Fleas?

[Mike]

We have never had fleas, but a friend dropped by Wednesday night for a spell.  He says he woke up Thursday morning with 5 bites on his ankle.  He looked for bed bugs but didn't find any (he grew up in W TX, I guess they have them there?).  He thinks we might have fleas.  I haven't noticed Clifford scratching at all and I have no bites anywhere.  I checked Clifford's neck and ears and did notice what look like bits of dirt but they don't move when I put them on paper.  His skin is very dry right now and he's been on muscle relaxant and dexamethasone for 10 days.  Any ideas?

[Leslie]

lay a white towel on the floor--shine a light on it and turn the other lights off. They will hop on it.

[Barb]

Seems strange that you and Clifford haven't gotten anything.  But he got bit by something.......strange......  let us know what the white sheet test shows.....

[Dee Dee and Hallie]

Could the dark specks have been flea dirt? (the blood the fleas poop out). Ack. Fleas are some of the nastiest little creatures. I had to use frontline on Hallie this summer for the first time since I got her. The fleas were gone again until two days ago I found THREE. I haven't seen any since but if I see just one more I will be treating her again. Do you have a flea comb to see if you capture any that way?

[Jeri]

Next time put the dirt specks on a wet, white paper towel.  Dirt will stay dirt colored even when wet.  Flea poop will turn red, because they are pooping out the blood they ingested.

Jeri