Dog Fleas - is this a myth?

[FreshlyWashed]

Hi Experts.

Can anyone answer this for me? I've always been told that although they prefer our pets, cat fleas will bite humans but dog fleas won't.

Is this tosh?

I've owned dogs most of my life (and my parents weren't especially hot on flea treatments when I was a kid) and I've never been bitten. (which has made me assume it wasn't just a myth).

Maybe I'm just not that attractive to fleas or men???

[ScreamingValenta]

I read that cat fleas are equally happy on cats or dogs, so often your dog's unwelcome guests are actually cat fleas, not dog fleas.

[FreshlyWashed]

ah! I have to say, i've never notice any 'visitors' wearing little t-shirts or baseball caps saying whether they're "dog" or "cat"!

[ElvisParsley]

Fleas have a preferential host, but will happily munch on any blood if their preferred host is not available. As ScreamingValenta says, most fleas on dogs are actually cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis, not dog fleas C. canis.

Don't ask why, but I have recently had human fleas, chicken fleas, dog and cat fleas, hedgehog fleas all found on dogs. And therefore in people's homes potentially chomping on them!

[SaveKevin]

You mean yours don't come dressed?




i realise this gives you no help whatsoever

[FreshlyWashed]

No help SaveKevin, but a good laugh!

Useful advice, thank you.

The reason I asked was because I'm usually super-vigilant at using the Spot On, but with the craziness that was Christmas, I let it lapse [shame] and found a couple on my girl yesterday. She's now treated, and I sprayed the house, but as I was going round with the vile, noxious stuff I wondered if I needed to (my logic being if there were eggs which could hatch, would they not wait and jump on her? Now she's treated, so they'd die in any case).

Looks like I was right to spray (but, my god... that stuff is vile!)

[FreshlyWashed]

emjoi fail!