I Think My Dog Has Fleas

A man walked into a bar with his dog. He goes up to the bartender and says, “My dog thinks he has fleas.” The bartender says, “No kiddin’, mate? I think my dog has fleas too! He’s been scratching like crazy all night.” Nobody likes fleas. They can be itchy, annoying, and sometimes even painful. If you notice that your dog suffers from fleas and wants to know what you can do about them, then read on. The following article will teach you different ways of how to control and get rid of fleas.

I Think My Dog Has Fleas

How do I know if my dog has fleas? If you notice your dog scratching, shaking her head, biting herself, and then scratching some more, you may wonder. This behavior can certainly indicate that she has the itchy bugs, but how do you know for sure? A closer inspection of your dog’s skin is all it takes to know if your dog has fleas.

Symptoms of a Flea Infestation

How do you know if you have a flea infestation? The signs aren’t hard to spot. Your dog may be itching a lot more than usual. Her skin may be irritated, red, or have scabs.¹ She may bite her skin so often that she develops some hair loss. Since other things can also cause itching, it’s a good idea to look for specific signs of fleas, including the ones listed below.

Inspect Your Dog’s Skin

Carefully inspect your dog’s skin to look for fleas. Look for tiny, dark insects that are smaller than ants. Your dog’s armpit and groin areas are favorite flea hangouts because they tend to be warm and protected. Part your dog’s fur with your fingers to expose the skin. If fleas are present, you may notice the following signs:

• The skin may look red and bumpy, especially if your dog has been scratching.
• You may see tiny adult fleas that scurry away quickly or even jump.
• You might see larvae that have hatched or cocooned larvae that are pupating (developing into adults).

Look for Flea Dirt

When inspecting your dog’s skin, you might see tiny black specks that look like finely ground black pepper. This is flea “dirt” (or excrement) and can be another sign of a flea infestation.

You can distinguish flea dirt from ordinary dirt by collecting any black specks that fall off your dog on a white paper towel. Sprinkle the specks with a little water. If they turn a dark reddish-brown color, that’s a sign of flea dirt.

Use a Flea Comb

Work a flea comb through your dog’s hair, starting close to the skin. If your dog has fleas, the fine teeth of the comb should capture some. You can dispose of them in a nearby bowl of soapy water to ensure they don’t survive.

Try a Light Trap

Use a “light trap” to detect fleas in the home. At night, set a small dish of soapy water on the floor near a nightlight. Fleas will jump toward the light and fall into the bowl.

Watch for Tapeworms or Flea Eggs

Tapeworms or flea eggs can also signal that your dog has a problem. Flea eggs look like tiny white ovals that fall off in places like your bed or the carpet.

Tapeworms are internal parasites that a dog might get from swallowing a flea. 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.² You’ll also want to talk to your veterinarian about tapeworm treatment.

I Think My Dog Has Fleas

When you think of fleas, you probably picture a tiny black bug with an itchy bite. But did you know that there are many species of fleas—and not all of them are black? If your dog has fleas, you can’t always see them.

Flea bites cause itching and irritation for both humans and dogs. They can also transmit diseases like tapeworms. To make sure your dog doesn’t get fleas, check for signs of infestation on their skin and fur. If there are any eggs or larvae present in your dog’s fur, this is a sign that it might have fleas.

Your dog may also be scratching more than usual or showing signs of a skin condition such as mange or allergies. These could be signs of flea infestation as well!

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