How to Combat Fleas on Dogs: Signs, Treatment and Prevention

Does just the thought of fleas on your dogs and in your home make you itch? While these stealth bloodsuckers are unpleasant—and potentially dangerous—to live with, there are simple and effective ways to treat as well as prevent an invasion.

First, we must know our enemy.

What Are Fleas on Dogs?

“Fleas are tiny, wingless insects that survive by feeding on blood,” says Christine Cain, DVM, DACVD, assistant professor and section chief, dermatology and allergy at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. “The most common flea in the U.S. that infests both cats and dogs is the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis.”

These nuisance parasites can consume nearly 15 times their own body weight in blood per day, according to a study. And these prolific pests multiply rapidly, as a single female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day.

Fleas experience a four-stage life cycle.

1. Egg Stage: Each flea begins when the female lays white, oval eggs on a host, like a dog, after consuming the animal’s blood. The eggs are extremely tiny and very hard to see. As your dog moves, the eggs drop into his environment, such as the carpet, his bed and your sofa.
2. Larva Stage: After 2-14 days, the fleas exit the eggs, hatching into worm-like larvae. The larvae eat flea dirt (the blood-filled feces adult fleas leave behind) for about 5-20 days before spinning a silk-like cocoon for their next stage.
3. Pupa Stage: The pupa stage within the cocoon can take as little as a week or as much as several months, depending on the external conditions.
4. Adult Stage: Finally, the adult flea emerges. Not wasting any time, fleas find a warm-blooded host, like your pooch, to feed from and the females repeat this cycle.

How to Spot Fleas on Dogs

“Signs that your dogs have fleas are the insects themselves or flea dirt, which is actually the feces of the flea,” says Meghan Solc, DVM, DACVD, a board-certified veterinary dermatologist at Dermatology for Animals in Akron, Ohio.

Flea dirt looks like tiny black flakes or ground pepper-like dots on your pet. You can perform a flea dirt test by applying a wet piece of paper on the suspected flea dirt. If it changes color to red or brown-reddish, it’s usually flea dirt.

“Most often we don’t see any of the signs but see the symptoms of flea allergy,” Solc says.

Common symptoms of any dog with fleas include:

• Itching
• Licking
• Chewing
• Scratching

Fleas often hide around your pooch’s tail, rear and belly because they are warm and protected there, Dr. Cain says. Highly sensitive dogs can be disturbed by even a single flea bite.

“Some dogs can have an allergic response to flea saliva, which can result in increased itch with exposure to fleas and subsequent flea bites,” Dr. Cain says. “This can result in self-induced hair loss, redness, crusts (scabs), hot spots and secondary skin infections, particularly around the back half of the body (rump, back of thighs, sometimes inner thighs), since fleas tend to hide in the dense hair coat around the rump of dogs.”

Learn more about allergies in dogs.

A simple way to check your pet is with a flea comb, like Safari's flea comb for dogs. Start combing around your pup’s ears and head and move toward the rump and tail. However, it’s common for pet parents to not see adult fleas while combing their dog even when fleas are present, Dr. Cain says. These pests are tiny and move quickly.

How to Get Rid of Fleas on Dogs

Once you find fleas on your dog, act fast. There are plenty of safe and effective products available for dogs of all ages and sizes.

First off, consult with your veterinarian.

“Most of the available products—including topicals, oral products or collars—are quite effective when used according to label instructions,” Dr. Cain says. “But pet parents should always consult their veterinarian before purchasing and using a product. The most effective choice often depends on the lifestyle of the dog, his environment and [any] concurrent health conditions.”

For example, she says if your dog spends a lot of time in the water, it can decrease the effectiveness of topical products. Also, if your household includes other types of pets, like cats, some topical products labeled for dogs might be toxic to them.

It is crucial to use flea control products consistently, as labeled, for the best and safest results, she adds.

“In some dogs, especially those with flea allergy, we may recommend more frequent use of flea control products or combinations of flea control,” Dr. Cain says.

Flea Treatments for Your Home

Only adult fleas live on pets, according to Dr. Cain. The immature fleas, which include the eggs, larvae and pupae, fall off our dogs and into our homes. She adds that you most likely will find the immature fleas in your pet’s sleeping or resting areas.

One helpful method of removing flea eggs is regular vacuuming. Just be sure to throw out the vacuum bag so the hatched pests cannot escape.

Pet parents also can apply environmental products, like Vet’s Best dog flea and tick home spray, to help kill the immature fleas around the home. They like to hide, so pay special attention to dark areas and along baseboards.

Note: When living with multiple animals, be sure to consult with your veterinarian before using environmental products. Some can be toxic to certain species.

Prevent Fleas on Dogs

It’s impossible to completely prevent exposure of your dog to fleas. However, experts agree that year-round use of effective flea control products like the ones listed above can go a long way.

“All animals can get fleas, no matter where they live, indoors or outdoors, if the yard is treated, if it's the winter, etc.,” Dr. Solc says. “The best way to prevent flea infection is continuing with year-round flea prevention.”

After all, it’s immensely easier to prevent a flea infestation than to have to treat one that already is established!