Yes I am a worry wort, How bad is this??? ?

Question

I found A flea just one on my dog the other day. I was unsure if it was infact a flea and was waiting till I saw another one. (I found it while scratching his belly. Well tonight I found on on my cats face. which is the first time I saw one on him. and it was only one. My cat sleeps on my pillow with me at night and my dog sleeps in the cage right next to my side of the bed (his crate is between the wall and my bed.) I have not seen anyone on my bed or in his. and so far only seen the two (if they are fleas) I mean the cat sleeps laying on my head and I have not gotten bite and neither has my hubby. How bad is the infestation?? I have never had a flea problem before and am the type of person that if I find a bug in my house I feel dirty (yes if there is one ant in my house I freak out) So now I feel like I have to keep my socks on cause the floor and couch are all swarming with fleas. The bugs I see as I move the fur and such never jump and just run away in to untouched fur, they are tear dropped shaped and about the size of a sharpened pencil tip (the lead) Does this bug sound like a flea and if so with what I said does it sound like the breakout is just starting or is it the war im seeing. I am pregnant so I feel even more grossed out with bugs then I ever have. thanks for any help

Answer 1

Flea's jump, and there like impossible to smash with your fingers.

There brownish reddish colored.

if they dont hop, than its probably not a flea.

Flea's wont live on people, just animals.

But you do want to remove them, so buy some products, tehre pretty cheap.

Answer 2

just give your pets a flea collar, that should help

Answer 3

Fleas hop!

Answer 4

if you've only seen two it's not too bad yet. get a good flea control system ASAP, especially if you're pregnant, fleas and other blood drinking pests you pets can carry can carry diseases that they can potentially spread to you if they bite you. go to a vet and get a pill like Sentinal (which also protects against other pests that can get on your pet) or a topical flea treatment and either way have your husband give it to them, not you. since you're pregnant I'd lean towards the pill option. even if they're not actually fleas chances are the product will work on them as well.

and get it soon, like, tomorrow if possible. the longer you wait the more likely it will be that it will get to a point where you'll have to do a full on fogger treatment in your house that could leave trace toxins that could be harmful to you and/or your unborn child.

oh, and whatever you do, DO NOT USE HARTZ FLEA PRODUCTS! they may be easier to get because you can get them at a grocery store but they are toxic to the point some pets have died because of them and some humans (kids and adults) have become sick because of using them on their pets.

Answer 5

first of all congrats on you baby! unfortunately about the fleas u need to get a product like front-line or advantage for both your cat & dog which may mean they may need to see your vet if they haven't recently, unless the rules have changed since i worked at vet office about 10 yrs ago. (was there for 8 yrs) which also means your gonna need to also treat the house! don't forget crawl spaces, attics and basements. even if pets don't go there. if u only treat part of house the fleas will go hide where not treated & come back.

Answer 6

Fleas will mainly jump but they will also just run away and hid like you said. If you find a few fleas on your pets thats normal, even with some medication, fleas live outside and when your dog or maybe your cat goes outside they will jump on them and make your pets their happy homes. I wouldnt worry about a few fleas, but if you see your pets scratching alot or you feel them biting you (it doesnt hurt, it feels like someone is barley touching you with a toothpick) them its defiantly time to get some treatment for your pets.

Answer 7

When  a flea is newly hatched it jumps to find a host but once on an animal and in the fur they will mostly run away through the fur so it is very possible that it is a flea.

So onto some diagnostics. You are probably not going to like this suggestion but try and capture one in and crush it between your fingers. If it is a flea it will not crush as they have very hard outer case. Another way is to give your cat or dog a brush over something white (a large sheet of paper or a bath are good surfaces). If there are fleas you may see some tiny, longish and slightly curved and dark flecks appear. Drop some water on these; if they start to seep red then you definitely have fleas.

If the results are positive, you probably don't have a swarm yet but it is time to start the war. They breed fast and it is SO much easier to deal with when there are only a few.