Fleas or Bedbugs? What to do?

This is a first for me. Long time sitter.
Just got to new sit yesterday.
Just woke up with bites all over my ankles.
I’m very allergic to any bug bites.
A
The house is not clean.
What to do? I can’t stay and continue to be eaten alive.

Contact both the HO and member services immediately. Take pics of the bites and let them know that you can’t stay. Tell them that you are moving to a hotel but that you’ll be back to feed/walk/care for the pet over the next 24 hours until the HO can figure out a replacement for you.

I can put up with a lot but i’m SUPER sensitive to bug bites as I once had a bad exposure so now my body is on high alert. I would have to leave immediately.

Bag up your stuff and try to move to somewhere with laundry so you can treat your belongings for any hitch hikers.

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I would check the bed thoroughly. If bed-bugs you would find small black spots for instance along seams etc on the mattress.

It could be fleas from pets (do they scratch a lot, the pets?) or it could be what we call «bird fleas» that can come in the linen, drying on clothes lines outside or also through the open window on a windy day, should there be nests nearby.

What it is will have impact on what to do and how serious it is. «Bird fleas» can bite but do not live on human blood and will die, so just wash the linen, if from pets they should have a wash with flea shampoo while bed bugs is a totally different matter - be careful so you don’t bring them with you when you leave. Don’t unpack luggage, keep suitcase closed and don’t put it on the bed. Extreme measure - leave it in the bathing tub (no water, though :smiley: )

And of course member service as mentioned above.

Hi @Ctaylorgodwin
That’s terrible. I too am super allergic to bites so feel your pain.
I wouldn’t stay either tbh but bed bugs are easier to deal with than fleas. You can get a mattress encasement that the mattress goes into and is sealed. This keeps the bugs from you. You’ll probably need to wash the bedding now though.
Fleas will need treatment for the pets and the whole area the pets have been.
Definitely talk to the HO and THS support regarding this.

Is it for a cat sit or dogs

If the bites are only around your ankles then then it could be midges or mosquitos, depending on where you are in the world.

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@Popidol
Thats a good call. Fleas or bedbugs would bite all over so you could be correct.

It’s a dog sit in Colorado.
I’ve reached out to the HO.

Mosquitos are active in Colorado in October. As above, if it’s only your ankles then unlikely to be fleas or bedbugs. Have you been using insect repellent?

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want to delete.