Fleas generally have a flattened skinny body, which allows for easy movement between the hairs of your animal's fur. Fleas have tiny claws at the tips of their legs that also enable them to stay better glued to your furry friend, and any of their six long legs allow the flea to jump laterally a distance of 14-16 inches. Fleas are parasitic, meaning they suck blood of birds and animals in order to survive. If food is scarce, an adult flea can go up to two months without eating and during these times can often be found feeding off other animals and even humans. The common house flea can cause anemia, skin irritation and worms in dogs.
Heavy infestations are especially dangerous.
The most common symptom of a flea problem is excessive itching and scratching by your pet. If you note that your pet is bothered by more than just an occasional itch, check the fur on your pet's lower back and inside the back leg egg areas. These are the most common areas that fleas will attack first. Now that you have fleas, there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, you're not just dealing with a flea.