How does fleas look like on dogs

Fleas are irritating, but they can also cause some more serious complications in dogs, which is why flea control and prevention is so important.

The three biggest concerns are:. Flea allergy dermatitis is the most common skin disease in American dogs. The disease occurs when a dog has an allergic reaction to flea saliva and leads to itchiness, irritation, hair loss, scaly skin, and secondary skin infections.

Fleas have voracious appetites. They can consume up to 15 times their own body weight in blood a day, which is basically the equivalent of a pound human eating 1, pounds of food in 24 hours.

Not surprisingly, this blood loss can lead to anemia in heavily infested dogs, especially puppies. Dogs ingest fleas while biting at an itchy spot or grooming themselves or another dog. Unfortunately, these flea-sized snacks can contain another unwanted parasite: tapeworms.

Luckily, tapeworms are easy to treat and are not usually harmful. If your dog has irritating flea bites, the first thing you should do is call your vet. Flea allergy dermatitis is very uncomfortable for dogs, and your vet will help control the symptoms of flea allergy dermatitis while you come up with a flea removal plan. Even if your dog does not have flea allergy dermatitis, the best way to treat flea bites is still, of course, to get rid of fleas.

Talk to your vet about the best flea removal plan for your dog and household. In the meantime, discourage your dog from getting on furniture and especially discourage him from sleeping in your bed, and do some research about the best ways to get rid of fleas. When it comes to fleas, prevention is definitely your best option. There are many choices out there, from pills and collars to prescription applications.

If you see tiny white segments that look like small grains of rice near where your dog sleeps or sits, this could mean your dog has fleas. Fleas are just as happy to bite humans as they are other animals. If you have flea bites, you might see a small cluster of little red bites or a series of itchy bites in a line. If you find fleas on your dog, you want to get rid of them as fast as you can.

Let the lather remain in your dog's coat for five minutes, then rinse with clean water. The fleas should start falling off your dog. This will kill adult fleas and prevent eggs from hatching for 30 days. This treatment is quick and easy to apply, preventing fleas and ticks from "re-infesting" your dog for up to 30 days. Your dog can pick up fleas all over again if you don't treat your yard too.

Don't forget to treat your home as well, since fleas can live in the carpet and other parts of your house. You have many options to choose from, like indoor foggers , carpet spray or carpet powder , and home spray. If you want to invest in flea treatment now, here's a look at where Adams products are sold. Aside from making your dog feel pretty miserable, fleas can also pose a health hazard. Your dog's constant scratching can irritate the skin, which can lead to infection. Since dogs can get fleas any time of the year, you need to be on your guard no matter what the season.

Adult female fleas can start laying eggs within 24 hours of infesting your dog and can produce up to 50 eggs per day. Eggs can scatter, falling off your dog wherever it goes, spreading the flea infestation throughout your home. Flea larvae then hatch from the eggs, hiding in dark places, deep in carpet, bedding or in cracks in the flooring where they feed on flea dirt and develop into pupae.

The flea life cycle is completed when adult fleas emerge from pupae, ready to jump onto a passing host. Adult fleas on the belly of a dog. The skin on the belly, groin, or base of the tail is frequently affected by flea bites, which can look like a red and bumpy rash on dogs. When adult female fleas lay eggs, they actually fall off the animal into the environment.

They are very small, light coloured and oval. Flea larvae look like tiny worms, with a white-ish body and pale coloured hairs. They are around mm long and live in the environment e. Adult female flea and a recently laid egg. Flea dirt is another name for flea faeces which they produce after taking a blood meal. Message us. Discover our range of dog food. Buy Now. What are dog fleas? How do I spot dog fleas? What do dog fleas look like? How do I treat dog fleas?

Spot-ons These products are the simplest and most effective way of treating and preventing dog fleas. Puppies with fleas: prevention and treatment Puppies are busy growing up which means their defence mechanisms are still developing. How to prevent fleas on puppies There is no magic solution that guarantees your puppy will be flea-free forever. But if you want to keep fleas at bay as much as possible, here are some of the best tips for your puppy: Wash their bedding regularly Minimise their contact with stray animals Brush the puppy regularly Use flea control solutions recommended by the vet How to treat a puppy with fleas The best thing an owner can do is to ask the vet before choosing any over-the-counter flea treatment for their puppy.

Non-veterinary approved dog flea treatments Some dog flea treatment products claim to contain natural ingredients such as oil of citronella and eucalyptus.