Too many fleas on a dog cause intense itching, skin irritation, hair loss, and painful sores (hot spots) from constant scratching; severe infestations can lead to anemia (especially in puppies), tapeworm infections, bacterial skin infections, and weight loss, as fleas feed on blood and can transmit parasites. Symptoms include excessive licking, biting, scratching, red skin, "flea dirt" (feces), and lethargy, requiring prompt treatment for the pet and home to break the flea life cycle.
It's important to treat your dog immediately because fleas are a “jump-on” bug. They can cause anemia and even death in some cases. So if you see one flea on your pet, get rid of it right away! Don't let them become a problem.
There are various flea treatments, including topical treatments (spot-on), oral medications, flea collars, shampoos, and sprays. Consult your veterinarian to choose the best option for your dog based on age, weight, and health condition.
Itching and scratching
Fleas cause skin irritation from bites and nesting. You may be dealing with a severe infestation if your pets are constantly itching and scratching.
Fleas feed on a dog's blood, and a severe infestation can cause anemia, a condition in which the dog has a low red blood cell count. This can cause lethargy, weakness, and even death in severe cases. Fleas can transmit tapeworms to dogs, which can lead to weight loss, diarrhea, and other digestive issues.
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Don't skip over your floors! You should mop thoroughly with a mild cleaner, focusing on areas where your dog spends the most time. A splash of vinegar can also be helpful since fleas dislike acidic environments, giving you another layer of protection.
You can completely eliminate a flea infestation at a specific point in time, but fleas can always find their way back if your pet is unprotected. With consistent treatment, proper cleaning, and preventative care, you can keep your home flea-free and stop minor issues from turning into full-blown infestations.
Sanitation. Thoroughly clean areas where fleas frequently breed. This includes washing bedding, rugs, and pet bedding, and thoroughly vacuuming and sweeping floors and carpeted areas and along the edges of walls.
If pets are scratching, overgrooming or have bits of flea dirt on them (looks like normal dirt but goes reddish brown when on damp paper), these are signs they have an infestation.
A bath alone won't solve the flea problem. It may remove some adult fleas, but it definitely won't address eggs, larvae, or pupae in your home.
That said, if you pet a dog with fleas and then brush your hand through your own hair or touch your clothes, a flea or two might hitch a ride. It's not likely they'll stick around, but they could potentially hop onto your carpet or bedding and cause trouble later.
Fleas don't live in beds for long, but they can lay eggs there. Flea eggs look like oval-shaped, white specs. If you see them in your pet's skin, you might mistake them for dry skin or sand. It's important to thoroughly investigate their fur, because you may shortly have an infestation on your hands.
Heavy flea infestation in dogs can lead to death from anemia (blood loss). If your dog's gums are very pale, or if he/she is lethargic/weak, he/she may need emergency veterinary care.
Yes, fleas can live on the carpet. The carpet provides an ideal environment for fleas to hide, reproduce, and wait for a new host. Fleas lay their eggs on the host animal (such as a pet), but these eggs can easily fall off and end up on the carpet. As larvae hatch, they spin cocoons and develop into pupae.
Bathing your pet with a flea treatment shampoo kills fleas on them at the time of bathing, so they'll be at risk of re-infestation after the shampoo has been rinsed away.
Give Your Dog a Flea Bath
As you bathe your dog, use a flea comb in the bath to remove any flea dirt or eggs from their coat. Active ingredients in medicated flea shampoos are designed to kill dog fleas instantly, but won't necessarily provide lasting protection against reinfestation later.
Here are nine scents that people love and fleas hate:
If you're wondering if fleas will go away on their own, the answer is a firm no. These tiny insects are persistent and resourceful, capable of surviving in your home for months without a host. From the flea life cycle to their ability to thrive in hidden areas, fleas require a strategic approach to eliminate them.
Use a household spray
Home sprays such as FRONTLINE HOMEGARD® can be used throughout the home, on non-washable furniture and home textiles such as carpets, mats and sofas. It kills fleas, flea larvae, stops flea eggs from hatching in the home – and kills ticks too! Household sprays should never be used on pets.
While fleas and ticks can survive in various conditions, they thrive in warm and humid weather. For most regions, late spring through early fall is their prime season. During these months, pets spending time outdoors are more likely to encounter these pests in grass, wooded areas, or even your backyard.
Moist, shaded spots near pet resting areas are the places to find fleas. Indoors, flea larvae are usually found under furniture and in pet bedding. The pupa is the transition stage between the larva and adult.
5 Common Hiding Places for Fleas
Fleas in any life stage will either be killed during the wash or wind up in the sewer. Any insects that might happen to make it all the way to the dryer will be killed off by more heat and turbulence.
Once your veterinarian at Mandeville diagnoses your pet with fleas, they will give you some treatment options and may recommend using one or more products in combination to get rid of the infection, with the goals of killing any existing fleas on your pet and killing any larvae the fleas have laid.