Fleas are parasites and can transmit virus and disease from one animal to another. Because they feed on the blood of their host, any bacteria or virus present in the blood of one host can be spread to that of another.
Although fleas do not transmit heart worms to dogs and cats, they can transmit tapeworms and other maladies. Not only can flea bites transmit disease, but they can make an animal miserable with the itching and scratching that are associated with it.
Scratching flea bites can also lead to bleeding and open wounds which can develop into infections that may spread to other parts of the body.
It is easy to control flea infestation and reduce animal suffering by using modern topical flea medication. These medications may be obtained over-the-counter or through your veterinarian and can quickly get a flea infestation under control.