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• Method 1 of 3: Recognizing flea bites in humans
• Method 2 of 3: Recognizing flea bites in a pet
• Method 3 of 3: Prevent flea bites

Fleas are small jumping insects that bite humans and other warm-blooded animals such as cats and dogs and drink their blood. Because fleas are small and fast, it is often difficult to see them. If you suspect you have been bitten by fleas, you can look at the bites themselves to determine the cause. If you have pets, they can also have the hallmark signs of flea bites. You can also pay attention to whether you also see fleas and flea excrement.

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Method 1 of 3: Recognizing flea bites in humans

1. Check your legs and ankles for bites. Fleas often bite people in areas of the body that they can easily reach from the ground, such as the feet, ankles and legs. Sometimes they also bite on places like around the waist (in the gap between your shirt and pants) and above the socks.
   • You often see small clusters of flea bites, because of the way the insects feed.
2. Look for hard, red spots. Unlike other types of insect bites, flea bites do not usually swell. Instead, the bites look like little red spots that sometimes have a bright spot in the center.
   • You may also see a small wound in the center of the bite.
   • Flea bites can sometimes bleed and scab on them if you scratch them a lot.
3. Watch for itching and pain. Severe itching is one of the main symptoms of flea bites, although some people are more itchy than others. It could also be that the bites hurt.
   • If possible, do not scratch the bites too much. If you scratch a lot, the bites can become infected and you will also get much more itchy.
   • Try to soothe the itching with a topical cream like calamine lotion or antihistamine ointment.
4. Look out for blisters if you are prone to flea bites. If you are allergic to flea bites, you may react more strongly to them. The bites can swell and a blister can form in the center that eventually bursts and scabs.

   Warnings: severe allergic reactions to flea bites are rare. However, get immediate medical attention if you have been bitten or stung by an insect and have symptoms such as difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, and swelling of the face, mouth, lips, and tongue.

   
   
5. See if you can see the fleas. If you think you have been bitten by fleas, see if you can see the fleas for yourself. Fleas are small (about one to three millimeters long, or slightly smaller than a sesame seed) black or dark brown insects that usually jump. You can also see them squirming through human hair or animal fur. They don't have wings.
   • You may be able to spot fleas on your feet and ankles more easily if you wear white or light-colored socks.

Method 2 of 3: Recognizing flea bites in a pet

1. See if your pet keeps scratching and biting itself. If your pet is bitten by fleas, chances are it will be very itchy. You may notice that your cat or dog keeps scratching and biting itself and chewing areas that its paws cannot reach.
   • An animal that suffers from fleas can also be restless and irritable.
2. Notice if your pet's coat becomes rough, thinning or shedding. If your pet scratches and bites itself frequently, the fur may become damaged and wear out. Allergens in the fleas' saliva can also cause hair to fall out. Check your pet for bald patches and rough or unusually dirty areas in the coat.
   • Cats with a flea allergy often have bald patches on much of the body, while in dogs the fur often falls out at the bottom of the tail.
3. Look for scabs and cuts on the skin. A pet bitten by fleas may have obvious cuts and scabs, especially where it scratches and bites itself the most. Look for cuts and scabs near the tail, on the buttocks, on the legs, and on the neck.
   • You may also see red spots and irritation or areas where the skin is thickened and discolored.
   • If your pet is allergic to fleas, they may develop sores with pus overflowing and crusting.

   Pay attention: irritated flea bites in a cat or dog can sometimes become infected. Watch for signs of infection such as smelly wounds with pus coming out.

   
   
4. Check your pet's coat and basket for feces. Fleas often leave distinct black spots in your pet's coat and basket, even if you don't see the fleas at all. Run a comb through your pet's coat to see if you can find flea excrement and live fleas.
   • Comb your pet's fur over a white surface such as a cloth or sheet of paper to help identify falling feces and fleas.
   • To prevent fleas from escaping and spreading around your home, you can also comb your pet in a sink or tub with a little soapy water. The fleas you comb out of your pet's coat will die when they fall into the water.
   • Flea feces are mainly blood and turn red or reddish brown when dropped into water.
   • Focus on the areas where the fleas are likely to be most active. In dogs, fleas usually collect on the ears, on the neck, on the lower back and at the bottom of the tail. In cats, the fleas are often on the neck and on top of the head.

Method 3 of 3: Prevent flea bites

1. Keep your pets indoors if possible. If you are bitten by fleas, your pet probably has fleas. Pets like cats and dogs can get fleas easily by going outside, so one of the best ways to avoid getting fleas in the house is to keep your pets indoors as much as possible.
   • If your pets do go outside, protect them from fleas with a flea collar or by using the usual anti-flea products.
   • There are more fleas in some places outdoors than in others. If you notice that your dog keeps getting new flea bites after visiting a particular park, take him to a different area for a while and see if the situation changes.
2. Treat pets with fleas immediately. If your pet has fleas, treating them right away can help you avoid getting bitten. Regularly comb your pet's coat to remove fleas and eggs and treat your pet with a flea shampoo and other pet flea repellants.
   • Flea products intended for one animal species are not always safe for other animal species. For example, you should never treat a cat with a permethrin flea control agent.
   • A good treatment is an anti-flea remedy that you apply to your pet's skin, such as Frontline or Advantage, or an anti-flea shampoo.
   • There are also several fast-acting oral anti-flea agents that work well with a persistent flea infestation. Beaphar is a well-known brand.
   • You can also buy a flea collar to kill fleas in your pet's coat and prevent another infestation. However, some flea collars can contain insecticides dangerous to pets and humans, such as tetrachlorvinphos, carbaryl and propoxur.
3. Clean your pet's basket regularly. Flea eggs, larvae and pupae can collect where your pets often lie and sleep. To prevent your pet from getting fleas again, vacuum his basket and wash him with a long wash cycle and hot water in the detergent.
   • If you can't wash your pet's basket, or it's mostly covered in flea excrement and dander, throw it away and buy a new one.
   • It is also an idea to wash your pet's cloth toys and clean any surfaces your pet likes to sleep, such as carpets and blankets.
   • If your pet likes to sleep on your bed, wash your sheets and other bedding.
4. Vacuum floors, carpets and furniture. In addition to cleaning your pet's frequent areas, cleaning the rest of the house can also help get rid of flea eggs and pupae before they have a chance to hatch. Vacuum your entire house regularly, especially areas where your pets spend a lot of time.
   • After vacuuming, dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag immediately outdoors or empty the vacuum cleaner reservoir.
5. Treat the entire house with an insecticide in case of a persistent flea infestation. If you have a persistent flea infestation in your home, the best approach is to treat the entire house with an insecticide. You can buy an over-the-counter flea repellent or hire a pest control company to fix the problem for you.
   • Anti-flea agents are available in the form of sprays and so-called flea bombs that spread an insecticide throughout your home.
   • You may need to use it again after a few weeks to make sure you kill any fleas that have hatched since the first treatment.

   Warning: Read all safety information carefully before using any flea repellant in your home. You may need to locate your pets elsewhere during treatment so that they are not exposed to chemicals that could be harmful to them.