As a Proud Dog Parent, you want the best for your dog. At Proud Dog Parents, we want you to be a better dog parent. We get a lot of questions about fleas from dogs. Our expert talks about whether dog fleas can be transmitted to people this week.

If your dog has fleas, you would probably wonder if you could get fleas on your body or if they could bite you. Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Dog Fleas can get themselves transferred from your pet’s body to your body and can eventually bite you, leaving rashes and other problems related to your skin. Fleas are parasites known for causing dermatitis allergies. This article will discuss the effects and symptoms of the dog fleas’ bites, and they're thrilled.

Do Fleas Bite Humans?

As discussed earlier, fleas do bite humans. These parasites appear during the warmer months. Their primary feeding source is the blood of any warm-blooded mammal, people, and pets. Fleas do have the ability to jump off the pets and get attached to the skin of human beings. However, according to research, it has been found that fleas do not live on human beings. Instead, they bite them. The contracting sources of as from pets to humans include bedding and carpeting. The theaters are the most susceptible to contracting fleas from their pets. So, it is recommended that the pet owners keep a close eye on their pets and get them treated to avoid any dermatitis allergy.

The Appearance of Fleas Bites:

The appearance of flea bites is small, red bumps with a “halo” around the edge's center. They differ from the bite taste mosquito and are in the form of groups of three or four or in a straight line manner. In humans, the location of flea bites can be commonly found around the legs or ankles, waist, groin, armpits, and in the folds of the elbows and knees skin.

Are Flea Bites Serious for Humans?

When it comes to the effect of fleas on pets, they can prove to be severe and cause allergy dermatitis, and can be capable of transferring tapeworms and inducing anemia. However, flea bites can cause itchiness and are extremely painful for humans. Due to the itchiness, excessive scratching occurs, leading to severe skin problems and damage, and can be receptive to secondary bacterial infections.

Can Humans get fleas in their hair?

Medically, it has been researched that fleas do not tend to live on humans. They bite them off. Fleas tend to jump off from the infected pet and cause excessive itchiness in the human beings in the areas mentioned above.

How long do fleas tend to live on humans?

It is nearly impossible that fleas would live on the human body for a long time. It is because humans do not have any fur or feathers on them, which would cause the laying of their eggs and repopulating. It is the probability that you may wash or sanitize that particular area of scratching before fleas could even start breeding.

Can Humans be the carrier of fleas home to home?

It is nearly impossible that a flea gets transferred from one body to another. The source of flea transfer is the area where the infected dog lives or sleeps. It is quite possible that bringing an infected dog bed to the house can be the source of spread.

Can Fleas Bite people without pets?

Yes, fleas can bite even those people who do not have any pets at home. The source of fleas in your house could be your yard or another person’s pet. The favorite places of fleas include tall grass and shady areas near woodpiles, decks, or buildings made for storage purposes. However, if you want to get rid of the fleas, it would be necessary to treat your yard. For this purpose, pest control experts would be beneficial.

Diseases due to Flea:

Fleas can carry several that may be transmitted to the human body during a bite. Some of the diseconditionsch are flea-borne are as follows:

Typhus (occurs in southern states of the US)
Plague (mainly occurs in western states of US)the

These diseases occur mainly due to the bacteria and can be treated using antibiotics.

Allergic Reactions:

A flea bite can cause an allergic skin reaction. It is basically because the human body reacts quite strongly to the saliva of a flea. The allergic reaction can be the primary cause of allergic flea dermatitis, as discussed earlier, which results in the following conditions:

Infection
Hives
Extreme itchiness
Irritation with red skin

Animals can also experience allergic reactions to flea bites. This can cause an animal to scratch and bite to the point where its skin becomes raw, and eventually, loss of body hair occurs.

Tapeworm Risks:

Fleas can be carriers of tapeworms. The ingestion of a flea can get you a tapeworm. This risk is more prominent in children who may ingest a flea accidentally.

Tapeworms may not prove harmful to your health or your pet’s health. However, if you notice something white and pumpkin-like seed in your feces or your pet’s poop, it might indicate tapeworms. It is better to consult your doctor or a vet to tackle this problem. A suitable prescription would eliminate this problem in a few days.

Tips to get rid of a flea infestation:

If you suspect a flea infestation, it is recommended to treat your pet and your home. Several tips to remove fleas are as follows:

Tips to remove fleas from your dog:

It is better to discuss the safest yet effective method to remove the flea with your vet.
Leave soap for 5 to 10 minutes on your dog’s skin before bathing him.
While grooming your dog, use a flea comb.
Use medicines recommended by your vet for killing fleas.
Do not apply the flea removal medicine to your dog's eyes, nose, and mouth.
It is recommended to use gloves and other protective gear while applying flea removal medicines/products.

Tips to remove flea from inside or outside your house:

Always wash your dog’s bed and other fabric toys or the mat in hot water.
Vacuum every inch of your house and then remove the debris sealed in a plastic bag and dispose of it outside instantly.
It is advisable to apply insecticides on baseboards, but it should be made sure that they are not unhealthy or dangerous for your pet.
Clean all your furniture, carpets, rugs, and bedding every three days.
Seal all the entry points in your house through which wild animals can get in.
Remove the debris outside your house, if any, as it could be the growth area of fleas.

Signs of a Flea Infestation:

There are symptoms or indicators which could describe the activity of flea infestation. Some of them are listed below:

Excessive scratching, biting, or licking of fur by your pet
Presence of multiple dot-like insects on your dog’s fur
Hopping of fleas on your furniture, carpet, or clothing

Observing brown or black debris throughout your pet’s fur coat could indicate flea infestation. You may also keep the scabs or loss of fur in your pet’s infected area. Due to the sucking of blood by the fleas, pale gums may develop in your pet.

Prevention of flea infestation in your home:

For the prevention of flea infestation in your home, the following points should be followed:

Inspecting your dog regularly for fleas
Cleaning your dog’s sleeping areas
Prevent the entry of your pet into the spaces with fleas from other animals, like barns or crawl spaces, etc.

Treatment for flea bites in humans:

Fleabites will go away without any treatment, but it could take some days. Therefore, to get rid of flea bites, it is recommended to use anti-itch creams and antihistamines. Fleabites can cause an excessive urge to scratch. It is better to avoid scratching the area bitten by the flea. However, if you see infection on the spot of the bite, like a white pocket, it is advisable to pay a visit to your doctor.

How long does flea infestation last?

Fleas are said to be the most troublesome pests to deal with. Their size is tiny, due to which they get around quickly, and their agility is so great that they can be called acrobatic.

Fleas most likely attack the four-legged animals than humans. However, once humans are contracted with fleas, the next target of fleas could be your clothing, furniture, and yard.

The life cycle of fleas mainly depends on the prevailing environmental conditions. The most suitable climate for the growth and production of fleas is a warm climate. The ideal temperature and humidity are 26 to 32 ˚C and 70%, respectively.

So, it could be said that flea infestation can occur for almost one month under ideal conditions.

Conclusion:

Beyond being a nuisance, fleas tend to spread diseases and parasites. If the infected flea area on your pet goes unnoticed, then your pet may develop tapeworms, which could cause an infestation in humans. Therefore, it is better to get rid of fleas as soon as possible. However, the detection and eradication period can be upsetting and takes heart. But, their removal is not that difficult. All you need to do is to take appropriate measures.

The most important thing to remember to avoid re-infestation is to treat your home, yard, and pet simultaneously. This can be an effective way to deal with fleas in a shorter time with higher efficiency.