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Can Parakeets get fleas like a dog or cat? For the past several days I have noticed tiny little itchy spots on my legs and feet which remind me of flea bites. I have never seen any on him or in the carpet or furiture. Maybe it's just something outside, but I'm getting a little concerned. I've had him since last September and have never noticed anything before. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Birds can have mites, which are little blood sucking creatures. These mites can seriously hurt a bird if left untreated.

If you put a white cloth over the cage at night, you should be able to see some tiny red dots on it in the morning especially if you have a few folds in it for them to hide - or a white piece of paper on the cage bottom may reveal the same results (look under the paper).

Fleas cannot live on birds - or so I have been told! Unfortunately, you can have fleas in your home without having a furry pet. They come in on clothes and shoes when we step through grass or any other spot where one is waiting to hitch a ride. Fortunately, the fleas will not have a living host on which to lay eggs. If you are having a long term problem, then you may have an outdoor flea problem (usually due to outdoor pets in the neighborhood or area that move freely through your yard. That is much harder to control. I face that problem as I spend much of my time at the barn where I keep my horses and return home to walk through the lawn through which MANY outdoor pets pass. My indoor cat used to have the wonderful luxury of being the depositing spot until I started treating her with Frontline each month. You can treat your yard - but it may be only temporary relief if you have lots of outdoor pets where you live. Best of luck getting rid of those fellas!