Think you have fleas infesting your home? In some cases, it’s easy to identify the presence of an infestation, as the blood-sucking parasites will be jumping across the floor in search of a warm-blooded meal (such as yourself). In other cases, though, it’s more difficult to determine whether or not fleas are infesting a residence. Perhaps they are hiding in your pet’s bedding, or maybe they are sticking to the baseboards where they are hidden.
Warning Sign #1) Itchy Red Bumps Throughout Your Body
One tall-tale warning sign that your home is infested with fleas is the presence of itchy red bumps throughout your body. From the moment they first emerge from their eggs, fleas begin their search for food. If you live in a home that’s heavily infested with fleas, chances are you’ll notice bites around your ankles, legs, arms and any other exposed area of skin.
Note: you can reduce the inflammation and itching of flea bites by applying a small amount of either calamine or 1% hydrocortisone cream to the affected area.
Warning Sign #2) Dog and/or Cat Scratching Itself
Do you own a cat or dog (or both) who is constantly scratching themselves? Granted, there are dozens of reasons why pets may scratch themselves, but one of the most common reasons is because they are suffering from flea bites. When a flea bites into a host, it releases a small amount of saliva. Dogs and cats are often allergic to this saliva, triggering an intense itching sensation.
Warning Sign #3) Your Can See Them!
If you can see fleas jumping or crawling around the floor, well, your home is probably infested with them. It’s estimated that only 5% of the flea population is comprised of adults, meaning the rest are eggs, larvae and pupae. Assuming this statistic is correct, if you see 5 adult fleas, there are at least 95 fleas in other stages of their life cycle throughout your home. This is why it’s important to focus on exterminating fleas of all life cycle stages and not just the adults.
Warning Sign #4) Black Specks Everywhere
It’s not something that most people want to think about, but if you’re living in a home that’s infested with fleas, you will probably notice small black specks on your carpet and furniture. These specks are essentially flea feces, and they resemble grains of black pepper.
Did we leave out any other warning signs of a flea infestation? Let us know in the comments section below!