If you have noticed that your pet is scratching more than usual lately, this might be one of the signs of fleas on dogs or another more serious condition. Whatever the condition might be, you should seek treatment from a vet immediately to help your pet avoid any further suffering. The different types of conditions that can cause itching include allergies, fungal infections, bacterial infections, internal parasites and external parasites such as fleas.
About Fleas on Dogs
Fleas prefer to feast on pets, although it is not uncommon for them to make a meal of people if the opportunity presents itself. An environment overrun with fleas is typically at its worst if the space was previously occupied by another animal with fleas and then left vacant. Thousands of young fleas that have recently hatched will be eager to eat.
The vacant space may be a home or apartment, a dog house, kennel, or dog crate. Once the fleas find their way to your pet, they will bounce on and off the dog whenever the urge to feast strikes. Fortunately there are several signs of fleas on dogs that are easy to spot and several way to get rid of fleas.
Signs of Fleas on Dogs
Fleas do not have wings, so they are much more difficult to detect by sight than gnats and winged pests; you may have to do a little detective work and pay close attention to your pets behavior. If you notice that your pet is scratching uncontrollably and you suspect fleas, do the following:
- Place your dog on a white towel and part the hair.
- Take a comb and begin combing away from the skin, allowing hair and particles to fall to onto the towel.
- If you see little black specks that look like pepper, take a damp paper towel and pat them.
- If the flecks turn red, you have just uncovered flea dirt. After feasting on dogs, fleas excrete flea dirt which is just another term for ‘blood.”
In addition to violent scratching and biting all over and finding flea dirt, other signs of fleas on dogs include:
- hives
- rashes
- trauma to skin folds
- swelling of the skin
Rashes may consists of small, itchy bumps that bleed. They maybe found on the knees, elbows or ankles. Trauma to skin folds near the dogs groin or breasts and swelling is typically found near the areas with the most bites and sores. It is important to note that swelling and bleeding might also be a result of a secondary skin infection caused by scratching and biting the skin.
Treating Fleas on Dogs
Treating fleas on dogs begins with treating the entire environment. If you treat your pet and fleas are still hiding on furniture, rugs, and bedding, your pet be subject to a vicious cycle of being cleared of fleas and re-infected over and over again. Before treating your home, you should isolate your pet. If at all possible, your pet may be treated off-site while your home is being treated. There are several routes to take when treating your pet. Your veterinarian can offer prescription grade treatments such as pills or topical lotions including Advantage, Program or Frontline.
To treat the home, you must get rid of all bedding and rugs, and steam clean carpet and upholstery. If you cannot part with any items, you must wash them in hot scalding water to make sure the fleas do not survive. If you still detect fleas after treating your home, you should consider hiring an interior and exterior exterminator.