How do I know if it's bed bugs or fleas?

Question

My dog stayed in my room night before last and this last night I woke up with a couple of bites on my stomach. I got kinda paranoid thinking it was bed bugs and stripped by bed, started washing all my clothes, etc. They are very tiny, ichy, reddish colored, and raised a little bit. Which do you think it is? Either way I'm cleaning/spraying but if it's bed bugs we'd probably need to get an exterminator. What do you think?

If it helps with your answers, my dog does have fleas. He's been scratching a lot.

Answer 1

i think you would be able to see the fleas. if it just started when your dog slept in the bed, that's what i'm going with, but who knows?

Answer 2

Certainly sounds like fleas considering the dog was in there but does the dog have fleas? If it is bed bugs then yes, nothing short of an exterminator will get rid of them. You'll also need to have all your bedding washed in very hot water or dry cleaned.

Answer 3

either fleas are feramonaly atracted to females or there is something in a womans body chemistry that reacts differently to the bites. Every woman I know will get bitten by fleas, yet the men in their beds have no bumps. My wife and I share the bed with our dog and my wife will know if there's fleas, sometimes before the dog.

Answer 4

If you're worried, cover it both ways.

Get your dog a flea collar and use some flea shampoo and give him a bath.

For yourself, take all your sheets and pillows and any clothes you were wearing or wore since and wash them in the laundry on the hottest setting you can. Go to the pharmacy and purchase some bedbug spray (I think it works on fleas too) and thoroughly spray your mattress. You should also shower to make sure they aren't still on you.

If you aren't sure, go bring your dog to a veterinarian and you can ask your doctor or pharmacist what can treat it (and what spray to use)

Answer 5

never had a bite from either but definitely flea treatment for dog just in case and toss the bed .tempurepedic is impenetrable don't have to worry bed bugs

Answer 6

Check the dog for fleas. Normally flea bites respond the way you are talking about, while bed bug bites are larger red spots, and are painful. Give the dog something for the fleas, and it will make your life more tolorable.

Answer 7

Fleas bite in a row several in a straight line usually and you will see fleas, and on your bed and dog flea poop, it looks like black dirt on the skin. Bed bugs is my guess. Fleas are not in season unless they get in your house. Get Frontline for your dog.......if he has Fleas, wash him in Dawn. Wait 3 days and put on the frontline, after fronline dont bathe for about a week or more.

Answer 8

the bed bugs bit while he walks so your gonna find couple of bites one after another with something like few MM between them and it will last for a week put some alcohol on it, and if the infection circle grow bigger cause of aching or alcohol that means it bedbug
but if it's fleas the bites will be separated

Answer 9

If your dog is constantly scratching himself, I'd guess fleas. If your bed is under a window, I'd guess a small spider, especially if the bites are very close together in one spot.

Answer 10

The main difference between the welts left by bed bug bites and those of flea bites are distinguished by their shape. When bed bugs bite, they inject a fluid into the skin that assists them in obtaining blood. Often the fluid causes the skin to become irritated , inflamed and to itch. Elongated, spindle shaped welts develop as a result of the bite. If the bites are on the limbs (arms or legs), these welts will be aligned with the long axis of the limb. This elongated, spindle shape distinguishes the welts from those resulting from mosquito or flea bites.
I add two links with details of this subject

http://www.getridofthings.com/
get-rid-of-bed-bugs.htm

http://www.banishbedbugs.com/
ar/herbs_to_get_rid_of_bed_bugs.php





Hope this helps
matador 89