Fleas aren’t simply annoying for canines. These small blood-sucking parasites may cause severe well being points, together with spreading tapeworms (to pets and people) and inflicting anemia within the case of a extreme flea infestation. Fleas are good at avoiding detection, however there are indicators you could search for, together with flea dust and extreme itching.
Signs of Fleas on Dogs
It’s a scary thought, however solely round 5 % of canine fleas are literally grownup fleas — the remaining are in numerous phases of the flea life cycle (eggs, larvae and pupae). The immature flea life phases could be discovered within the cracks between hardwood, laminate or flooring coverings, in bedding or upholstered furnishings. Eww!
Fleas are arduous to seek out, but when your canine has fleas, you could discover that they’re itchy and extra stressed than normal, and are licking, scratching or chewing (like they’re consuming a corn cob) in particular areas. Other signs embody hair loss or bald spots as a result of extreme licking and chewing, and your canine’s pores and skin could also be bumpy from all the scratching.
Can You See Fleas on Dogs?
When you search for fleas in your canine, it’s essential to be fast since fleas transfer quick and could be arduous to identify. These tiny parasites are just one/16 to 1/8 inch tall and are darkish brown, though they change into lighter in coloration as they begin to ingest blood. Typically, you may solely spot fleas simply if a canine has a extreme flea infestation.
If you believe you studied your canine has fleas, verify the armpits and groin first. Adult fleas love to cover in these areas as a result of they’re heat and guarded. Next, verify your canine’s tummy, the place the hair is normally thinner and fleas are simpler to identify.
How to Tell If Your Dog Has Fleas
As we talked about, fleas themselves could be arduous to identify in typical circumstances, so an alternate is to search for flea dust (flea droppings) that are darkish specks of digested blood that appear like pepper on the canine’s fur or pores and skin. Using a flea comb, accumulate the suspected flea dust and place it on a moist, white paper towel. If it’s flea dust, the digested blood within the flea feces will flip the paper towel crimson.
What Do Flea Eggs Look Like on a Dog?
Flea eggs are even tougher to identify than grownup fleas on canines, particularly in case your canine has light-colored fur. They are tiny, whitish, oval-shaped specks that resemble a grain of salt. If you do see some, you may suppose flea eggs are simply dried pores and skin flakes.
Dog Flea Bites Can Cause Allergies
Fleas are one of the crucial widespread causes of allergy symptoms in canines, and the difficulty can begin from only one flea chew. Some canines are allergic to flea saliva and might develop flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) from flea bites. For canines with FAD, pores and skin reactions are sometimes seen alongside their decrease again, thighs, decrease stomach and forelegs. All of the licking and scratching can irritate the canine’s pores and skin and create openings the place micro organism and yeast can enter, resulting in secondary infections.
If your canine has flea allergy dermatitis, it’s crucial to remove fleas with a flea remedy and use drugs to forestall fleas from reinfesting your canine sooner or later. Dogs with FAD may want different remedies to assuage irritated pores and skin and deal with secondary infections.
How to Treat Fleas on Dogs
If your canine has fleas, buy a flea comb that’s particularly designed to take away fleas, in addition to flea larvae and eggs, out of your canine’s coat. Brush your canine’s fur, ensuring to brush as shut the pores and skin as doable to seize the fleas. As you’re combing, do away with any fleas you discover by dunking the comb in a bucket of soapy water. Some flea infestations may want prescription remedy or medical shampoos to kill the fleas. And as a result of fleas are additionally in your canine’s atmosphere, don’t neglect to deal with the within of your property as nicely. It can take three or extra months to fully rid a house of fleas.
Year-Round Flea Prevention Is Key
Fleas could also be most lively in hotter months, however they’ll stay an issue all year long in lots of areas. Along with topical, oral, collar or different preventative flea drugs on your canine, there are some easy issues you are able to do round the home to do away with fleas and stop a flea infestation.
- Keep grass trimmed round the home to manage the atmosphere your canine walks via
- Regularly wash your canine’s bedding
- Vacuum carpets, upholstered furnishings and cracks within the flooring repeatedly, and get rid of the contents in a sealed bag so the fleas can’t escape again into your property.
While outside canines usually have extra publicity to fleas than indoor canines, it’s nonetheless doable for indoor canines to change into infested by visiting canine parks, boarding or grooming services or simply going potty in areas which can be uncovered to wildlife or different pets with fleas. So flea prevention is necessary, even when your canine spends most of their time indoors. And do not forget that if one pet has fleas, all pets within the family ought to be handled for fleas.
If you’re involved about your canine having fleas, your veterinarian is the very best useful resource to assist carry them some aid.