If your dog has fleas, he’s in good company: these tiny bloodsuckers are among the most common parasites in dogs. They cause intense itching and can be very annoying. Learn how to recognize flea infestation in your dog and how to combat these little creatures.
What is a Dog Flea?
Fleas belong to the insect family. The adult insects are brown, with an individual flea measuring 3 millimeters and thus visible to the naked eye. They feed on the blood of their host animals and are not very picky about it. Commonly referred to as dog fleas, human fleas, or even rabbit fleas in colloquial terms, fleas are not host-specific.
There are around 80 flea species in the US. As a dog owner, you mainly have to deal with two of them: the dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis) and the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis). Both flea species infest not only dogs but also cats and humans. Even though the name doesn’t suggest it, the cat flea is more common in dogs than the dog flea.
The Various Stages of Fleas
Only adult fleas are found on the dog’s body. Eggs, larvae, and pupae are scattered throughout the animal’s environment – in nature but also in the home. Fleas have a strong chitinous exoskeleton, and their powerful hind legs enable them to jump up to 50 cm. They can also live indoors and reproduce rapidly.
Fleas are dangerous because, in addition to the annoying itching, they can trigger allergic reactions and even transmit tapeworms. In cases of severe flea infestation, fleas can also jump to humans.
Recognizing and Treating Fleas in Dogs
If your dog has fleas, he will typically show one or more of these symptoms:
- Frequent scratching, nibbling, and licking of the fur
- Restlessness and irritability
- Hair loss
- Sore skin areas due to scratching
- Skin redness and crusts
- Eczema, pustules, and small puncture points on the skin
- Dog biting itself
For diagnosis, the flea check can be helpful:
- Comb the dog with a flea or lice comb.
- Tap the comb on damp, white paper.
- If the crumbs that fall from the comb leave red traces, flea infestation is very likely.
The most effective way to combat fleas is with spot-ons, tablets, or special shampoo from the vet. Regular deworming is also part of anti-flea treatment.
Recognizing Fleas in Dogs
Flea bites can cause intense itching, and your dog will react: sudden starts, self-nibbling, increased scratching, and almost biting itself. These reactions from your dog are clear signs of flea infestation. He will scratch frequently, be restless, and lose hair. Sore skin and redness can also indicate the presence of parasites. Especially when your dog bites itself, it’s a clear sign. The itching is usually unbearable in such cases. If in doubt, consult a veterinarian to be sure.
However, sometimes a dog may not show any symptoms for a long time until the flea population becomes very large. The fight against fleas can then become very prolonged. Close observation and regular flea checks help to detect flea infestation in dogs early. By the way, it’s not a sign of poor hygiene if your dog has fleas.
How Can Your Dog Get Fleas?
There are many situations in which your dog can pick up fleas. These annoying parasites are found in various outdoor locations but can also live in the home. When a host passes by, such as a dog, fleas jump on them. However, the greatest risk of transmission is through direct contact with infested individuals of the same species or other animals.
Flea females lay up to 50 eggs per day on the dog, on average. Flea eggs fall off the dog and lie in the grass, on the carpet, or on the dog’s blanket until optimal conditions for hatching are reached. After about a week, the larvae hatch and burrow into sofa crevices or bushes, where they pupate, protected from light. Fleas emerge after a minimum of ten days. They recognize their host and jump on to start the cycle again.
Repeated flea infestations in your dog are an indication that you still have unwelcome guests in your home, and the only solution is thorough cleaning and vacuuming.
How to Determine If Your Dog Has Fleas
If your dog is scratching more often and possibly biting itself, further examination is necessary. You can perform a flea check on your dog yourself or call the veterinarian.
Important to know: Fleas only reside on your dog during their blood meal and then jump away. Our veterinarian, Dr. Noffke, always says that a flea spends only about 30 minutes per day on the dog. Therefore, it is not practical to search for these small parasites on your dog when suspecting flea infestation.
Instead, you should look for flea feces. Comb your dog’s fur with a very fine comb, available at pet supply stores. Place the combed-out hair and crumbs on damp paper or a tissue. If the crumbs turn reddish, your dog likely has fleas.
Combing the dog with a flea comb
Testing for flea feces
Your Dog Has Fleas: What to Do?
Fleas in dogs can be effectively combated. The duration of flea treatment depends not only on the quantity of fleas but also on the method used and any potential flea resistance.
For acute, severe flea infestations, it is essential to use effective insecticides (tablets, spot-ons, collars, shampoo) prescribed by the veterinarian. Home remedies for fleas in dogs unfortunately work only for mild infestations, and the severity of your dog’s condition or your home is usually hard to determine. Since these pests can reproduce rapidly, it’s advisable not to experiment for long.
Treatment of your dog alone is not sufficient to overcome the flea infestation. Environmental treatment is extremely important! Flea eggs can survive in a warm home for up to 9 months. Therefore, you should:
- Vacuum: Thoroughly vacuum the floor and large furniture, such as the couch. Dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag afterward!
- Wash: Wash all bedding/textiles at a minimum of 60°C; otherwise, you’ll end up with clean fleas.
- Alternatives: Some textiles can be placed in the freezer for two weeks. For textiles that cannot be washed or frozen, periodic treatment with suitable products is recommended.
- Other Pets: If there are other animals in the household, they should also be treated for fleas, even if they are not infested.
- Fogger: In cases of persistent or severe infestation, foggers, also known as bug bombs, are used. These are potent room sprays against fleas, and you should use them in all inhabited rooms. However, during the effective period, neither humans nor animals should be present in the treated spaces. You must also tightly seal aquariums or terrariums. After using a fogger, you should not enter the apartment for 2 hours and then ventilate it thoroughly.
How to Get Rid of Flea Infestation
If you proceed very carefully and consistently, use effective veterinary-prescribed products, and adhere to the specified cycles, you can successfully combat fleas. But honestly, flea control is a lot of work! Thoroughly and regularly scrubbing the entire apartment down to the last nook can be very strenuous, depending on the apartment.
Following flea treatment, we recommend deworming to prevent parasites transmitted by fleas, such as tapeworms.
Preventing Fleas in Dogs
What really helps is preventive treatment with veterinary-prescribed products against fleas and other parasites. We recommend continuous flea treatment throughout the year. That is, how often you need to treat your pet depends entirely on the effectiveness of the chosen preparation! Some spot-ons only work for one month, while tablets often work for three months. It’s best to consult with your veterinarian for advice.
Conclusion on Fleas in Dogs
Fleas are annoying little pests that your dog can get relatively easily but is not so easily rid of. Good prevention with effective products is the best protection for your four-legged friend.
Since these parasites multiply quickly, it is important to promptly and thoroughly combat them in cases of acute flea infestation—even if it means repeating the spring cleaning you did just two weeks ago and washing all textiles that might be infested with fleas at 60 degrees Celsius. The more fleas accumulate, the higher the likelihood that they will jump to humans and trigger allergic reactions. And then, cleaning is the lesser evil.
