Flea Bites and Treatment

Do Fleas Bite?

Yes. Adult fleas need blood to survive and to lay eggs, so they bite both animals and people. One flea often bites more than once as it moves, which is why the marks tend to come in small groups or short rows. The itch is your body reacting to the flea’s saliva, so some people itch badly while others barely notice.

For relief, wash the bites with soap and warm water, then hold ice wrapped in a cloth against them to bring down swelling. An over-the-counter anti-itch cream or an oral antihistamine can calm the itch. Keep your nails short and try not to scratch, since broken skin can get infected.

Recognizing Flea Bites and Knowing When They Matter

On people, flea bites land mostly on the ankles and lower legs, since that’s about as high as fleas jump from the floor. You may also find them around the waist or where clothing fits snugly. Each bite is a small, firm red bump, sometimes with a reddish halo, and the itch usually starts quickly. A few people develop larger welts or blisters.

On pets, watch for scratching and chewing near the base of the tail, thinning fur, scabs and red skin. Some dogs and cats are allergic to flea saliva, and even a few bites can set off weeks of itching, a condition called flea allergy dermatitis.

Health risks, kept in proportion:

• Pets that swallow fleas while grooming can pick up tapeworms. Small white segments like grains of rice near a pet’s tail are the sign.
• Heavy infestations can cause anemia in kittens, puppies and frail older animals.
• In the United States, fleas are linked to uncommon illnesses such as murine typhus and cat scratch disease, which fleas spread among cats. Most flea bites cause nothing worse than itching.

See a doctor if a bite becomes swollen, hot and painful, shows red streaks, or if you develop a fever or rash afterward. See a vet if your pet has pale gums, low energy, open sores or worm segments. Treating bites only helps for a while; the lasting fix is clearing fleas from pets and the home, covered on how to get rid of fleas.