Dog Fleas Vs. Cat Fleas

The dog flea, also known as Ctenocephalides canis and the cat flea, also known as Ctenocephalides felis are small blood-sucking insects. They jump instead of fly and live on the bodies of cats and dogs, and sometimes humans. They are more abundant during the summer, as they like warm, humid environments.

  1. Dog Fleas

    • Dog fleas are rare. They are small insects that live in the fur of a dog. According to OZAnimals Australian Wildlife, "Their bodies are flattened to make it easy for them to travel through hair. The body is hard and has hairs and spines. They have long hindlegs adapted for jumping." Dog fleas can put your dog at greater risk of exposure to anemia, tapeworms and allergic dermatitis. Larger dogs are more prone to getting fleas than smaller dogs. Larger dogs tend to go outside more and because many people don't have a big enough yard for them, they resort to other alternatives, such as public parks. They may encounter other dogs, therefore their risks to flea exposure is higher.

    Cat Fleas

    • Cat fleas are small black insects that specifically target cats. They are more common than dog fleas. Approximately 95 percent of fleas found on dogs and cats are cat fleas. Generally, they lay one egg every hour. The eggs have a smooth surface, which makes them easily fall out of a cat's hair. The adults can live four to 25 days.

    Similarities

    • Dog and cat fleas can live on both dogs and cats. The bites are itchy and painful and scratching can lead to secondary skin infections. Both types of fleas are small, wingless and reddish brown in color. Fleas lay small, white oval eggs. The eggs are extremely hard to see against surfaces such as carpet, bedding, and lawn.

    Differences

    • Cat fleas are commonly found on both cats and dogs in North America. The dog flea is rarely found in the United States, but it is often found Europe. One difference between the two types of fleas is that they are a different species from each other. Though they look very similar, there are some differences in their appearance. These can only be seen under a microscope.

    How to Rid Your Life of Fleas

    • Popular flea control products that help get rid of both cat and dog fleas include Frontline, Advantage, Program, and Revolution. However, it's important to make sure that the product states specifically whether it's for use on dogs or cats. It can cause serious health problems if you use a flea product intended for a different animal. They should be applied on a regular basis and are known to be highly effective in killing fleas and keeping them away. Regular grooming will also help keep fleas off of your pet.

      Other preventative measures include flea collars or flea shampoos and dips. Make sure to vacuum your house regularly, as this will help get rid of fleas as well as their eggs. Don't forget to treat your pet's bedding, the yard or any place the animal spends time. The Flea Control Guide notes, "Be sure to put something in the vacuum bag to kill off the adults, otherwise they'll just get out again. A cut-up piece of a flea collar is often useful for this. You could also try moth crystals or other things poisonous to bugs for something to get rid of the ones that get sucked up in the vacuum."