Signs and Symptoms Your Dog Has Fleas and How to Treat Them
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If your furry friend is suffering from fleas, it could also mean misery for everyone in the house. Fleas can be incredibly annoying little pests that can cause a lot of discomfort for your dog as well as your family, so knowing the signs that your pup has them can help you fix the problem sooner rather than later.
Though mostly harmless, you don’t want fleas on your dog or in your home, making it imperative that you get rid of them as soon as you can.
Signs and Symptoms Your Dog Has Fleas
Like all problems, there are signs and symptoms that can alert you to the fact that something isn’t quite right. Paying attention to your dog can help you realize if they’re suffering from any issue, including fleas. The following signs and symptoms are the most common indicators that your dog has fleas:
Incessant Scratching
If you notice your pup scratching constantly, it could be a sign that there are fleas aggravating their skin. The worse the flea problem, the more you may notice your dog scratching all over. This could also be a sign of dry skin, dandruff, or a rash, so it is important to inspect your dog if you notice them scratching more than usual.
This can lead to flea allergy dermatitis, which is caused to by an allergic reaction in your dog to flea saliva. This is presented by excessive scratching, biting, and licking and may result in hair loss, scabs, and even infections if left untreated.
Flea Eggs
Fleas are known to lay small, white eggs on their host, aka your dog. Unfortunately, the eggs fall off of the host and can hatch within one to ten days in your carpet, on furniture, and even in bedding. Once your pet has fleas, you're looking at a full-blown infestation in just a few days or weeks.
Flea Dirt
One of the biggest indicators of fleas is flea dirt left in your dog’s fur. Fleas leave feces behind, known as flea dirt, and you can identify it by looking for clusters of tiny black specks throughout your dog’s coat. You can also find them by running a fine-toothed comb through your dog’s fur. If you place the specks on a paper towel, they're likely to turn a rust color because of the blood present in the waste. The more flea dirt you find, the more fleas are living on your dog. You may also find flea dust on your clothes, carpet, bedding, and other surfaces around the house.
Flea Bites
One of the final signs that your pet has fleas is finding flea bites on yourself or your family. As the fleas multiply, they won’t just stay on your dog, meaning you and your family can become further hosts for the fleas living in your home. Flea bites can cause serious distress to some people, so this can add more urgency to finding a solution to your problem.
How to Treat Fleas on Dogs
Once you’ve identified that your dog has fleas, you must take steps to treat them as well as cleanse your home. These include:
Medication
The most effective way to get rid of fleas on your dog is to use medication. There are many different types of flea medicine designed to kill fleas, flea eggs, and flea larvae while still on the host. By simply applying the medication to the nape of your dog’s neck, you can begin the process. By doing so, the medicine will spread throughout the coat via your dog’s natural glands, covering its entire body in medication over a few hours or so.
Bathing
After medication has been sitting on your dog’s coat for at least 48 hours, you can bathe them. This should rid your dog’s fur of any flea dust, eggs, and dead flea carcasses, as well as soothe their itchy skin. Be sure to bathe thoroughly so that nothing is missed and you remove all medicine and other impurities from your dog’s coat. For best results, use a shampoo labeled safe to use with flea topicals.
Home Solutions
It is important to clean all carpeted areas of your home. If you simply medicate and bathe your dog, but do not treat your floors, furniture, and bedding, your dog can easily get fleas again and you’ll be back at square one.
Fix this by buying flea powder right here at KV Supply, and follow the directions on the container. After the designated number of hours, vacuum the treated surface thoroughly to get rid of fleas, eggs, larvae, dust, and dirt.
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Flea Collars
If you have an outside dog, a flea collar can be incredibly helpful. These useful collars constantly excrete a medication that prevents fleas, ticks, and other parasites from living on your dog. This allows your pup to come in and out of the home as they please without bringing fleas with them.
Call Us
If your flea problem is very severe, call KV Supply at 1-800-423-8211. Our knowledgeable staff and veterinarian are available to answer any questions you may have and can suggest some products to get you on the right track to establish a flea prevention program. If your dog is suffering from hair loss, scabby skin, or other problems caused by fleas, we carry products to help heal your pet.
Fleas are certainly a nuisance for you and your pet, so you should be sure to do whatever you can to identify and treat the problem. These parasites may be small, but they can cause a lot of damage over time. Save your fuzzy friend and your home by taking steps to treat fleas today.