Flea external parasite commonly found on companion animals

• A. Flea
• B. Tick
• C. Mite
• D. Louse

Answer: (A)

Fleas are small, wingless insects that live on dogs and cats, feeding on their blood. They’re extremely common on companion animals and can survive in the home environment, reproducing rapidly and spreading between animals. This makes them the typical external parasite veterinarians encounter most often. Fleas differ from other ectoparasites in several ways: ticks are larger, attach firmly to the skin and feed for longer periods; mites are usually much smaller and often cause irritation or mange; lice are wingless insects that cling to hair shafts and feed on skin debris. The flea’s ability to jump helps it move quickly from one animal or environment to another, and their bites can cause itching, allergic dermatitis, anemia in heavy infestations, and they can transmit tapeworms when a pet ingests an infected flea. All of these reasons explain why fleas are the most representative external parasite found on companion animals.