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Identifying Fleas in Dogs – How to Act Right!

By Sarah Welsh
Published on 01/07/2024
Reviewed by Dr. Monica Sanders

Understanding the Occurrence and Development of Fleas

Fleas exist in nature, primarily in grass, meadows, and bushes. Although their “natural” habitat is outdoors, they can also be present in large numbers in homes and indoor spaces. Here, they wait for a suitable host to pass by and jump on them. These bloodsuckers, about three millimeters in size, have an incredible jumping ability of up to one meter horizontally and 25 centimeters vertically!

Fleas are brownish in color, have a very narrow and flat body, are wingless, and possess six legs, classifying them as insects. Noticeable are their long, powerful hind legs, which provide them with the remarkable jumping ability. To protect against predators, the flea’s body is made of chitin, making it “armored.”

Did you know that there are thousands of different flea species worldwide? The relevant fleas for us include the dog flea (Ctenocephalides cani), cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis), and, of course, the human flea (Pulex irritans). Unfortunately, fleas do not adhere to these designations, making the cat flea the most common flea found on dogs! Dog fleas, on the other hand, are relatively rare.

Can Dog Fleas Be Transmitted to Humans?

If a dog is heavily infested with fleas or the dog’s host is not present, dog and cat fleas can easily infest humans. However, humans are not their primary choice, and they are considered a so-called incorrect host for a short period.

Rapid Reproduction and Spread of Fleas

A female flea lays eggs after its first blood meal. An individual flea in a dog’s fur can lay between 27 to 50 eggs per day on average. The eggs are smooth and subsequently fall off the dog. They are found in the grass or on your carpets and other textiles until optimal conditions for hatching occur: at around 25 °C and 80% humidity. After about a week, numerous larvae hatch and burrow, as they are sensitive to light, into places like sofa crevices or deep into your carpets, where they pupate in a cocoon.

Their time comes at the earliest after 10 days: they recognize the right moment through warmth, CO2 increase, and vibrations caused by their potential host. They hatch and jump out of their cocoon with a big leap to infest dogs, cats, or humans. The cycle repeats. Flea infestation can also occur through direct transfer of parasites from one dog to another. However, since fleas depend on their hosts for survival, risking a jump into the “unknown” is relatively rare. Another reservoir host in our latitudes is the hedgehog.

Initially, if only ten fleas are on your dog, up to 500 eggs per day may have already been laid, and soon larvae may have settled comfortably in your carpets, dog beds, cushions, pillows, and textiles. Hatched larvae can survive there for up to six months without a blood meal.

In an apartment – especially with multiple animals – a flea invasion can quickly occur in this way, making it challenging to contain. Therefore, it’s better to take preventive measures in time and act promptly in case of a mild flea infestation!

Caution with Fleas in Winter – Tips against Flea Infestation

During the cold season, fleas seek the warmth of residential buildings and are brought in by wild animals to basements, attics, or sheds. Protect your dog against flea infestation even in winter! Natural spot-on preparations provide protection for up to four weeks, while flea collars last around five months. Flea powder can free your already infested dog from these annoying fur inhabitants.

Also, remember to treat the environment, such as the sleeping area, with insect sprays to prevent fleas from further nesting. Subsequent deworming of your dog is crucial because fleas can transmit worms. If flea infestation persists, a visit to the veterinarian is necessary. You can find suitable products for pest protection in our online shop.

Identifying Fleas in Dogs — Source: Freepik

How to Recognize Fleas on Your Dog

The first sign of a flea infestation is intense itching caused by the saliva of the biting and sucking flea, followed by persistent scratching by the dog. Some dogs may bite or nibble on areas affected by fleas.

Detecting a flea infestation on a dog is not always easy. Not every dog scratches intensely or frequently enough for it to be noticeable to the dog owner. Additionally, discovering fleas in dense fur is often a matter of pure luck. Therefore, with a low initial infestation, you may not notice the unwelcome pests – with potentially disastrous consequences of a later flea invasion!

To find out if your dog has fleas, perform a simple test:

You’ll need a so-called flea comb – a fine and closely spaced specialized comb – and a damp, light-colored cloth or kitchen paper.
Comb the dog’s fur against the direction of growth and then tap the comb on the damp cloth.
If you see black-brown particles, crush them on the damp cloth.
If the dark crumbs turn rust-brown to reddish or form a red ring around the crumb, it is flea feces (digested blood) excreted by fleas after a blood meal. By the way, flea larvae also feed on this feces.
If the dark particles do not change color, they are regular dirt from your dog’s fur.

Where Do Fleas Prefer to Sit on Dogs?

Flea bites can theoretically be found anywhere on the dog’s body in the case of a severe infestation. You can often identify them by multiple bites closely following each other, referred to as a “flea ladder.” Preferred areas on the dog include spots where the skin is thinner, such as around the ears, the belly, or the inner thighs.

Ending the Flea Circus: Effectively Combatting and Preventing Fleas in Dogs!

As soon as you notice a mild flea infestation on your dog, you can assume that there is also a massive infestation of fleas and larvae in your pet’s environment. Insect researchers estimate that only five percent of fleas live on their host, while the remaining 95 percent are distributed in the animal’s surroundings as eggs, larvae, and pupae. This not only means that only a relatively small number of fleas are sitting on the dog for bloodsucking, but also that caring for the dog’s environment is of utmost importance.

In the case of an existing flea infestation, treating the dog with preventive measures such as special collars and spot-on preparations is not sufficient. When applied retrospectively, they cause the fleas to leave your pet but remain in the environment, ready to infest your dog again or settle for you as a temporary host.

First Step: Eliminating Adult Fleas and Their Offspring

Therefore, in the case of a current flea infestation, a highly effective veterinary preparation is the only permanent solution to the flea problem. This should include insecticides that kill adult fleas (special shampoos, flea powder, sprays). However, even the best insecticide cannot kill all adult female fleas. Therefore, you should also use an insect growth regulator that destroys the eggs.

To be effective, the combination of both preparations must be applied at the intervals specified in the product description. Veterinary advice is essential because these are toxic substances. If other animals live in your household, they must also be treated – as appropriate to their species with potentially different preparations!

Fleas in Dogs: Do Fleas Go Away During Bathing?

If you notice fleas on your dog, a thorough bath is definitely beneficial, as it can wash off at least some of the fleas from the dog’s body. However, since only a small percentage of fleas are actually on your dog during a flea infestation, while the rest lurk in the environment, this measure is only moderately effective. To permanently get rid of fleas in dogs, you will need to treat them with a suitable medical flea product.

Second Step: Eradicating Flea Offspring in the Environment

To definitively interrupt the flea development cycle, the entire environment of the animal must be made flea-free. You can achieve this by strictly adhering to the following measures:

Actions in Case of Flea Infestation:

Daily wet mopping of all floors and corners, as well as vacuuming all carpets and upholstery. Subsequently, remove the dust bag and dispose of it immediately. You can also treat the dust bag with an anti-flea powder.
Frequent washing of dog blankets, bed pad covers, pillows/pillowcases, and, if necessary, chemical cleaning of sofa covers.
Don’t forget your pet’s stuffed animals.
If your four-legged friend sleeps in your bed – and it cannot be avoided – daily changing of bed linen is essential.
Wash all textiles at a minimum of 60 degrees Celsius.
Treat your dog’s resting areas and textiles with a special anti-flea powder or an environment spray available from your veterinarian. There, you should also get detailed information about the application (definitely not on the dog!).
Foggers are room sprays that kill fleas, eggs, and larvae. They are placed in the living space and automatically activate. During this time, you and all pets should leave the room or apartment for at least two hours and then ventilate thoroughly. Foggers are used in case of a severe infestation.
Remember to “fumigate” the garage, car, storage rooms, and the like.

Be sure to persist for three months to eliminate any chance for eggs and larvae!

Third Step: Preventive Measures

Only a tightly woven prophylaxis will spare you these elaborate and costly measures to combat a severe flea infestation. Therefore, it is all the more crucial to start with the administration of specific antiparasitic agents such as spot-ons or flea dog collars parallel to the flea treatment. However, the best choice is an antiparasitic with a repellent (deterrent) or so-called knock-down effect, preventing the flea from biting in the first place. This mode of action is particularly important for dogs with flea saliva allergies. The chosen product should be fast-acting and, as far as possible, gentle on the dog.

Seek veterinary advice, as these are also toxic insecticides.

Dog Has Fleas: Home Remedies

Unfortunately, home remedies alone usually do not suffice to get fleas under control when there is an acute infestation. However, they can support medical treatment and are particularly suitable as a preventive measure against a recurring flea infestation.

One of the most well-known home remedies against fleas in dogs is coconut oil. Due to its scent being very unpleasant for fleas, mites, and other parasites, it has a natural deterrent effect. The lauric acid in coconut oil can also break down the protective chitin layer of fleas. Regularly rubbing your dog with coconut oil can help prevent a flea infestation.

Another chemical-free home remedy that is believed to help against fleas in dogs is neem oil. The oil, derived from the seeds of the Asian neem tree (Azadirachta indica), has long been considered a remedy in Ayurveda. It can be used both soothingly and disinfectingly for existing bites or stings, as well as prophylactically for parasite defense. However, note that the intense odor of neem oil may be unpleasant for the sensitive nose of your dog.

Before using home remedies against fleas on your dog, always consult with your trusted veterinarian!

Fleas in Dogs

Fleas are small and nasty. They bite, scratch, itch, suck blood, and can trigger allergies. Fleas are even carriers of tapeworms and do not spare humans either.

Fleas Transmit Diseases – What You Can Do Against It!

Fleas are infected with the tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum) and transmit it when bitten or swallowed by the dog. Therefore, a deworming treatment is indispensable after the flea treatment!
The saliva of fleas, which enters the dog’s body during the blood meal, causes a serious allergy called flea dermatitis in some dogs, especially when flea infestation is severe.

Symptoms of flea allergy may include:

Frequent and intense scratching and biting of oneself
Sore skin areas and edemas
Hair loss on the lower back, hind legs, or at the base of the tail
Redness and skin changes like so-called “hot spots” (hot, red skin areas), especially at the base of the back and the insides of the thighs/hind legs
Red puncture points surrounded by a reddened halo
In extreme cases: Behavioral changes (nervousness, fearfulness, aggressiveness) caused by persistent itching and painful inflammations

Therapy for Flea Allergy

The top priority is flea control on the dog and in its environment using specific veterinary medications. Prophylaxis with spot-on preparations or flea collars only works if they have a repellent effect.

iHugDogs Expert Tip:
“Allergy to flea saliva is one of the common triggers for allergies in dogs and cats. It is enough for an animal to be bitten by a flea once. Even if the flea does not stay on the animal, an allergic reaction can develop. So, your pet doesn’t have to have fleas, but can still suffer from flea saliva allergy.”