June 27th, 2018 by Chris Chapman

Do I Have Fleas in My Home?

It’s a common misconception that you only need to watch out for fleas in summer. While fleas are certainly more common in warm weather, they’re resilient creatures that can and will invade your home all year round if they get the chance. There are some tell-tale signs that you could be suffering from a flea infestation, but what you think might be fleas could actually be a different problem. Read on for a comprehensive list of what does – and doesn’t – mean you need some flea control.

Do You Have Pets?

If you have pets, you’re automatically more at risk of getting fleas. Fleas survive in the thick fur of cats and dogs, and while it’s not unheard of for them to enter your home on a human, it’s very rare. Keep your pets regularly treated with flea treatments to dramatically reduce the risk of them catching fleas. You may still encounter fleas if you don’t have pets as they can latch onto wild animals like rats and squirrels, but as long as you keep your home and garden hygienic they’ll find it hard to thrive.

Are Your Pets Scratching?

If your pet is scratching more than usual, check them for fleas as soon as possible One of the tell-tale signs of fleas is a constant itching from their bites. Fleas will focus on different parts of different pets; for dogs, it’s their hindquarters, whereas cats will scratch their head and neck a lot. It’s natural for pets to scratch every now and then, but if your pet is constantly itching and irritated it could be time to have a closer look.

Can You See Flea Droppings?

If you suspect your pet has fleas, it’s worth giving them a comb to check. Flea droppings are a dead giveaway that you’re looking at a flea problem. They’re small black specks that look like bits of black pepper. You can also find these specks in your bedding or furniture if that’s where the fleas are hiding. Of course, it’s easy to get confused between flea droppings and other bits of dirt, so if you’re not sure, drop a few of the black specks into some water. If the water turns deep red or brown, that’s a sign you’re dealing with fleas.

Can You See Flea Eggs?

While you’re combing your pet, you might also find flea eggs. These are small, white specks that are easy to miss, so make sure you’re checking thoroughly. While flea eggs are usually laid in an animal’s fur, they aren’t sticky and will fall off, so make sure you check your pet’s bedding too. This means flea eggs can be found anywhere soft and warm, so your carpet, sofa, bedding, and clothes are all at risk. Wash anything you think might be affected on a hot wash to kill the eggs and vacuum your carpets thoroughly.

Can You See Bites and Welts?

Combing your pets can reveal the fleas hiding in their fur Flea bites leave small, circular red bumps on your pet’s skin. If you find these, that’s another giveaway that your pet has fleas, especially if your pet becomes irritated when you touch them. While fleas much prefer the thick fur of a dog or a cat, they can and will bite people if they have to. Flea bites tend to be grouped together in patches of 3 or 4, and commonly occur in folds of skin around your elbows, knees, or waist. If you’re finding bites on yourself that aren’t confined to these areas but can’t find any sign of fleas on your pets, then you could be facing a different problem: bedbugs. Bedbugs can also survive on pets, but whereas fleas prefer living in thick fur, bedbugs don’t like dealing with fur if they can help it. This means they’ll make a home in your bed or furniture instead of on your body and bite you while you sleep. Bedbugs are much more difficult to get rid of than fleas, so read our guide on bedbugs here.

Can You See Fleas?

Fleas are thin, with a hard shell Chances are, if you find flea eggs and droppings on your pet, you’ll find the fleas themselves before too long. Fleas are small, thin, brownish-red creatures that might be hard to distinguish from bedbugs or ticks until you see them move. They're very fast, and as you probably know are great jumpers that can jump around 100 times their own height, whereas bedbugs and ticks are slow and do not jump. Fleas don’t tend to live on humans as we don’t have thick fur, so you probably won’t find any making a home on yourself. However, if your house is really badly infested, you might start noticing fleas appearing on your feet or socks if you walk around without shoes on. This is because fleas may be living in your carpet and will jump onto your legs for a snack as you walk by them. This is a sign you need to put the hoover around your carpet and consider an aggressive flea-killing tactic like a smoke bomb!

Is Your Pet Losing Fur?

Bald spots appearing on your pet could potentially point to fleas (among many other possible skin conditions), so make sure you definitely check your pet for fleas if you notice this. Take your pet to the vets whether you find fleas or not as hair loss in pets is not normal.

Can You See Flying Insects?

It’s a common misconception that fleas can fly. While they are incredible at jumping, they can’t actually fly. If it’s flying, it’s likely a harmless beetle of some sort or a mosquito which, while it is an annoying bloodsucker like the flea, won’t infest your home. If you’re worried that you’ve identified some of these symptoms, be sure to check out our flea-killing range and take your pet to the vets as soon as possible.