How To Tell If Your House Has Fleas

How To Tell If Your House Has Fleas

Flea infestations happen! If you think they’re only limited to dirty homes, you’re wrong. If your family loves pets, you have to clean the house regularly and maintain a healthy living environment for them. Are you just guessing that your dog has fleas? Or are you actually sure? Because if you’re using the latter to justify doing something, then you’re probably not thinking straight. How do we go about confirming the presence of fleas in the house?

How To Tell If Your House Has Fleas

There are a few ways to tell if your house has fleas. One way is to see if you can see them or their droppings. If you see black specks or small black dots on your carpet, furniture and bedding, that could be the sign of flea feces and an indication that your home has fleas.

Another way to tell if your house has fleas is by looking for the physical signs of their presence in the form of bites on you or your pets. If you notice red bumps on yourself or your pets and think they may be caused by fleas, it’s a good idea to look into getting rid of them as soon as possible.

Fleas are a huge problem for homeowners and renters. They can be hard to spot, but fortunately, you can tell if your house has fleas by looking for certain signs.

If your pets have fleas, there’s a good chance that your home does too. This is because fleas like to live in your carpet and furniture—and then jump onto your pet when it comes inside. If you notice that one of your pets is scratching more than usual, you may want to get them checked out by a vet.

Another sign of fleas in your home is the presence of tiny black spots on the carpet or furniture. These are actually dried blood from flea bites!

A final sign that your house may have fleas is an unusual amount of fur or dander around the house. This can especially be seen on upholstered furniture or carpets where fleas like to hide during the day before jumping onto their host at night time.

How To Tell If Your House Has Fleas

Nothing beats coming home from a long day of work to cuddle with your favorite little dog or cat. How often do you think about where your furry friend was all day before rubbing your face next to theirs?

Indoor pets can come into contact with a lot of questionable things, including fleas. While you may view them as a nuisance, fleas can actuallypass on certain diseases to your pet and you!

If left unattended, fleas can also bevery difficult to eradicate.

Have you noticed your pet acting differently or maybe scratching a little more? Wondering if it could be fleas? Keep reading for nine clear signs of fleas you should be aware of.

1. scratching

Probably the top indicator that your cat or dog may have fleas is excessive scratching. Bites irritate dogs and cats which is why they scratch or bite the areas.

Fleas tend to hang around areas that your pets can’t easily get to. This includes the back of the head and neck. Animals with especially thick hair give fleas optimal hiding spots.

Remember animals normally scratch all the time. But take a closer look if they seem to scratch for extended periods of time.

2. hair loss

Also called alopecia, sudden hair loss in pets could be a sign of fleas. Some of this is caused by your cat or dog constantly scratching and biting at spots where they are getting bitten.

Additionally, though, certain types of fleas can cause a reaction that leads to hair loss. If you begin to notice patches of hair loss in conjunction with some scratching, it would be wise to get a vet to take a look.

3. welts and red skin

Flea bites can cause small stinging sensations. But they jump around so much, you’d never likely catch the little critter mid-bite. If you begin to notice tiny little bumps, consider checking for fleas.

For your dog or cat, sometimes bites cause allergic reactions. Saliva from fleas can lead to red, irritated patches of skin and painful-looking welts.

If you notice any of these skin changes in your pet, carefully look through their fur. Check armpit and groin areas first. Wear gloves to avoid picking up any fleas on yourself.

4. ankle bites

You might focus on your pet getting bites, but if your home has a large flea problem, you could be a meal too. Do you walk around barefoot a lot? If you do and notice bites around your ankles and knees, it is likely fleas.

These bites will not swell up a lot but can be very itchy. They will have one tiny puncture hole at the bite site. This distinguishes flea bites from spider bites, which often have two puncture holes.

Heavy home infestations are best handled by a professional. Check out the top things to look for whenhiring a pest control specialist.

5. white sock test

Maybe you haven’t noticed any bites like mentioned above. This doesn’t mean your carpet is free and clear of these pests. One way to detect fleas in your house is to throw on a pair of white cotton socks and walk around.

Higher socks are better because you’ll be less likely to get bitten. Walk around carpeted areas for around ten minutes. If fleas are present, they will jump up to hitch a ride. Shuffling your feet is a good way to stir up any fleas that are hiding.

After walking around, carefully take the socks off and inspect them. If you see signs of fleas, take action quickly. Fleas, like many other pests, can make life miserable anddamage your home.

6. pale gums

When you suspect your animal may have fleas, check their gums. Because fleas feed on your pets’ blood, they are at risk of anemia. Anemia basically means a reduced amount ofred blood cells or hemoglobin in your pets’ bloodstream.

If your pet has pale gums and has been more tired than usual, it could mean a serious flea infestation. Get your dog or cat to the vet immediately.

7. flea dirt

Small red-brown or black specks on your pet or around your home may be a sign of fleas. While it could be typical dirt or dust, it’s important to inspect.

Flea dirt is flea feces. It often has a reddish hue due to the digested blood.

To distinguish flea dirt from normal household dirt or dust, collect some onto a white paper towel. Spray with water. If you begin to see red or brown hues, it likely is flea dirt.

8. flea eggs hiding in carpet

Another way to gauge if your home has become a playground for fleas is to check the carpet for eggs. Fleas lay their eggs in the carpet because it provides a relatively safe space for them.

To check for eggs, put on gloves and run your fingers through the carpet. Eggs tend to very small and white. Because they are so small, you may need a magnifying glass.

Finding eggs throughout your house means you have a fairly serious flea infestation.

9. restless pets

In addition to the above average amounts of scratching, your pet is likely to become restless if they have fleas. Any sudden change in demeanor is cause for concern.

For example, if your dog is normally calm and friendly, but becomes snappy and fidgety, check for fleas. This behavior is common because they are struggling with something they can’t remedy. Nor can they verbalize to you the issue.

Because of this, you should be alert for any strange behavior or appearance of discomfort.

List Of How To Tell If Your House Has Fleas