Fleas

What fleas look like

Fleas are tiny wingless insects, no more than about 3 mm long, and brown to almost black in colour. The body is flattened from side to side rather than top to bottom, which lets a flea slip easily between hairs and fibres, and it is covered in backward-facing bristles that make it hard to brush off. The back legs are long and powerful, built for jumping, and a flea can cover a surprising distance in one leap. The hard shiny shell is tough enough that fleas are difficult to crush between fingers. Eggs are pale, smooth and very small, and they fall off the animal into carpet, bedding and floor cracks. The larvae that hatch are pale, legless and worm-like, and they avoid light by working down into carpet pile and gaps.

Signs you have fleas

• A pet scratching constantly. Persistent scratching, biting at the base of the tail, and restlessness are usually the first thing anyone notices.
• Flea dirt in the coat. Dark specks in the fur that turn rusty red on a damp paper towel, which is digested blood rather than ordinary dirt.
• Bites on people. Small itchy red spots, often in clusters or short lines, most commonly around the ankles and lower legs.
• Insects jumping on light surfaces. Fleas show up against pale socks, bedding and carpet, and appear and disappear quickly as they jump.
• Activity in pet resting places. Eggs, larvae and adults concentrate where the animal sleeps, so pet beds, sofas, rugs and the edges of carpets are where evidence gathers.
• A sudden burst after an empty house. Coming home from a trip to find fleas jumping onto you is typical, because pupae respond to vibration and warmth.

Adults on the pet are a small part of what is in the building.

Why fleas come into Ottawa and Toronto homes

Fleas arrive on an animal. A dog or cat picks them up from a yard, a park, a boarding kennel, a groomer or contact with another animal, and the fleas come indoors with the pet. Wildlife matters too. Raccoons, squirrels, skunks and mice that den under a deck, in an attic or in a wall leave fleas behind, and those fleas will look for a new host once the animal moves on or is removed, which is why a home can get fleas without owning a pet. Warm indoor conditions let the life cycle run all year, so a problem that starts in summer does not stop when it gets cold. Carpet, area rugs, upholstery, pet bedding and gaps between floorboards give eggs and larvae everything they need.

Are fleas dangerous?

For most people fleas are a serious nuisance rather than a serious health threat. Bites itch, and repeated scratching can break the skin and lead to infection. Some people and many animals develop an allergy to flea saliva, and in pets this causes hair loss, raw skin and real discomfort. Heavy infestations can leave young or small animals anaemic, and fleas can transmit tapeworm to pets that swallow them while grooming. Fleas are known carriers of certain diseases, though that is far less of a concern in Canadian homes than the biting and the allergic reaction. They cause no damage to the building itself. Nothing is chewed or stained, but an established infestation is persistent and spreads through soft furnishings.

How to keep fleas out

• Keep pets on a veterinary flea prevention product year round, and follow your veterinarian’s advice on which one and how often.
• Vacuum thoroughly and often, especially carpet edges, under furniture, along baseboards and wherever pets sleep, and empty the vacuum outside afterwards.
• Wash pet bedding, blankets and soft toys in hot water regularly, and wash any covers the pet sleeps on.
• Check the pet’s coat after walks and visits, using a fine flea comb over a pale surface so you can see what comes out.
• Keep wildlife out. Screen off decks, sheds and crawl spaces and deal with rodents or denning animals, since they leave fleas behind.
• Keep the yard tidy. Mow regularly, clear leaf litter and reduce shaded damp areas where pets rest and fleas survive.

Prevention on the pet and vacuuming in the home do most of the work.

How GO! Pest Control treats fleas

• Inspection. We confirm the infestation, find the areas where it is concentrated, and check whether wildlife or rodents in the structure are the original source, since that has to be dealt with too.
• Treatment. We apply professional products to carpets, rugs, upholstery, floor edges and pet resting areas, targeting both the adults and the developing stages, and we give you clear preparation and re-entry instructions.
• Removal. Where a denning animal or rodent problem is feeding the infestation, we address it as part of the work rather than treating the fleas alone.
• Follow-up. Flea pupae are well protected, so activity can appear again after the first visit. We plan a repeat treatment where it is needed to catch the newly emerged adults.
• Advice. We explain the vacuuming, laundry and veterinary steps that need to happen alongside treatment, because the home and the pet have to be handled together.

We are licensed, insured and bonded, and we work in homes, apartments, condos and businesses across the Toronto GTA, Ottawa and Hamilton.

Common questions about fleas