Can You Always See Fleas?

Fleas are small, reddish brown insects that feed on the blood of animals. Their primary host is mammals, but they also bite birds. These tiny parasites have flat bodies and lack wings. They move by leaping and can jump up to 12 inches. Infested areas usually have carpets and cracks, where they can easily hide.

Fleas lay their eggs in carpeting and rugs. These eggs can be hard to spot, especially if the carpet is dark. Another place to look for flea eggs is the bed. Flea eggs are off-white ovals that are hard to see without a magnifying glass, so you may need to use a magnifying glass.

Fleas are difficult to spot because they are so tiny and fast. Unless you know you have a dog with fleas, you’re unlikely to notice them. But if your pet does have fleas, they’ll probably leave a red spot on its skin. The spot may look like a mosquito bite and may itch if it scratches excessively.

Fleas are difficult to detect because they are so small (less than a sixteenth of an inch) and move fast. The color of your dog’s coat, its size, and the thickness of its skin can also make it hard to spot the fleas.