What do fleas look like on cats and dogs? - briefly
Fleas are tiny, dark brown, wing‑less insects about 1–3 mm long that dart through the coat and cause small, red, itchy bite spots. They are most often seen near the tail base, under the neck, and in the groin or skin‑fold areas.
What do fleas look like on cats and dogs? - in detail
Fleas that infest cats and dogs are small, wing‑less insects measuring 1.5–3 mm in length. Their bodies are laterally flattened, which allows them to move easily through the animal’s fur. The exoskeleton is a dark brown to reddish‑black color, often appearing glossy when the flea is alive and dull after feeding.
Key visual characteristics include:
- Head and antennae: The head is small, concealed beneath the thorax, with short, bristle‑like antennae that are not readily visible.
- Thorax: Broad and robust, bearing strong legs adapted for jumping. Each leg ends in a claw equipped with a tiny hook, enabling the flea to cling to hair shafts.
- Abdomen: Elongated and slightly tapered toward the rear. After a blood meal, the abdomen expands and becomes visibly engorged, giving the flea a swollen, white‑gray appearance.
- Legs: Six legs, each capable of rapid, powerful jumps up to 150 times the flea’s body length. The femur is thick, while the tibia and tarsus are slender.
- Spines and combs: The dorsal surface may display minute spines that help the insect navigate the host’s coat. Some species possess a “genital comb” near the rear, useful for species identification.
When a flea feeds, its mouthparts—piercing‑sucking stylets—penetrate the skin to draw blood. The feeding site often appears as a tiny, red puncture surrounded by a pale halo caused by the flea’s anticoagulant saliva. In heavily infested animals, clusters of fleas can be seen moving in a synchronized “jump‑and‑run” pattern, especially along the neck, base of the tail, and between the shoulder blades.
The combination of size, dark coloration, flattened body, and engorged abdomen after feeding provides a reliable visual cue for recognizing these parasites on both feline and canine hosts.