They are a common nuisance affecting cats, dogs, and their owners. The tiny insects consume the blood of the hosts. They can reach as long as 13 inches and nearly 200 times their bodies with no wings.
They’re not only tiny, but they’re also swift. They may not be aware they’re around initially. Some pets are more prone to bites than others. The saliva of insects triggers an allergic reaction that causes itching. Your pet may be scratching more frequently. Looking closer at your pet’s body may reveal the appearance of scabs, flea dirt, or something that looks like salt and pepper on their beds.
Fleas aren’t just for animals. They can be able to bite people, causing itchy marks over your body. Some can transmit diseases like typhus and plague. They could be a source of cat infection, causing “cat scratch disease,” which your cat may transmit to you. Specific fleas can also transmit tapeworms to pets and humans.
How to Spot Fleas on Dogs
How can you determine whether fleas cause itching (pruritus in the veterinary sense)? Most of the time, unlike burrowing tiny Demodex and Scabies mites, they can be observed running around on the surface of your skin.
The fleas have a dark copper hue and are about as big as the head-on pins. They do not like light, so your best chance to spot fleas on your dog is to examine their furry regions and then on the belly and inner legs.
“Flea dirt” can also indicate it is possible to spot fleas on the dog. It appears like tiny black specks of pepper scattered across your skin’s surface. If you spot flea dirt, a flea’s feces containing blood digested, you can pick one of your pets and put it on a moist paper towel. If the specks of dirt spread out as a bloodstain after a short time, It’s probably flea dirt, and your pet is infected with fleas.
How to Get Rid of Fleas on Dogs
Based on where you live depending on where you live, fleas can be a seasonal or all-year-round issue. They’re usually the most significant threat when dogs are more active in summer. They are incredibly tiny and can move very quickly; a quick visual inspection won’t be enough. To determine whether your dog has fleas, search for black specks of black on their skin and coat. They are the result of the droppings of fleas (gross!). You can check for specks by rubbing uncolored tissue across your dog’s fur. Here are some natural remedies if your research turns to discover evidence for fleas.
How can you identify if your pet suffers from fleas?
Recognizing the symptoms of an infestation is vital. The vets we spoke with gave us three signs to look for:
More frequent itching or grooming is delicate, but if your pet scratches excessively on a region, you’ll need to examine the area more thoroughly. It’s possible to do this by rubbing your fingers or combing their fur. “Flea bites are sharp and painful, and their salivary glands give off a substance that’s irritating — or even allergic — to cats and dogs,” said Dr. Heidi Cooley, a veterinarian at Banfield Pet Hospital.
Hair follicles are prone to fleas. Adult fleas have a reddish-brown color and are smaller than the size of a grain of rice. It is possible to spot a flea in an outbreak, but because fleas are swiftly moving through the hairs of pets and hair follicles, it’s more often easy to recognize what’s called “flea dirt” (more on this below).
The presence is “flea dirt”: Also known as flea feces, “flea dirt” looks like brownish-black dirt. If you’re unsure if the dirt you see is dirt or dirt, wash it under water. Flea dirt can turn red when wet.
The life cycle of the Flea
According to the Centers for Disease Control, flat rusted Source’s lifespan depends on environmental conditions. The fleas thrive in warmer environments and typically (but sometimes) die during winter.
The eggs of the Flea are tiny. However, they are visible in a close-up. They’re smooth and white or pale in hue. One adult female Flea could produce as many as 2000 eggs during her lifetime. These eggs could be laid inside your pet’s fur, on the floor, and even in high grass.
Under ideal conditions, fleas develop into adults in two to three weeks. Adult fleas may live for until 100 days.
Fleas will feed after a few days after hatching. They consume blood in just 10 seconds after landing on the host.
If the climate isn’t perfect and there’s no food source for the larvae, the larvae of fleas can be dormant for months, waiting for the right conditions to emerge. This is the main reason that dealing with the problem of infestations can be extremely difficult.
How to Treat an Immediate Problem
If you spot, indications of fleas should immediately take action.
Cleanse your pet thoroughly using products such as Adams Plus Flea & Tick Foaming Shampoo & Wash for dogs & Puppies to eliminate fleas and eggs. It kills ticks, fleas, and lice. It also stops the eggs of fleas from hatching for 28 days.
Clean your home thoroughly using a high-powered vacuum. The beating brushes on an efficient vacuum will remove a quarter of the larvae of fleas and nearly half of the fleas’ eggs. Be sure to vacuum your carpets, floors, and any other furniture. If possible, you should have professional cleaning of your carpets. After cleaning your vacuum, take it outside, empty the bag and throw it away. The eggs and larvae of fleas can get into your carpets, and it could take several days of vacuuming to get rid of all flea eggs.
Follow the steps to preventive measures below to ensure that you prevent fleas from returning.
A Note on Essential Oils
You might have noticed an abundance of essential oils in the dog flea remedies discussed in this post. For the treatment of fleas, essential oils are highly efficient, and there are many different scents that you can choose from. It all comes in the form of essential oils that are available to you and your individual preferences.
Because dogs have delicate noses, we suggest first putting a tiny amount of essential oils near your dog’s paws to observe what reaction they have. Like humans, dogs are prone to having certain scents they love more than others and others that they find almost repellent. Be aware of your dog’s preferences when trying to get rid of fleas with natural remedies. It would help if you also were careful not to spray their bed with oil they don’t like.
