Question about flea transmission

[Chickerdoodle13]

I've been staying with a family for an internship and I noticed that along with some bad poison ivy, I was also getting itchy insect bites on my feet and ankles. The people I am staying with have three dogs and all three are constantly itching from what I am fairly certain are fleas.

I am very much looking forward to returning home (unfortunately the internship was a bit disappointing) but I'm worried about bringing the fleas with me home. How likely are they to be in things like my suitcase or on my clothes? I don't let the dogs in the room I am staying in but the family has carpet so who knows how many fleas are living there.

Should I wash all my clothes when I get home and put them in garbage bags? What about my suitcase? I hate insects and do not want to transmit these to my dog and cat at home.

 

[trailchick]

Where did you get the poison ivy?
If you were scampering out in the woods where the poison ivy was, there are critters
called chiggers that could have bitten you. the bites could/would swell up and itch just like a mosquito bite.
Takes sometimes a week or two to heal up. These little guys , you never see, but they do tend to get into the tighter areas of your clothes, which if you had socks or tight shoes could be getting you. they also get into the waistband area, underwear seams,
etc.

If your host family had fleas you would probably see the little jumpers on the carpet or floor
area. Fleas will lay their eggs normally on the body they have infested. Then they hatch into larva/larvae.
Flea bites will also cause swelling and redness.

Do some more thought on where you have been, research chigger (sorry, dont know the scientific name)
and search for all other alternatives, then search for fleas that may have infested the home. IF fleas are biting you I think you would see them hopping.

Sorry your internship did not go as well as it could have.
Good Luck to you, Chicker!

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Thanks trail chick!

I've had chigger bites before and man those things were nasty! It happened during my first week of college and I had a particularly nasty reaction! The poison ivy has been pretty similar in itchiness!

These bites are not nearly as itchy and seem to go away after a few days. The chigger bites took almost three weeks! I've definitely seen little bugs on the lighter colored dog, but the two dogs that come inside are constantly scratching. This just seems to be a common issues here in NC due to the warmer weather, but not one I want to bring home!

I looked at the carpet, but it's darker colored and difficult to see if anything is there. I guess I am just curious what the risks are of bringing fleas home and infesting my dog and house if these people's dogs have them. I did throw my clean clothes in the dryer on high and then put them in sealed garbage bags. I read that was a good option. I figure maybe I can spray the empty suitcase with flea killer and then just wash the other clothes. I've heard horror stories about bed bugs and how easy they are to pass on (thank goodness they don't have those! I checked several times) and with my limited flea experience and worried parents, I wasn't sure if they were as easily passed.