Can You Get Fleas From Your Dog?

Fleas, the itty-bitty brown insects that prize your dog as its best host, are a year-round prospect. This means that you should treat your dog against them regularly.

Your pup can get infested with fleas from the environment or other dogs. Mind that fleas don’t have wings, just really strong hind legs, so they jump from host to host; which poses the question, could you be one of them?

There are many species of fleas, dog fleas, in particular, thrive off of a dog’s warm blood and their hairy bodies provide lots of cover making it easier for them to hide. These fleas can, and often do, jump over to humans and bite, but due to our lack of hair, they quickly find our bodies to be uninhabitable. This causes them to either hop back on our dogs or find a spot in our homes and breed.

Flea bites usually appear around the ankles and legs, if you suspect that you’ve been bitten by a flea, look for the following symptoms:

• A very itchy patch of skin
• A rash around the bite
• A red halo around the bite

Remedying a flea bite in humans is as simple as washing the affected area with soap and water and applying an anti-itch cream to lessen the temptation to scratch the bite. Flea infestations in dogs can cause serious harm especially if your pup is young or has a disability. Fortunately, treatment is diverse and it’s always best to consult your veterinarian on the best treatment for your dog.

Above all, preventing a flea attack on your pup is the best way to go and you can make your home a flea-free environment by:

• Vacuuming your rugs, carpets and couches regularly
• Cleaning your dogs’ bedding regularly
• Vacuuming your car, especially in the hard-to-reach places