Sigh, it’s true; humans can get fleas from dogs and other pets. If you’ve ever walked across the carpet in your home and noticed a dark speck on your white socks that suddenly appears then vanishes, there’s a good chance that speck could have been a flea.

While pets undoubtedly enrich our lives in innumerable ways, this close proximity has put us at greater risk for sharing ectoparasites–such as the flea. We spoke to a vet expert on what you need to know about fleas on humans.

Technically yes, a dog flea becomes a human flea, but there’s a caveat. There are thousands of species of fleas, and most animals have a specific type of fleas that prefers that animal as its host. While the flea that dogs typically carry can–and does–jump over to humans and bite us, the dog flea cannot survive on humans.

First, dog fleas need dog blood to eat. Second, humans aren’t hairy enough to provide ample hiding coverage or the warm environment that dog fleas seek in a home.

Most fleas figure this out quickly and will return to your pup or seek a safer spot in your home. This makes treating your home a key part of flea prevention/pest control and not something to overlook.

If you see dark small bugs that hop instead of flying and you find yourself with bites, it is most likely fleas.

Unlike mosquito bites, flea bites remain small. If a flea bites you, you might see one or more of the following:

• Bites that appear as small, red bumps
• A red “halo” around the bite center
• Bites in groups of three or four, or in a straight line
• Bites that appear around the ankles or legs

While not common, fleas can transmit diseases to animals and humans via bites or when swallowed. Diseases include:

• Murine typhus: Cats can come into contact with fleas carrying Murine typhus, which can then transfer to humans via a bite from an infected flea. Symptoms include headache, fever, nausea and body aches.
• Mycoplasma haemofelis: This parasitic bacterial disease is transmitted to cats through flea bites. Humans can get it, too. Signs include lethargy, weight loss, anemia and more.
• Tapeworms: Tapeworms are extremely uncommon in adults; however, children can get infected by accidentally swallowing an infected flea while playing outdoors, per the CDC.
• Cat scratch disease: People typically become infected with Bartonella henselae through bites or scratches of domestic or feral cats (particularly kittens), the CDC reports. Cat scratch disease occurs most often in children under 15. Signs include low-grade fever; enlarged, tender lymph nodes, and a small raised, tender bump at the site of the scratch.

They’re gross to think about because when fleas bite you, they secrete saliva into your bloodstream. That flea saliva triggers your body to release histamine and send it to the bite, which in turn causes itchiness and swelling.

Once you get past the ick factor, simply washing the area with soap and water, applying a topical over-the-counter antihistamine cream as necessary, and avoiding the temptation to scratch will lead to quicker relief and healing.

On a dog, the female flea can lay eggs after enjoying some of your fur baby’s blood. Fortunately, that doesn’t happen to humans and perhaps even more fortunately, fleas cannot live in human hair.