You’ve noticed some extra scratching, some sudden nipping at his own legs or haunches. Have you recently come to the realization, “My dog has fleas”? It happens. Even if you take the proper precautions, your pet is at risk for getting fleas. These hitchhikers can drop onto your dog, unseen, at any time. Show And, because fleas live in long patches of grass in gardens and forests, your pet is exposed more often than you might think. Fleas thrive in hot, humid conditions, so they are most active during the spring and summer months. But, unfortunately, these pests are hardy — and tricky. During the wintertime, they can live indoors on warm hosts. How to tell if your dog has fleas“If your pet shows signs of restlessness, scratching, licking or biting himself, fleas could be the cause,” says Sandra Bonom, the owner of The Hairy Barker Inn and Spa in Darien, CT. But one surefire way to check if your dog has fleas is to get him wet. Fleas hate baths, and, just like in cartoons, you’ll see the tiny black pests jumping for their lives once you immerse them in water. You can investigate further by combing through your pet’s fur with your fingers to expose the skin and look for fleas or flea excrement, says Lisa Hartman, a dog trainer and pet expert who serves as the editor and publisher of Hamptons Dog magazine. “Fleas are black and leave trails of black specks in their path,” she says. What to do if you or your kids have flea bitesYou may suspect that your dog has fleas if you, your kids or anyone else in your house suddenly gets little clusters of tiny, itchy bites. While the size and location of these bites can vary, concentrated pockets of bug bites on the ankles are usually a telltale sign that fleas are at work. Fortunately, infections from flea bites are rare, and, unlike ticks and mosquitoes, fleas are not known to carry diseases. If you or your children get flea bites, you should treat them in the same way you would treat mosquito bites. Apply cool compresses and hydrocortisone cream. In cases of extreme itching, you can use an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen, as well. What to do if your dog has fleasThere are various steps that you should take to get rid of your dog’s fleas. “Start by bathing your dog with a natural pesticide-based shampoo,” says Bonom. In order for this shampoo to be effective, you must leave it on your dog for at least five minutes before rinsing it off. Then, you should comb through your dog’s fur while it’s still wet to make sure all the fleas are gone. During this process, be sure to check the places fleas can hide, such as around the ears, tail and feet, Hartman adds. Most importantly, as Bonom points out, thorough flea removal involves more than just tackling the fleas living on your dog. “The fleas need to be removed from your pet’s living space or they will re-infect your pet,” she says. Fleas nest and breed in bedding, furniture and carpeting, which means that anything in your house that’s cushioned and out of sight needs to be treated with a flea-killing product. Your dog’s toys and the area in, under and around where he sleeps need to be treated, too. And don’t forget to spray in your car and yard, reminds Bonom. A wide range of flea-killing products are available, including a variety of inexpensive, all-natural options. Before you decide to purchase a particular product, make sure to take the time to read all the labels. Remember: You’re putting this product where you, your kids, and your pets sleep! After you have gone through this process, you should vacuum all the carpeted areas of your house. In an effort to avoid re-infestation, Bonom suggests that you keep a flea collar in your vacuum bag. If you’re unwilling or unable to perform these flea removal tasks, you should call a professional pest control service. How to prevent dogs from getting fleasIn order to prevent your dog from getting fleas, never skip his monthly flea and tick treatments or flea collar replacement. And be especially vigilant if your pet likes to go on long walks or spends time at dog parks, day care or boarding facilities with other dogs. When you do take your dog for a walk, try not to let her sniff around small bushes, long grasses and unmanicured areas, as these types of spots are flea and tick domains! And, as Hartman reminds, it’s important to “recheck your pets after every outing, as each time may bring new fleas.” If you have treated your dog for fleas but she still gets bitten, you should consider switching to another product. For a natural deterrent, you can even try fighting bugs with bugs. According to Hartman, “bugs such as ladybugs eat fleas,” so you should “welcome them with open arms. You can even buy them and sprinkle them around your plants.” And read How to Protect Your Pet From Fleas and Ticks. Cara Stevens is a freelance writer who lives in Connecticut with her husband and two children. She has authored several books for children and writes frequently about parenting, hair care, DIY crafts, food and healthy living. Medically reviewed by Vincent J. Tavella DVM, MPH — Written by Daniela Ginta and Donald Collins — Updated on February 22, 2022 Fleas are some of the most annoying pests to deal with. They’re small, jumpy, and multiply quickly. Pets can pick up fleas from being outside in nature, around other animals, or when humans track in the insects on our shoes or clothes. Excessive itching and scratching is a telltale sign your pet may have fleas. You may even spot the little acrobats. On average, fleas are 2-4 millimeters long, making them visible to the naked eye. If your family pet has fleas, it’s likely that your yard and house will become a breeding ground. Acting quickly is key to preventing spread. A flea infestation can test your patience and require persistence. But you can eradicate the problem with a combination of cleaning methods, sprays, and pet-friendly topical medications among other options. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the life cycle of the flea depends on a lot on environmental conditions. Fleas flourish in warm climates and usually (but not always) die in the winter season. Flea eggs are small but can be seen if you’re looking closely. They are smooth and white or light in color. A single adult female flea can produce up to 2,000 eggs in her lifetime. These eggs may be laid in your pet’s fur, deep in the carpet, or in tall grass. In ideal conditions, fleas will evolve from egg to adult within 2 to 3 weeks. Adult fleas can live up to 100 days. Fleas are ready to feed within a day of hatching, and begin to suck blood within 10 seconds of landing on a host. If the weather isn’t ideal and there isn’t a host to feed on, flea larvae may remain dormant for months while waiting for better conditions to develop. This is a key reason dealing with infestations can be so difficult. The length of time required to get rid of a flea infestation depends on your environment, and how long the fleas have been there. Prompt cleaning and using topical flea medications for your pet may get rid of the majority of fleas within a day or two. However, it can take days to weeks for all the fleas present in an environment to die, even with the most conscientious approach. Fleas lay a lot of eggs very quickly, and some fleas have developed resistance to medications and insecticides. If you have a large property or multiple pets with fleas, it may take longer to get rid of the problem. The key to handling fleas is persistence. If your pet is a walking carrier of mature fleas, your home can become the nursery. Since the flea has multiple life stages (egg, larvae, cocoon, adult), when adult fleas are present, it is assumed all of these stages are also present throughout your house. This means that you have to tackle the problem from all angles in order to truly eradicate the infestation. To do this, you must treat your pet and its living environment at the same time. Depending on your pet’s boundaries, this may include your whole house or yard. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends the following cleaning approaches:
The advent of topical flea treatments for pets have made insecticides pretty outdated. Topical prescriptions stop or augment the flea’s reproductive cycle and rapidly kill an infestation. If you do aim to use an insecticide or other chemical cleaning treatment, please proceed with caution. Many are toxic to humans, pets, and the environment. Here are some tips:
The best way to eliminate fleas from your yard is to think about where they’re most like to hide. Fleas love places that are: Direct sun-exposed areas can get too hot, so you probably won’t find many fleas there. Problem areas will likely be found by observing where your pet likes to lie down. Once you have your target zones, here’s what you can do to eliminate the fleas:
If you know there is a flea infestation on your property, it may be wise to limit your pet’s time playing on the lawn until the problem is under control. For some pets, like cats, it may be advisable to keep them indoors only. If you suspect that your pet has fleas, you should act fast to prevent them from spreading. You may be able to see the insects hopping around on your pet’s fur, but sometimes a closer look is needed. A flea comb may reveal adult fleas or their eggs. Dabbing around with a wet cloth on your pet or its bedding can show flea dirt (flea waste that will appear as bloody specks). A flea infestation usually requires a combination of tactics. Even if you use a topical flea medication or spray, you still need to continue cleaning. Fleas lay a lot of eggs, and the cycle can start over if you aren’t vigilant.
Flea collars can be highly toxic and irritate your pet’s skin. Avoid them when possible! While many vet-approved or prescribed sprays and topicals are considered safe, some pets may still be sensitive to their ingredients. Stop any treatment if you notice that it’s causing irritation to your pet’s skin, or another kind of allergic response. Inform your vet if your pet has any known sensitivities to medications or ingredients. Going up against a flea infestation can seem overwhelming, but there’s plenty of tools at your disposal. You can kill fleas on contact and interrupt their reproductive cycles if you act fast. This includes vacuuming and doing laundry at high heat, keeping your yard neat, and treating your pet with a topical anti-flea ointment. The most important thing to remember is that you must treat your home, yard, and pet at the same time. A combination approach works best to eradicate fleas and prevent future infestations. Last medically reviewed on February 22, 2022 |