How to Spot Fleas on Dogs (and When to Start Flea Treatment)
Fleas on dogs aren’t fun for anyone, least of all your fur family. Understanding the signs of fleas (as well as the basics of flea treatment and flea prevention) can help you keep your dog healthy and happy.
Key takeaways:
Your dog’s behavior will indicate a flea infestation.
Adult fleas on dogs can be spotted with the naked eye, but eggs are too small to see.
Inspect your dog’s skin for evidence of fleas, then remove them with a flea comb.
Treat fleas with special shampoo and a flea collar, then prevent them with topical applications.
The threat of fleas on dogs’ health goes beyond being itchy or irritating. They can give your dog no shortage of problems, including painful bites, scabs, scratching, redness on the skin, and even loss of fur. Worse yet, fleas can cause severe health issues in puppies and elderly dogs. These insects are literal bloodsuckers, and will engorge themselves with more blood than their weight. If your dog has a severe case of fleas, all of those bites can cause a significant loss of blood!
Protect your pup by learning the warning signs of fleas, how to get rid of them, and the steps you can take to prevent them from returning. This article will give you what you need to know to keep your dog safe from these nasty parasites.
Warning signs of fleas on dogs
Fleas may be hard to see with the naked eye, but there are plenty of tell-tale signs your pup has an infestation. Here are some of the ways to tell that your dog is suffering:
Restless behavior: If your dog is scratching a lot and appears to be having a hard time getting comfortable, there may be a flea problem to address.
Patches of missing fur: Many dogs have skin allergies related to fleas. The result? They constantly bite and scratch at flea-bitten areas. This results in patches of missing hair.
Flea dirt or eggs: Flea droppings look just like tiny grains of black pepper. Flea eggs are white and even smaller.
Your dog’s gums: Are your dog’s gums getting paler? This could be due to blood loss from a severe infestation of fleas on dogs. The paleness indicates blood loss, leading to anemia.
Strained or heavy breathing: If your dog is suffering from blood loss, you may notice difficulty breathing. This stems from depleted hemoglobin.
Tapeworms: Tapeworms resembling grains of rice may appear in your dog’s feces. Fleas sometimes get tapeworms in their droppings. Dogs then get tapeworms by inadvertently swallowing the fleas’ tapeworm-infested eggs.
It’s important to know that fleas are so small – just 1/16th to 1/8th of an inch in length – that they are difficult to spot. Their natural color is a dark brown, so they easily blend into dog’s fur, but they are lighter in color if they are filled with blood.
Fleas are also astonishing jumpers and very fast. Their eggs are even smaller in size and harder to see, and they each lay 20 to 50 eggs daily. That means your pup is likely covered with eggs by the time you find adult fleas!
How to find fleas on dogs
Finding fleas on dogs involves knowing where to look. Fleas like to gather in the warmer parts of your dog’s fur. Places like armpits and reproductive areas offer excellent hiding places for these troublesome pests.
For a flea inspection, gently roll your dog onto their back. You’ll then want to do the following:
Carefully inspect the base of the tail.
Look through the belly and crotch fur.
Inspect the armpits.
Check inside the ears.
While you are looking for fleas on dogs, look for signs of raw skin, redness, and dirt. If your dog has been scratching excessively, the skin in these areas may be bumpy or red due to irritation. Your dog’s skin may also have scabbing or tiny black spots, both from the constant itching.
Use a comb to find hidden fleas
A more reliable way of searching for fleas is by combing. Simple flea combs have very fine teeth that help separate the fleas from your dog’s fur and are available at any pet store. Begin combing through your dog’s fur, as close to the skin as possible. One trick is to place a piece of white paper next to where you are combing. This increases your chances of seeing fleas and flea droppings as they are combed out.
To keep fleas from getting away during combing, dip the comb into the soapy water between passes. This will keep them from escaping to terrorize your dog again.
Treating your dog for fleas
Traditional methods of tackling the flea problem include flea collars and flea shampoos. Use a pet-safe flea shampoo to give your dog a good bath. Be sure to clean your dog’s ears and the other areas where fleas like to collect.
To stop the fleas from simply leaving your dog and hiding out in your home, your car, or even on you, do a thorough cleaning. Vacuum and wash all floors. Clean and wash all fabrics, especially bed sheets and blankets your pup likes to snuggle in. Use plenty of hot water to kill the pests while cleaning. Finish off by using a flea fogger or similar product to eradicate the fleas from all inside areas of your home.
Your yard will also need flea treatment. Find a pet-friendly, non-toxic flea treatment and coat all areas of your grass. Keep your lawn cut short to reduce the hiding places for fleas.
Moving forward
The most effective way to treat these pests is flea prevention. Ask your veterinarian about flea medication, as well as the available pills and topical solutions.
A monthly routine care and grooming plan also helps keep your dog clean and healthy. Our staff are experts in dog grooming and check your pup’s coat for issues like fleas or other pests at routine care and grooming visits. We’ll keep you in the loop with our S.C.E.N.T. Check™ report so you can stay on top of any small problems before they turn into big problems.
Find the Scenthound location near you!