Fleas pose a significant health risk to our beloved pets, causing issues like anemia and tapeworm infestations. However, it’s important to remember that humans are also at risk from these pesky parasites. Female fleas can lay up to 2,000 eggs during their lifetime, which hatch into larvae and eventually develop into pupae inside cocoons. Once a warm-blooded host, be it an animal or human, passes by, the fleas emerge from their cocoons and leap onto their heat source.
Fleas are able to jump up to 8 inches, and they are not just limited to living on pets. These tiny pests can also take up residence in linens, sofas, and carpets. Fortunately, it’s easy to spot a flea infestation. Excessive itching in both humans and pets, along with visible bite marks, can be telltale signs. Flea bites typically appear as small, red bumps that don’t swell like mosquito bites, and they usually go away on their own without medication or cream. To safeguard your home against fleas, it’s a good idea to have your pet vaccinated at a local veterinary hospital.
