Jumping Fleas

If you have pets, especially dogs and cats, you have probably seen a flea and maybe even had one jump on you. They are certainly one of the most irritating of the bugs, because they are hard to spot and even harder to kill.

Fleas survive from the blood of its host. If you find a flea in your home, it probably caught a ride on your furry pet. The most effective way to keep fleas from getting in your home is to get rid of outdoor flea habitats and to use a veterinarian approved flea control product on your pets.

There are a handful of things to look for to determine if you have fleas in your home. The first place to check is your pet. If your pets are scratching and grooming themselves more than normal, take a look at his or her fur. Look at your pets skin for reddening and look at the hind quarters and necks for the fleas moving around.  You can also look for flea dirt. Flea dirt is the adult flea feces and looks similar to black pepper. You can look for the flea dirt on pet beds, carpets, and even on your pet.

Flea Characteristics

Fleas are about 2.5mm long and their bodies are flat. Fleas do not have wings, but there six legs enable them to jump great distances. If you have found fleas, there will also be eggs, larvae and pupae but are extremely difficult to see. Flea larvae are dirty-white in color and measure 3 to 5.2 mm in length.

If you believe that you have fleas on your pet and in your home, first call your veterinarian to help you choose the right flea products for your pet and clean all of your pet beds and pet linens. Then, contact your local pest control expert to discuss a customized treatment for you home