Fleas, I Think...

[Christine]

I think my dog might have fleas, yet I can't find any.

This is the fifth dog I've ever owned and none have ever had fleas.

Anyway, my husband asked me Sunday night if the dog could have fleas. He had about 10 small bites on his torso. I said "No way." Now my husband is outdoors a lot so not unusual for him to have something. The next day, I noticed a bite of some sort on my ankle and one on my elbow. I had been laying on the floor a few hours before petting and hugging the dog. I never go outside much, never get bites. These bites look much like my husbands.

I examined the dog thorough and can see nothing (she is a beagle mix and the hair is relatively short).

My husband has come home today and they bites seem to be "spreading" in his words. His are very itchy and much more noticeable looking than mine. I've read that some people can be allergic to flea bites which cause a more severe reaction in some. My two bites are starting to wane, but just noticed another one on my upper arm today.

Again, I have examined this dog thoroughly and can find nothing.

I've looked on the internet and I think I"m examing in all the right ways (although I haven't bought a flea comb yet).

Just wondering if anyone knows any ways to quickly determine there are fleas.

[Disneefun]

Look through the fur where the tail joins the butt. Look all the way down to the skin. They like to congregate there. Even if you don't see fleas, look for black specks of what look like dirt. It's called "flea dirt" and is basically flea poop. If you see the dirt, you've got fleas.

You can also give the dog a bath and see what turns up in the water.

[lizabu]

I figured out my cat had fleas because he was scratching his head like crazy. They have these drops and you just put them on the animal's neck and the fleas go away...so easy.

[lynxstch]

Originally Posted by lizabu

I figured out my cat had fleas because he was scratching his head like crazy. They have these drops and you just put them on the animal's neck and the fleas go away...so easy.

But it's not so easy to get rid of the fleas if they have infested your home. You will have to use foggers, or flea spray ..some people recommend spreading borax on your carpet, sweeping it in, letting it sit awhile, then vacuum and throw the bag out when done. We spent 2 miserable weeks trying to get rid of them, but they are finally gone..they are persistent little buggers!

[Tinijocaro]

My next door neighbor has a flea infestation. Now our dogs have fleas-first time in seven years.

I heard that this is a particularly bad year for fleas.

[TiggerTails57]

Buy a flea comb very handy to see the little buggers.

[John VN]

Saw the fleas in FIL's house jump on and off my white socks. Saw others doing the back stroke in the cat's water dish.

[CathrynRose]

I had a flea scare this summer.

The vet said to lay out a white sheet on the floor and then rub them like mad, and see if any pop off, cuz you'll see them.

None did. **phew** I was freaking.

[Christine]

Well, I still can't find any. My dog was quite humiliated when I looked at her tail where it meets her butt!! That's was funny.

I just can't see anything on her. When I get home from work today I'm going to try the white sheet trick and maybe get a flea comb this weekend.

[joviroxx]

Originally Posted by Christine

Well, I still can't find any. My dog was quite humiliated when I looked at her tail where it meets her butt!! That's was funny.

I just can't see anything on her. When I get home from work today I'm going to try the white sheet trick and maybe get a flea comb this weekend.

I can't tell you if you have them or not but fleas usually bite your ankles. They are low and jumping and don't usually see only bites in your torso. The fact that he is the only one with the bites makes me think its from the outside as well.

If you are really infested, you would see them on your dog but the white sheet thing helps as well.

[Disney Doll]

Think of bedbugs too...especially if you've travelled recently.

[The Mystery Machine]

Take you brush, brush dog. Dip brush in water and see if it tinges red. Flea "dirt" is flea poop and it is dried blood.

Fleas like the top of head and neck. Esp. around the eyes & neck...ick.

When we had cats in my younger days we had fleas & flea infestations, it sucked!

The 2 dogs we have now never had fleas except for when we adopted them.

Flea bites are tiny red dots. They look like chigger bites. Chigger bites however are itchy as heck.

[Christine]

Originally Posted by joviroxx

I can't tell you if you have them or not but fleas usually bite your ankles. They are low and jumping and don't usually see only bites in your torso. The fact that he is the only one with the bites makes me think its from the outside as well.

If you are really infested, you would see them on your dog but the white sheet thing helps as well.

My first "bite" was on my ankle.

The problem is, both times we were bit, we remember laying on the carpet with the dog. In that case, I think it's entirely possible to get them on the torso or arms. But I can see if you were just walking around that the ankles would be the first place they'd show up.

[tiggger1]

Originally Posted by Christine

My first "bite" was on my ankle.

The problem is, both times we were bit, we remember laying on the carpet with the dog. In that case, I think it's entirely possible to get them on the torso or arms. But I can see if you were just walking around that the ankles would be the first place they'd show up.

check your carpet for tiny ants. We were getting the same kind of bites...on the legs and torso... first thought was fleas but didnt find any on the cats... a few days later we found a mug on the coffee table with about a dozen tiny ants....and sure enough they were on the rug where we were playing with the kids.....put out ant bait and the bites stopped...


got bit again the other day and sure enough the stupid buggers are back!!! they are super tiny!!!!