-
Step 1
Look for fleas hiding in your pet's coat; usually near warm areas such as the base of the tail, armpits and near the genitals. Fleas are dark brown and about the size of a pencil point. They move very quickly and can jump several feet. Fleas are often easiest to spot during bath time as you run water through your pet's fur and can clearly see his skin.
-
Step 2
Check your pet for excessive itching and other signs of flea infestation. Look for flea feces (also called "flea dirt" due to the resemblance to black dirt granules), particularly near your pet's tail. Dry, scaly skin or skin damage caused by your pet itching with teeth or claws can also be apparent. In an advanced case of infestation, missing hair is common.
-
Step 3
Observe furniture, vehicle upholstery, carpeted areas and animal beds for signs of jumping fleas. Because a single flea can lay 50 or more eggs, great quantities of fleas can develop in a short time. They are often easy to spot as numerous fleas jump around an area at a time.
-
Step 4
Take note of painful bug bites below the knee without apparent cause. Fleas often bite humans, generally leaving behind a tiny red mark (or sometimes no mark at all). If you feel painful bites on your feet, ankles or calves yet see no insects, a flea could be the cause. Flea bites often occur in groups, so a grouping of small red dots near an ankle, for example, would be suspect.
