- Dr. Hayley Bernal
- Feb 7
- 7 min read
Fleas, fleas everywhere! Fleas are the most prevalent parasite found on fur-bearing animals like your dogs and cats. It’s estimated that there are 2000 species of fleas worldwide, with 300 species in the United States alone.
Fleas feed on the blood of their hosts, which they find by detecting body heat and movement. Your dog provides an ideal host environment for fleas – their bodies are warm with the right degree of humidity and coverage thanks to their fur. Additionally, a dog’s naturally active nature makes them easy targets for fleas to locate. Finally, some fleas like Ctenocephalides Canis (a.k.a. dog flea) are specifically adapted to dogs.
If your dog has a flea infestation, call VEG ER for Pets or come in anytime. Our veterinarians are here after hours to help!
Life cycle of fleas
One of the reasons fleas are so difficult to eradicate is because they reproduce quickly and prolifically. A single adult female can lay up to 50 eggs a day. Within a month, 10 females can produce close to 250,000 fleas in various life stages!
Killing only the adult fleas isn’t enough. You need to rid your dog and your environment of all stages of the flea's life cycle.
Four life stages in the life cycle of a flea:
Egg
Larva
Pupa (cocoon)
Adult
Here's why you need to mitigate fleas, no matter which stage they are in:
Once adult fleas are on your dog, they mate and begin laying eggs that will hatch from 1-10 days.
After hatching from eggs, fleas enter their larval stage. Larvae are free moving and feed on blood and flea dirt (feces) to continue their development.
Within 5-20 days of feeding on flea dirt, the larvae will spin a cocoon and enter the pupa stage. The cocoon protects pupa from environmental conditions and insecticides/repellents for several days or weeks until adult fleas are ready to emerge.
Adult fleas will not emerge from the cocoon until there is a clear presence of a host, such as movement or body heat, which will signal that there is a blood meal readily available.
Adult females begin to feed from a host within a few hours of emerging from the cocoon and soon after will mate and begin laying eggs.
Scratching is just one sign your dog could have fleas. Read on to learn the signs of flea infestation on your dog, what to do about fleas, and how to prevent fleas from happening in the first place.
6 Common Signs That Your Dog Has Fleas
Between 10%-20% of U.S. household dogs and cats are estimated to have fleas. Here are some of the most common signs fleas may be pestering your pet.
1. Scratching can indicate dog has fleas
Scratching, with or without head shaking, is an early indicator of flea infestation in dogs. Even mild cases of fleas can cause your dog to scratch more often than usual, simply because the fleas are itchy and irritating.
Excessive scratching warrants a visit to the vet since it can be an indication of fleas or other health issues like allergies. Your primary care vet can provide you with more information and an accurate diagnosis for your dog’s itching.
2. Licking and chewing of skin can mean dog has fleas
Frequent chewing and licking of the skin go along with scratching to indicate that your dog is feeling itchy. And like in the case of scratching, licking and chewing can indicate fleas, allergies, or other skin issues that should be diagnosed and treated by your vet.
3. Visible fleas on dog
If your dog has very short hair or a light-colored hair coat, you may be able to see fleas crawling or jumping on your pet. You may also find fleas on surfaces in your home like floors, upholstered furniture or bedding, and even on yourself.
Visible fleas are often a sign of a moderate level of flea infestation. For every flea you actually see, there are dozens or even hundreds more at different life stages. Your pet will need to be treated for its current case of fleas, put on a monthly flea preventative to guard from future infestation, and your home will need to be thoroughly cleaned to remove adult fleas, their eggs, larvae and pupae from your environment.
4. The presence of flea dirt
Flea dirt (feces) is another sign of fleas on your dog. Flea dirt can be seen or even felt as grit in your dog’s coat. An easy way of determining if the grit in your dog’s coat is flea dirt is to brush some of it onto a wet, white paper towel, gently rub the specks and see if they turn a reddish-brown – a clear indication of digested blood from fleas.
5. Flea eggs and larvae in your dog’s bed
If you look closely at your dog’s bedding, you may notice flea eggs or even small flea larvae moving around on the fabric. You may also see flea eggs and larvae on the floor in your carpet, depending on the severity of the infestation.
Visible flea eggs and larvae indicate that the flea problem is significant. Along with immediate treatment of your pet with an oral medication like Capstar which kills adult fleas within hours, administering monthly flea preventative, and an aggressive cleaning of your home, furniture, dog bedding and toys, are essential for getting the infestation under control.
6. Patchy Hair Loss on Your Dog
Hair loss can be associated with other canine skin issues, but can also be seen with fleas. In moderate to severe cases of flea infestation, your dog may suffer from patchy hair loss due to excessive scratching.
Hair loss can also indicate allergies or bacterial or fungal infections of the skin. Talk to your vet if your dog is experiencing hair loss, whether or not you think fleas may be the cause.
What to do if your dog has fleas
Ridding your dog of fleas is a multi-step process:
Start by flea combing your dog with hot, soapy water (Dawn dishwashing liquid works well) to remove most adult fleas, flea eggs and larvae. Comb fur gently, getting close to the skin and paying special attention to the base of the tail and around the neck. Dip the comb into the soapy water after each stroke to drown any fleas.
Thoroughly vacuum everything in your home – floors, carpets, furniture, nooks, crevices – then dispose of the vacuum bag or empty the canister outdoors to keep fleas out of your home.
Wash all fabrics – bedding, soft toys, throws, slipcovers, curtains, and towels in hot water (125o) and dry on high heat for 40-45 minutes.
Steaming is also an effective way to kill fleas especially on flooring and carpets.
Bring your dog to the vet to be examined for contact dermatitis as well as other skin/health issues and for prescription treatments like Capstar (an oral medication for immediate treatment that kills adult fleas within minutes to a few hours), medicated shampoo and monthly preventative medication recommended by your vet.
Treat outdoor areas where your dog spends time, and keep grass trimmed, and garden debris clear.
How to prevent fleas on your dog year-round
When it comes to fleas, prevention is the best defense. That includes:
Having all your pets on veterinary approved/recommended monthly preventative flea protection
Regularly grooming them (bathing, brushing, flea combing)
Frequent vacuuming of your home
Washing of pets’ bedding, blankets, and stuffed toys.
Outdoors, keep lawns mowed and your yard maintained.
Treat any areas that are especially flea-prone (dark, damp areas beneath decks, thick brush, etc.). to manage flea populations.
FAQs: Frequently asked questions about fleas
Q: Where are fleas commonly found?
A: Outdoors, fleas thrive in temperatures from 70o – 80oF, and high humidity (70-75%). They prefer shady, moist areas such as tall grass, dense shrubs, and leaf piles. Areas where squirrels, and rodents frequent are also flea hotspots.
They also like to make a home in dark, damp, protected spaces like under outdoor decks.
Indoors, they hide in soft surfaces like pet bedding, upholstered furniture and rugs, as well as small crevices in your floors and walls, and of course, on your pets.
Q: Can humans get fleas?
A: Humans can inadvertently pick up fleas from the outdoors or from their pets. Fleas need a host to survive, and they prefer furry animals and birds to humans as hosts. But they can bite people for a quick meal, most commonly along the ankles and hairline.
Fleas can’t complete their life cycle on humans - human hair isn’t dense enough to maintain the heat, humidity and protection level an animal’s fur provides.
Q: Can humans carry fleas indoors?
A: Yes. Fleas can attach to clothing and hair, hitching a ride into your home. Once there, they’ll seek a preferred host, like your pet, to live on.
Q: Can my dog get fleas in the winter when it’s cold or snowy?
A: Yes. While fleas are more abundant in the warmer months, they can survive the winter by finding their way indoors and beginning the flea life cycle. That’s why year-round flea prevention for your pets is advisable.
Q: Can fleas make my dog or me and my family members sick?
A: Yes. Different fleas spread different illnesses to pets and humans. Fleas are parasites and can spread the following in both you and your pet:
Contact Dermatitis: Flea saliva can trigger an allergic reaction, with the immune system sending histamine to the bite wound, resulting in itchy, red welts.
Tapeworms: Tapeworms live in the GI tract causing pain, diarrhea or constipation, loss of appetite, weight loss and passing of worm segments.
Cat Scratch Disease: A bacterial infection caused by the Bartonella henselae (B. henselae) bacteria that can cause lethargy, vomiting, swollen lymph nodes, red eyes and decreased appetite.
Typhus: Another bacterial infection, this one caused by the Rickettsia bacteria, resulting in fever, lethargy, joint pain, rash and appetite loss.
Q: How long does it take to get rid of fleas?
A: Because fleas have a 90-day life cycle, it can take anywhere from 2-3 weeks to several months to rid your pet and home of fleas depending upon the level of infestation.
Consistency in follow up (treating your pet, using a monthly preventative, ridding your home of fleas/eggs/larvae and addressing outdoor flea hotspots) is essential for the fastest and most effective results.
Q: How do you handle a flea problem in a multi-dog/pet household?
A: All pets in the home should be treated for fleas even if they don’t show signs of infestation. Follow the same procedures outlined in this blog for all your pets.
Call VEG emergency animal clinic if your dog has fleas
Bring your dog to VEG ER if you notice fleas. The faster your dog is treated, the less likely serious health complications can develop. VEG ER is available for you and your pet 24/7.
At VEG, we have compassionate and experienced team members available around the clock to help guide you in the best direction and provide the best care for your pet.
