How To Detect Fleas in Your Home and Avoid a Full Flea Infestation

Fleas are considered small insects as well as ectoparasites. While fleas can be an issue year-round, they tend to be most common during the warmer months, so they are mostly seen in the spring and summer.

Understanding the life cycle of the flea is important for effective control and prevention. Fleas have four life stages:

1. Eggs are shed by a female flea
2. The eggs hatch into flea larvae
3. The larvae form pupae
4. Adult fleas hatch from the pupae

Besides being annoying and kind of gross, fleas can pose a threat to your pets. For instance, if very young or older pets get infested with a large amount of fleas, it can result in anemia. Fleas can also transmit a parasite called tapeworms.

The best way to deal with fleas is to avoid them in the first place. Pet parents should use flea control products to keep fleas (and ticks) at bay and consult their veterinarian when choosing a flea prevention treatment.

But if you still find yourself with a potential pest problem, here’s how to spot fleas in your house before they get out of hand and how to get rid of fleas after they have made your home theirs.

One obvious way to know that you might be on your way to or already have a flea infestation is finding fleas on your pet. Fleas look like small, dark, oval-shaped insects. Check your pet’s fur, especially around their head, neck, and hindquarter, as these are the areas fleas usually target most.

You should also look for the following:

• Tiny, black, pepper-like specks: This is also called “flea dirt” or flea feces, and they are a telltale sign fleas are afoot. Grab a damp white paper towel or cloth and give those black dots a swipe. If the towel shows red streaks, it’s flea dirt.
• Reddened areas of skin with some fur loss: This can be caused by flea bites.

If you do find fleas or signs of fleas, contact your vet right away to get their treatment recommendations.

Flea eggs don’t adhere to your pet’s fur as securely as the fleas themselves, so they tend to fall off in places your pet frequents.

Your pet’s bed should be the first place you look, as well as any other spots your pet is allowed to sleep, such as on couches or chairs. You should also check for fleas on your own bed.

Flea eggs are tiny, off-white ovals that can be hard to see on light-colored upholstery and rugs. You may need to use a magnifying tool, like a magnifying glass or your phone’s magnification.

Carpeting, area rugs, and throw rugs are common places for fleas to lay eggs, so run your hands over these spaces carefully, looking in between the fibers for eggs.

Again, unless you have dark carpeting, they can be tough to spot, so look thoroughly with the aid of a magnifying glass.

Unfortunately, you’re not in the clear if your home has only bare, hardwood floors.

Determined fleas will lay eggs in the cracks between wood floorboards, giving them another place to grow and hide. Note that fleas can also reside along your baseboards.

Put on knee-high (or at least calf-high) white socks and walk around your home for an afternoon, keeping close to carpeting and putting your feet up on furniture.

Then, check the socks for fleas. If they’ve taken up residence in your home, odds are that a few will be visible on your socks.

First, work with your veterinarian on the best way to treat and prevent fleas on your pet.

Because your dog already has fleas, you’ll need to treat them. Here’s how:

• Comb your dog with a flea comb.
• Bathe them with a flea shampoo.
• Treat them with a flea preventative.

While dog fleas and cat fleas are often the same, it’s imperative that you only seek out a treatment (whether chewable, topical, or collar) meant for your pet. Never use a product labeled for dogs on cats, as certain insecticides that are safe for dogs can be toxic to felines.

Additionally, pay attention to the size of the dog that the flea preventative is intended for, as flea prevention meds are rarely one size fits all. The dose varies by weight. Always follow the directions on the package and your vet’s instructions.

Next, follow the home-cleaning steps below to gain the upper hand on the little buggers.

Begin attacking your pest problem with a laundry day to end all laundry days.

• Wash everything that can be put into a washing machine. Your pet’s bed should be the first to go in, but also wash your own bedding, couch throws, bathroom mats, slipcovers, and curtains.
• Use color-safe bleach.
• Use hot water. This can increase the chances all eggs and larvae will be destroyed.

Vacuum and mop daily until you’re sure the pests have been eradicated. Because the egg-to-hatch life cycle can range anywhere from one to 10 days, per the CDC, keep up with your daily cleaning duties as needed.

Vacuuming tips and tricks:

• Use a flea collar: If you have a bag vacuum, buy an inexpensive flea collar, cut it into pieces and place them inside the bag. The fleas will be killed immediately upon entering the bag, so you don’t have to worry about them getting out if you get distracted and don’t throw out [the bag] right away.
• Don’t forget to clean the canister: And don’t forget to change the vacuum bag. Clean them extremely well because flea eggs can be quite hardy. You don’t want to give those pests an opportunity to make a comeback or worse, catch a free ride in your vacuum and set up shop in an area of the house previously unaffected by fleas.

Nobody wants to face the possibility of a flea infestation in their home. Keeping your eyes peeled and knowing how to detect fleas in your home will give you a leg up. If you find that your home has fleas, be sure to thoroughly treat the source, which of course is your canine companion.

Expert input provided by Stephanie Howe, DVM, Chewy pet health representative; Bethany Howe-Fanning, DVM, CVA, founder of Hawkins Animal Hospital and Wellness Center in Ronkonkoma, New York; Peter Lugten, BVM&S, MRCVs; and Dwight Alleyne, DVM, a practicing veterinarian in Georgia.

This content was medically reviewed by a veterinarian.