to get rid of. Have a look at the pictures of flea bites.
Get rid of fleas and treat your flea bites
You can read much more about flea control and flea bite treatment on this website. We have great tips on how to get rid of the pesky little creatures that invade your home. Flea bites are the biggest nuisance your animals have. Learn more about flea treatment on your dog or cat – it will thank you for it.
