Flea Bites: What You Need To Know

Flea bites can be one of the most irritating skin irritants that an individual can have to deal with. They are caused by fleas, which are small insects that feed off of humans and animals alike. When they bite into human skin, they inject a toxin into the bloodstream that can cause serious allergic reactions in many people. What is more, these bites will often itch incessantly until they are scratched.

If you think that fleas latch to your cats and dogs only then think again. Fleas suck blood for survival and they will feed on both humans and pets. These parasites are not just annoying, they can be health-threatening too. So, if you want to avoid flea bites, here’s what you need to know.

What Flea Bites Look Like

Bug bites can look the same if you don’t know what to look for. Knowing the different bite appearances of different insects can help you quickly treat them the right way.

Flea bites are tiny, red bumps with a halo-like center. They usually show in a straight line or groups. In humans, you can see them in the knees, elbows, armpits, groin, waist, legs, or ankles. They can be itchy or painful. In pets, on the other hand, itchiness can lead to incessant scratching, causing secondary infection later on.

Although rare, fleas can transmit murine typhus and bubonic plague to humans. With pets, fleas are known to produce the following health concerns.

Flea allergy dermatitis

Flea allergy dermatitis or FAD is one of the most common concerns that dog owners have to consult with the vet. Dogs get an allergic reaction to flea bites because the pest’s saliva can cause itchiness and inflammation. This leads to too much scratching which results in hair loss and skin infections. If you already had a bed bug control implemented, dealing with the fleas is the next step to take.

Anemia

Fleas bite for sustenance. They will stay with their host to make sure that they can feed on warm blood anytime. If your dog is infested with fleas, it can develop anemia over time.

The effect is more serious to puppies which is why you need veterinary intervention to remove them from your pets. You also need to conduct flea treatment to ensure that not a single flea remains to cause new problems to your household.

Read also: Is pest control safe for pets?

Tapeworms

It is not only flea bites on a dog that you have to watch out for. Your dog can likely swallow fleas when they lick their skin. Some fleas are infected with tapeworms and ingesting them can get your dog infected with the parasites too.

Bartonellosis

This kind of infection is popular with cats. Lately, Bartonella bacteria is also found in dogs. Fleas are the identified culprit that infects dogs with this pathogen. Bartonellosis is linked to health conditions in the liver, heart, and eyes of cats but their effects in dogs are still not fully known.

Treatment for Flea Bites

Treat flea bites on humans and animals appropriately and immediately. You should not be ignore them to avoid consequences later on.

To treat pets:

Consult the vet first before treating flea bites. The vet will prescribe the right medications and advise on what you can do to alleviate the discomfort that your pets have.

To treat humans:

If you or other family members are bitten by fleas, make sure to do the following steps.

• Wash the bite area with water
• Apply an antiseptic and icepack
• Use an anti-itch topical medication such as calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream.
• Take over-the-counter antihistamines

If pus develops in the bite wounds, visit a doctor immediately.

Conclusion

Flea bites treatment addresses one sign of infestation. To get rid of the fleas once and for all, you need a pest control professional certified by NEA for pest control in Singapore. Give Greencare a call for proper and effective flea control.