If you’re seeing your dog scratching and biting itself more than usual and may have noticed fleas jumping on you and your family, your first thoughts might be about your poor dog, but then quickly followed by the question “can fleas live on humans too?”
This article answers this question and discusses how flea bites can pass diseases on to humans.
It also provides suggestions of how to remove fleas on your pet, in your home and how to prevent reinfestation.
Can dog or cat fleas live on humans?
Cat (Ctenocephalides felis) or dog fleas (Ctenocephalides canis) may bite people but they won’t live on you. Fleas will seek out your dog or cat as both their preferred host and blood meal, as the dark, moist environment of their fur is the perfect place for fleas to live.
Scientific research shows humans’ relatively hairless bodies don’t make great hiding places, as they’re difficult for fleas to attach to and they don’t provide enough heat for them to survive long term.
Because of this, fleas can’t breed on humans and they need a dog, cat or other pet, so if you’re the only food source around, they’re unable to complete their life cycle and multiply. However, fleas will often stay on our skin and inside our clothes in the short term, using us a ‘carrier’, waiting for a more suitable host, like your cat or dog, before jumping onto them.
They can also infest our homes, laying their eggs on your pet, which fall into the environment, onto furniture and the carpet; the eggs can then lay dormant before hatching into larvae and developing into adult fleas.
Two specific flea species most commonly live on your cats and dogs; Ctenocephalides felis - the scientific name for cat fleas - and Ctenocephalides canis - the scientific name for dog fleas.
Despite their scientific names, the most common flea found on dogs and cats is the cat flea. That’s because fleas are not host specific; meaning that while their preferred host is a cat or dog, they will both happily feed on either, and sometimes humans.
How do you know if you have been bitten by a flea?
If you’ve been bitten by a flea, the flea bite may look like the following;
- A small scab on your skin which has a light red ‘halo’
- Very small red marks around a central red spot
- Clusters of red bite marks which have swollen in a similar way to mosquito bites
- You have been bitten on your ankles and or legs
Other signs your household could have fleas include:
- When combing your pet have you found black specks which look like ground pepper? If so, and you wet this dirt on a white paper towel and it turns browny red, this is called flea ‘dirt’ which is, in fact, flea faeces
- Your pets are scratching more than usual
Can humans catch diseases from fleas?
Ignoring a flea infestation can risk you and your family’s health.
Unfortunately, fleas don’t just bite, infected fleas can also spread diseases to humans, including Bartonella, tapeworm infection and or allergic reactions.
Bartonella
Often known as cat scratch disease, humans may contract Bartonella from infected flea faeces from under a cat’s claws via the scratches and bites of cats.
Cat scratch disease starts with a papule on the hands or arms, then a couple of weeks later you may see other signs such as local swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache & malaise, which can last several weeks to months.
Risk of tapeworm infection
Fleas can carry the tapeworm parasite and can pose a risk to your household. If a flea carrying the Dipylidium caninum tapeworm parasite is ingested by your pet, such as during grooming, or by humans accidentally ingesting a flea when sleeping, although this is rare, it can develop into a tapeworm infestation. Children are most at risk of getting a tapeworm infection, as they’re often in closest contact with your family pets.
Allergic reactions to flea bites
Some people may have an allergic reaction to flea bites, where their skin can become swollen, itchy and irritated, sometimes displaying red bumps, hives or a rash. If this happens, it’s best to see your GP.
How do I get rid of fleas?
If you’ve got a flea infestation, it will affect you and your family, your pet and the environment (your home).
Below are some suggestions to help remove fleas from your home and prevent a reinfestation.
On myself or my family ?
- Never use pet flea treatments on humans – Flea treatments should only be used on your pets.
- Soothe the itch - The biggest complaint from fleas are the itchy bites. Talk to your pharmacist about over-the-counter relief options.
- Avoid scratching - As hard as it may be, try to avoid scratching the bite. This can open up the scab and it may take longer to heal. It also increases your risk of infection.
On my pets?
Prevention is always better than a cure - Regularly treating ALL of your pets ALL year round with a trusted and quality flea treatment is one of the most effective ways to prevent a flea infestation.
There are many different types of flea treatments available including tablets, flea collars and monthly spot-on treatments.
Talk to your vet clinic for the best flea treatment option for your pet, to keep your pet and home flea-free.
In my home?
If you’ve got a flea infestation in your home, as well as treating ALL of your pets for fleas, you’ll also need to treat the house; to ensure you remove any hidden flea eggs and larvae which have the potential to re-infest it.
This is because fleas love warm hidden places, making carpets, furniture and other soft furnishings the perfect habitat for their flea eggs and larvae.
To remove fleas in your home:
- Vacuum regularly - Thoroughly and regularly vacuum all carpets, rugs, couches and other upholstered furniture, making sure you get into hidden places like underneath the couch and bed, and behind furniture. Pay special attention to areas where your pet likes to sleep and play but ensure you cover the whole house, as fleas and flea eggs don’t just stay in places where your dog or cat has been. Be sure to empty the vacuum immediately afterwards and dispose of the dirt outside of the house to prevent eggs from possibly hatching inside, which could lead to future flea infestations.
- Clean linen – Regularly wash all bedding and other household linens, such as blankets, sheets and curtains on a hot setting, preferably at 60°C.
- Clean your pet’s bedding – Regularly wash your pet’s bedding separately from your own and, again, wash it at a high temperature.
- Use a home flea spray - Use a vet-recommended household flea spray/ insect growth regulating (IGR) flea fogger/flea bomb and or target spray to help you reach areas your vacuum can’t, such as cracks and any difficult-to-reach nooks and crannies.
It can take several weeks or months to fully tackle a flea problem, but so long as you’re patient and consistent, you’ll get there.
To prevent re-infestation, it’s important to treat ALL of your pets with a trusted and quality flea treatment ALL year round.
Once you’ve got on top of an infestation, keeping up with regular flea treatment will help to ensure both your pet and your home stays flea-free.
