Can flea larvae live in dog or cat feces?

Summary

Flea larvae don’t live in dog or cat feces. Fleas are ectoparasites. They live on the skin of their host, not inside the host’s body. When pet owners find worms in their pet’s poop, they’re dealing with an internal parasite. Common examples are roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, or whipworms.

Details

Flea Larvae don’t Live Pet Feces

Cat fleas are ectoparasites. This means they live on their host’s skin, not in their body. Females lay eggs on a host’s fur. The eggs then fall off within a couple of hours. They get dispersed in the environment wherever the infested animal roams. The eggs then hatch into larvae. In homes, most flea larvae live deep within carpet fibers.

Flea eggs can’t incubate within the intestinal tracks of animals, even if they get consumed. They’ll be destroyed by digestive process. Cat flea eggs are more fragile than eggs of other insects.

Flea Larvae don’t Consume Pet Feces

Cat flea larvae don’t eat dog or cat poop. They were once thought to consume host feces and organic debris, but this has been refuted by more recent feeding trials. Flea larvae feed almost exclusively on dried fecal blood from adult fleas, and conspecific eggs.

Parasites that Live in Pet Feces

Internal Parasites

Parasites which live in dog or cat feces include roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and whipworms. These are internal parasites (as opposed to ectoparasites).

Fleas can Transmit Tapeworm

Cat fleas can be intermediate hosts for tapeworms that affect dogs and cats. The larvae may ingest tapeworm eggs while grazing for food in their environment. Upon maturing into adult fleas, they’ll remain infected with the tapeworm. If dogs or cats consume the tapeworm-infected flea, they may become the new host for the worm.

References