Pet owners in the Greater Philadelphia area are well aware that dogs and cats can become infested with fleas. However, fewer people realize that fleas also bite humans. Species such as the cat flea, dog flea, and human flea can infest homes, commercial buildings, and outdoor spaces.
How do flea problems start, and more importantly, how can they be stopped? Flea infestations can develop rapidly and without much warning. Without professional intervention, eliminating them can become a frustrating challenge.
Fleas bite pets and humans in search of a blood meal, causing intense itching. Worse still, fleas reproduce at an alarming rate, with infestations often including adults, eggs, larvae, and pupae. Early detection makes flea control easier, whereas long-standing infestations require extensive treatment.
Fleas begin feeding as soon as they find a host. Within hours, they start mating and laying eggs—up to 50 eggs per day per female. These eggs fall onto furniture, rugs, carpets, and curtains, where they continue developing.
Effective flea control requires treatment of both infested animals and their environment. Indoor and outdoor treatments may be necessary, and professional extermination is the best solution.
Fleas are small, wingless parasites with incredible agility, making them difficult to detect in pet fur. Typically brown or reddish-brown, they have six legs designed for rapid movement and jumping.
One of the best ways to check for fleas on a pet is to look for "flea dirt"—their feces, which resembles black specks or pepper flakes. Flea dirt is easier to spot on light-colored fur, while darker coats may conceal the issue.
Despite their name, cat fleas are common on both cats and dogs and can even feed on humans. Dog fleas, too, affect multiple species, including cats, dogs, and people. Human fleas, while less common, primarily target humans but may also use pets as hosts.
Fleas feed exclusively on blood, often from warm-blooded mammals. Common hosts include dogs, cats, people, rodents, rabbits, opossums, raccoons, and skunks. Some fleas consume up to 15 times their body weight in blood daily.
Flea eggs are often laid on a host animal but quickly fall onto carpets, rugs, or furniture. Pet beds and human beds are common flea breeding grounds.
Flea larvae prefer dark, undisturbed places such as dusty corners and crevices. They often settle into carpets and floor cracks before developing into pupae. Adult fleas bite and live primarily on their hosts.
Outdoors, fleas thrive in shady, humid environments such as tall grass, sandy soil, and yard debris. Pets or wildlife lying in these areas can easily pick up fleas.
While fleas do not cause structural damage, they can make pets and humans miserable. Many pets develop flea allergy dermatitis, a condition that causes intense itching, hair loss, and secondary infections.
Pets may also accidentally ingest fleas while grooming, which can lead to tapeworm infections and unintentional weight loss.
Fleas aggressively latch onto a host and multiply rapidly, making infestations difficult to control. They remain on their hosts until removed through treatment.
Fleas can transmit several diseases to humans and animals. These include:
For more details, visit the CDC’s flea disease page.
Signs of a flea infestation include:
To prevent flea problems, take the following precautions:
Moderate to severe flea infestations are difficult to eliminate without professional help. Pest control providers use interior and exterior treatments designed for immediate eradication and long-term prevention.
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