Fleas are a very common parasite to contract when dealing with pets. Unfortunately, these little creatures are nothing to scoff at and can cause serious harm to your cat or dog. Fleas are the type of pests that are really hard to remove from the dog’s fur. The reason behind why these fleas won’t leave your dog alone is simply – because their home is with your dog, their ‘palace.’ Detecting Fleas on dogs is easy, but it is much harder for you to effectively get rid of them. A flea infestation can be cause for concern for landlords, home owners and any who share a place of abode with pets. However, it is important to realise that not all infestations are due to pet or other fleas. In fact, Pet MD maintains that the most common culprits behind the biting insects are lice or bed bugs. When you spot fleas on your dog or cat, it can change your life. Fleas are not only annoying, they can harm both animals and people in a number of ways. The good news is that with time, patience and some preventative measures you can rid yourself of parasites. Here’s how to identify fleas in your yard, home, pet and more.

How To Spot Fleas

Introduction

Every pet owner knows that fleas are a menace, and not just because they’re annoying to deal with. If left unattended, these parasites can make your furry friend sick and infest your entire home. Plus, most pets hate when you spray them with flea treatment! To keep them healthy and happy—and keep your house pest-free—it’s important to know how to spot fleas early on. Here are five easy ways to detect these tiny pests:

Start with a close look at the fur.

Start with a close look at the fur. Start from the top of the body and work your way down, looking for fleas, flea dirt, and any other signs of infestation.

When you’re checking for fleas, make sure to look for them on all parts of an animal’s body—including their head, tail and legs. You’ll want to be especially thorough if you have a pet that loves to dig or roll around in grassy areas since these behaviors can increase their chances of picking up parasites like ticks or mites as well as lice (though lice are more likely to be found on cats than dogs).

Gently part the hair to see if the fleas have left behind flea dirt.

Flea dirt is small, black or brown specks that can be seen on the coat of your pet. The dark color is dried blood from a flea bite. If you see specks of this substance on your pet’s skin and on their fur, it’s likely that they have fleas.

If you’re not sure whether the specks are flea dirt or something else, gently part the fur to see if you can see them better (but don’t brush off too much fur). You may also want to check for flea dirt around the ears and neck, since these areas aren’t as easy to groom as other parts of your pup’s body—and are often common hiding spots for hungry bugs!

Watch your dog or cat scratch.

The first sign that your pet has fleas is when you notice them scratching. Fleas are tiny, so it can be difficult to spot them on the fur of your pet. The good news is that dogs and cats will often scratch themselves so much that the flea bites become visible. Fleas can cause pets to lose hair where they were bitten, as well as weight if they are constantly itching and scratching themselves. If you notice these signs in your dog or cat, take action immediately!

Check around your pet’s ears, neck and tail.

Fleas tend to congregate around the ears, neck and tail areas of pets. If you see what looks like tiny black dots on these areas, it could be flea dirt or flea eggs. Check for signs of irritation as well. If your pet is scratching a lot or shaking its head, there’s likely something going on in those areas of their body that needs attention.

Look for flea eggs and larvae.

• Look for flea eggs and larvae. Flea eggs and larvae are white, oval-shaped parasites that can be found in pet bedding, carpets, rugs and furniture. Flea eggs usually look like tiny grains of salt; in fact, they’re about the size of a pinhead. They’re not a sign of poor hygiene by any means—it’s just that their presence indicates an active flea infestation in your home!

It’s important to spot these tiny creatures right away, so you can get rid of them before they take over your home and your pet’s fur!

Fleas are tiny, but they can cause big problems.

Fleas are tiny, but they can cause big problems. They can cause skin irritation and infections (known as “flea bites”) that may be irritating or itchy for your pet, even causing them to scratch until they bleed. Fleas also carry tapeworms which live in your pet’s intestine and absorb nutrients from digested food your pet eats. The larvae of fleas can burrow into the ground to lay their eggs and continue the cycle of life for these pesky critters!

The most common sign of a flea infestation is scratching by your cat or dog (which could be mistaken for allergies). You may notice brownish black specks on your animal’s fur where the flea has been resting, called “flea dirt.” These specks are actually dried blood from where the flea was feeding! If left untreated, severe cases of itching caused by fleas can lead to anemia in pets who have sensitive skin; this is especially dangerous if left untreated since it puts them at risk of passing away due to lack of red blood cells being present in their bodies via transfusion

Conclusion

Now that you know the telltale signs of a flea infestation, you can perform a thorough inspection to determine whether your pet or home is infested. If the answer is “yes,” then it’s time to contact a vet or pest control company. The longer you wait, the more the problem will grow!