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Before you go crazy trying to kill fleas, you might want to double check and make sure that you have fleas. Well maybe not you personally but your dog or cat and your house etc.
What kind of flea is it?
The flea we are interested in is the common cat flea. They can be on almost any kind of animal but they are called cat fleas no matter what their host is. So yes, cat fleas live on dogs too. If you just refer to them as fleas people will know what you are talking about.
What do they look like? Fleas look just like the picture (click to enlarge) except that they are much smaller. They are usually about as long as a grain of rice but thinner. Note the flea "dirt" which is a dead giveaway. If you find similar specks on your pet, add water, crush, and see if they turn red. If they do, that is flea crap which contains blood. |
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Your pet's symptoms
In most pets, the itching will drive them nuts. You'll see them sort of "chew" at their fur in an effort to scratch. (No, they aren't eating themselves.) Of course everything has an itch once in while but if the animal seems really focused on it then you ought to have a look. On the other hand, some pets don't seem to mind them at all. Go figure.
Looking for fleas on your pet
If you are suspicious, flip your pet over on its back and look in the belly fur. Blow into it if you need to. Look especially close in the armpits and groin area. Watch for a tiny black or brownish grain of rice running like crazy through the fur. Usually they are tight up against the body. They look nothing like a tick so if you see something that is small, brown, and fast, it is a flea. When you see one, you'll know it. (If you don't see anything but your pet is itchy you might want to have him looked at.)
In your house
Funny thing, you can get fleas even if you don't have a dog or cat. Sometimes if you move into a house and the previous occupant had pets your movement can stimulate flea eggs to hatch and suddenly you'll be swarmed by them. Short of that, sometimes they can just be tracked in or for whatever reason they just find a way in. In any event, you'll see little red bites on your legs and if you wear white socks and walk across the carpet you'll probably be able to see them as they hop on for dinner.
In your yard
Fleas in your yard might be harder to detect, if you can at all. Put on some white socks, walk through the grass, and see if you pick up any hitchhikers. Generally speaking, the fleas will only hang out where your pet does and even then they will tend to lay low and hide amongst debris and in nooks and crannies. They do not like sunlight so you don't have to worry about big, open expanses of grass.