Fleas are parasites that feed off your dog’s blood. Flea eggs can be found almost everywhere – in your couch, carpet, etc. so the likelihood of infection is very high. To know if your dog has fleas, look for flea excrement – small, dark, curly dots that are also known as “flea dirt.”

To do this, brush your pet’s coat with a white cloth or sheet and look for these black specks, which contains digested blood that looks reddish brown when wet. If your dog has a darker coat, eggs that resemble dandruff is visible when a magnifying glass is used.

Dangers of Fleas

Besides really annoying your dog, fleas can also cause an allergic reaction called flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) which leads to hair loss, skin inflammation and irritation. For severe cases, your pet can experience anemia due to blood loss. This can be fatal if your pet is young or debilitated. Also, fleas are carriers of common tapeworms, which can cause cramping and gas.

Preventing Infection

Putting flea powder on your vacuum cleaner will exterminate all the fleas inside the bag. Monthly topicals is an easy and inexpensive approach to protect your house from fleas. You might also want to build a doghouse or spot for your dog that is elevated since fleas can’t jump higher than a foot. Water is a flea’s top enemy, so wash the areas that a dog might run around – like your backyard. Minimal contact with grasses and woods will lessen the possibility of infection. If you have a garden, trim leaves and clear brushes, as well as grassy and kennel areas.

Treatment

A flea bath is the first step to a parasite-free pet. Be careful in using a flea shampoo because most products are too harsh on puppies. Consult your veterinarian on what to use if your puppy has fleas. It can also relieve irritation and itching. Don’t stop at shampooing because it doesn’t really protect your dog after getting a bath.

A good choice is the use of flea sprays and powders – both for your dog and your house, so be careful in reading the instructions to know which is which. Products intended for your home is too strong to use on your pet. Using two or three different flea products at the same time can be toxic for your dog.

If there are numerous fleas that infested your dog, it is recommended that you treat your home too. As mentioned, sprays are too strong for dogs, so take them outside for a walk when you treat your home.

Fleas and Your Cat

Fleas are also a common problem with cats. Again, you can find these parasites with a quick examination of your cat's body, this can even be done while grooming your cat. Fleas are not something that you can get rid of on your own; you will need your veterinarian's assistance for this.

You may also need to look over your cat's environment to see if there is a particular reason they contracted the flea infestation. Make sure that after you have treated your cat that you do a thorough cleaning of your cats thins, wash beds, vacuum, and use other flea killing products to help clear these pests out of your home and away from your cat.