How to Tell if You Have Fleas & Get Rid of Them if You Do
Wondering how to tell if you have fleas? Common signs include pets scratching, biting, or licking excessively, tiny black specks (flea dirt) in your pet’s fur or bedding, small red bites on your ankles or lower legs, and spotting tiny brownish-black insects jumping on carpets, rugs, or furniture.
You may also notice small scabs or hair loss on your pet, especially around the neck, tail, or hindquarters.
Fleas reproduce rapidly, and even a small number can turn into a large infestation in just a few weeks. A Dominion Pest Control technician can perform a full flea inspection to identify the extent of the problem and create a treatment plan designed to quickly and effectively get rid of fleas from your home and yard.
Fleas
What Do Fleas Look Like?
Fleas are small, wingless, reddish-brown insects measuring about 1/16 to 1/8 inch long. They have flat bodies and powerful hind legs for jumping long distances. Adult fleas feed on blood from animals or humans, while larvae live in dark, humid areas feeding on organic debris, including flea dirt.
Because of their size, fleas can be difficult to spot unless you are looking closely or using a flea comb on your pet.
Fleas and bed bugs are both small and reddish brown. Both feed on blood and cause itchy bites. We have pest control services that treat both. They differ, however, in their movement and preferred habitats. Learn more about bed bugs to better understand the differences. Additionally, this PennState Extension article, Is Something Biting Me, may be helpful.
Fleas on Dogs (and Cats)
While fleas can infest many animals, dogs and cats are the most common hosts in Pennsylvania homes. Fleas typically hide in areas with thinner fur and warmer skin temperatures, such as the neck, belly, armpits, tail base, and groin. To learn how fleas hide in fur, check out “Shoo, Flea, Don’t Bother Me (Or My Pets!)”.
They feed multiple times a day, causing itching, allergic reactions, and even anemia in severe infestations.
Some pet owners misidentify other bugs on dogs that are not fleas — such as lice, ticks, or mites — which is why professional identification is important. Dominion Pest Control’s trained technicians can confirm whether you are dealing with fleas or another parasite and recommend the best course of action. Learn more about how to get rid of fleas fast on pets.
Other Flea Situations: Drain Fleas and Sewer Fleas
In addition to common pet-related infestations, some homeowners encounter drain fleas or sewer fleas. These pests thrive in damp, organic-rich environments such as floor drains, basements, and sewer systems.
These are moth flies (also called sink flies, or Psychodidae). While not the same species as the common cat or dog flea, they can still be a nuisance and may require targeted treatment to eliminate. Let’s look at the types of fleas we’re likely to encounter here and their scientific names.
Common Types of Fleas in Pennsylvania
While all fleas share similar life cycles and feeding habits, different species prefer different hosts and environments. Understanding which type of flea you’re dealing with can help target treatments more effectively. In Pennsylvania, the most encountered fleas include:
Cat Flea (Ctenocephalides felis)
Despite the name, cat fleas are the most common flea found on both dogs and cats in Pennsylvania. They can also bite humans when infestations are heavy. Cat fleas are small (1–3 mm), reddish-brown, and have strong back legs for jumping. As mentioned previously, these fleas feed multiple times a day. They can transmit tapeworms and cat scratch disease. They thrive in indoor environments year-round and can survive outdoors in warm, humid months.
Dog Flea (Ctenocephalides canis)
Less common than cat fleas, dog fleas prefer canine hosts but will also infest cats and bite humans. They look nearly identical to cat fleas but are slightly less prevalent in Pennsylvania households. Dog fleas can carry the same parasites and diseases as cat fleas, making them just as much of a concern for pet owners.
Human Flea (Pulex irritans)
Human fleas can bite people as well as animals such as pigs, dogs, and wild mammals. While rare in most Pennsylvania homes today, they may still be found in rural or farm environments. Human fleas are slightly larger than cat or dog fleas and can transmit murine typhus and other pathogens. They’re most often associated with livestock areas or animal bedding.
Sticktight Flea (Echidnophaga gallinacea)
Occasionally found in Pennsylvania’s rural and farming communities, sticktight fleas are more common on poultry, rodents, and wild birds. Unlike cat and dog fleas, sticktight fleas embed themselves into the host’s skin, often around the eyes, ears, and combs of chickens. While less likely to infest homes, they can cause issues in barns, coops, and animal shelters.
Rodent Fleas (Various species)
Fleas that infest rats and mice can sometimes become a problem indoors when their primary hosts are eliminated or displaced. These fleas can carry serious diseases, including plague (rare in Pennsylvania) and murine typhus. They’re usually introduced into homes during rodent infestations and can quickly become a secondary pest problem.
How to Get Rid of Fleas in the House or Outdoors
Treating your pet is an important first step, but it won’t eliminate the fleas already in your home and yard. Dominion Pest Control knows how to get rid of fleas in house and yard, and offers indoor and outdoor flea treatments for total peace of mind.
When you schedule a flea service, we treat all floor areas and any other spaces your pets can access. Our flea control process uses a pet-friendly insecticide to safely reduce flea populations indoors and outdoors, helping break the flea life cycle.
Professional flea elimination often includes:
- Treating all pets with veterinarian-approved flea control products
- Vacuuming carpets, rugs, and furniture daily for several weeks
- Washing pet bedding and linens in hot water
- Treating indoor and outdoor areas to kill adult fleas and prevent re-infestation
If you need flea control in Berks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, or York counties, call 717-393-7879. If you’re already enrolled in our flea program, please download and follow our Flea Treatment Instructions before your technician arrives.
Common Options We Do Not Recommend
- Relying on pet-only treatments – Treating your pet without addressing the home and yard may not stop the infestation. That is the case when treating any common household pests, even ants or mice – there could be more than one source of infestation.
- Over-the-counter “foggers” – These often miss hidden areas and can drive fleas deeper into carpets and furniture.
- DIY chemical overuse – Improper pesticide use can be unsafe for pets and people and may not effectively kill fleas at all life stages. (Read Dangers of Self-Treating)
Prevention: Best Next Steps to Avoid Flea Re-Infestation
- Keep pets on year-round flea prevention as recommended by your veterinarian
- Vacuum regularly, especially in pet resting areas
- Wash pet bedding weekly in hot water
- Seal gaps under doors and repair window screens to reduce pest entry
- Address moisture problems to reduce habitat for drain or sewer fleas
Choose peace of mind! If you suspect you have a flea infestation, use our form to start living pest-free. Dominion Pest Control will get in touch ASAP.
Pricing: Most professional extermination programs cost $150-$500. After our professional exterminator conducts an official inspection, they can provide a quote for flea removal. The final cost can vary significantly based on multiple factors, making an inspection and quote the best first step.
