Bed bug bites and flea bites are common health issues faced by both humans and pets. While these bites are not deadly, they can cause serious discomfort to the skin if not treated at the right time. In this article, we have covered different queries related to bugs and fleas.
How to tell if bed bug or flea bite?
If one fine morning you wake up and you are noticing a cluster of small dots on your skin, it can be either from bed bug bites or flea bites. They often look similar and it can be quite difficult to differentiate between the two. The only difference to spot is the body part where the bites appear. Generally, flea bites are found on the lower half of the body the waist, knees, ankles or rather in the moist areas. Whereas bed bug bites are seen on the upper part of the body that is on your face, arms or neck.
Cat flea vs dog flea
There are different types of fleas that can affect different animals. Cat fleas are different from dog fleas but in reality, if you look at both of them it’s hard to find out the difference. Only if you see them under the microspore you can spot the difference. While cat fleas can also infect other animals, dog fleas strictly infest dogs.
Both cat and dog fleas will infect the animal to drink blood resulting in itchiness, and inflamed or sore skin. Young cats and dogs when infected by a lot of fleas might also get anaemia due to excessive blood loss. Therefore if you find your pet licking their paws and body constantly immediately consult a veterinary doctor. To reduce the discomfort you can also wash him with cold water and soap.
How to get rid of fleas?
There are different ointments and spot-on treatment creams that help to kill adult fleas on the pet. You need to use the product regularly as per the doctor’s recommendations to heal the infected part completely.
How to get rid of fleas? Home remedies and treatment to get rid of fleas:
- Give frequent baths to your pet- Coldwater soapy baths can help your pet get rid of fleas. The soap will help to drown the adult fleas and thereby reduce inflammation. But if your pet is allergic to certain soaps, it’s better you consult a veterinary doctor.
- Comb the pet’s hair with a fine brush- There are special thin flea combs available in the market to grab the tiny fleas. You can dip the comb in soap water to grab the fleas faster.
- Apple cider vinegar- Spraying some apple cider vinegar on pets can help to repel fleas. Basically, fleas do not like the taste or smell of apple cider vinegar, as a result even if they are stuck in the fur, they won’t infest the skin and leave your pet’s body.
Where do the bed bugs come from?
Unlike fleas, bed bugs do not live inside an animal’s skin. Animals do not carry bed bugs. Bed bugs are hidden in the environment & come out at night. So maintaining proper vigilance & hygiene is the only way you can protect yourself and your pet from bed bug bites.