Spotting Fleas
The problem starts with a few scratches here and there. You may discover small spots in your home that you've overlooked before. Such thick and beautiful hair may look a little thinner these days. Before you know it... yes. Confirmed. Fido has fleas. Also check out Fluffy the Cat.
There are over 2,500 species of fleas in the world, but he is one of the most common fleas among American dogs and cats. It is called Ctenocephalides felis, or cat flea.
around. If your dog has fleas, it is most likely cat fleas.
All pet owners should be alert for signs of a possible flea infestation. They include:
Your dog (or cat) scratches. Even if you don't catch fleas during the act, if you see your pet scratching or biting at its fur, fleas may be the culprit. The salivary glands also secrete substances that irritate many dogs and cats. You can see her Adult fleas are about one-eighth of an inch long. They are reddish brown and very thin. It's hard to see what it really looks like without a microscope (easier with light colored fur), but it does have large hind legs. By some measurements, they can leap at least her 12 inches in one jump. And one estimate says there are at least 100 immature fleas hanging around for every adult flea you see on your pet.
You can see what they left behind. It's called ''flea dirt'' and is a bit like pepper. It may be on your pet's skin. Or your pet may leave it in places like:
• his bedding
• Carpet
• I dragged him out thousands of times, but he slept in his favorite chair.
The stain is actually a clot of dried blood that, when wiped off with a damp paper towel, turns from black to brown and eventually back to red.
There are other suspicious things in the house.
Fleas lay eggs on your pet - small white ovals - usually
The environment (your bed, dog bed, carpet, your favorite chair) can only hatch into flea larvae after a few days.
Larvae can also be seen. They are small, squiggly, worm-like with brown heads that feed on all these spots until they wrap themselves in cocoons called pupae. It takes about 3 to 4 weeks from larvae to pupae. After that, they're full-grown fleas looking for a ride and a little blood from your pet (or your pets). Tapeworms (white or pinkish-white internal parasites that look like tiny pieces of rice spilling out of your pet's rectum) are an indication that your pet may have been infested with fleas.
Your dog (or cat) sheds:
Not from the fleas themselves, but from itching and biting. Fleas often gather on your pet's neck and shoulder blades. The base of the tail and the soles of the feet are also favorite places. These are also where animals bite to catch fleas. This can put a lot of strain on your pet's coat. In a full-blown infestation, fleas can also be found on the bare areas of your pet's abdomen.
Your skin looks inflamed:
If you can see the skin past your pet's fur, flea bites are usually small raised red dots. Again, look for bites on the back, neck and base of the tail. Another problem with flea bites is that they can cause flea allergy dermatitis, also known as flea bite hypersensitivity. If your pet has it, their skin may become itchy, red, or scaly. It can also cause secondary skin infections.
Your gums are thin:
A large flea infestation can put some pets, especially small kittens and puppies, at risk of anemia and red blood cell loss. A flea can ingest 15 times its weight in blood. Pale gums are often a sign of anemia. Fleas are vermin in the true sense of the word. But they can do more. They can transmit diseases (including humans) and cause life-threatening problems in pets.If you see signs of fleas, ask your veterinarian what to do.
There are over 2,500 species of fleas in the world, but he is one of the most common fleas among American dogs and cats. It is called Ctenocephalides felis, or cat flea.
around. If your dog has fleas, it is most likely cat fleas.
All pet owners should be alert for signs of a possible flea infestation. They include:
Your dog (or cat) scratches. Even if you don't catch fleas during the act, if you see your pet scratching or biting at its fur, fleas may be the culprit. The salivary glands also secrete substances that irritate many dogs and cats. You can see her Adult fleas are about one-eighth of an inch long. They are reddish brown and very thin. It's hard to see what it really looks like without a microscope (easier with light colored fur), but it does have large hind legs. By some measurements, they can leap at least her 12 inches in one jump. And one estimate says there are at least 100 immature fleas hanging around for every adult flea you see on your pet.
You can see what they left behind. It's called ''flea dirt'' and is a bit like pepper. It may be on your pet's skin. Or your pet may leave it in places like:
• his bedding
• Carpet
• I dragged him out thousands of times, but he slept in his favorite chair.
The stain is actually a clot of dried blood that, when wiped off with a damp paper towel, turns from black to brown and eventually back to red.
There are other suspicious things in the house.
Fleas lay eggs on your pet - small white ovals - usually
The environment (your bed, dog bed, carpet, your favorite chair) can only hatch into flea larvae after a few days.
Larvae can also be seen. They are small, squiggly, worm-like with brown heads that feed on all these spots until they wrap themselves in cocoons called pupae. It takes about 3 to 4 weeks from larvae to pupae. After that, they're full-grown fleas looking for a ride and a little blood from your pet (or your pets). Tapeworms (white or pinkish-white internal parasites that look like tiny pieces of rice spilling out of your pet's rectum) are an indication that your pet may have been infested with fleas.
Your dog (or cat) sheds:
Not from the fleas themselves, but from itching and biting. Fleas often gather on your pet's neck and shoulder blades. The base of the tail and the soles of the feet are also favorite places. These are also where animals bite to catch fleas. This can put a lot of strain on your pet's coat. In a full-blown infestation, fleas can also be found on the bare areas of your pet's abdomen.
Your skin looks inflamed:
If you can see the skin past your pet's fur, flea bites are usually small raised red dots. Again, look for bites on the back, neck and base of the tail. Another problem with flea bites is that they can cause flea allergy dermatitis, also known as flea bite hypersensitivity. If your pet has it, their skin may become itchy, red, or scaly. It can also cause secondary skin infections.
Your gums are thin:
A large flea infestation can put some pets, especially small kittens and puppies, at risk of anemia and red blood cell loss. A flea can ingest 15 times its weight in blood. Pale gums are often a sign of anemia. Fleas are vermin in the true sense of the word. But they can do more. They can transmit diseases (including humans) and cause life-threatening problems in pets.If you see signs of fleas, ask your veterinarian what to do.
03 Jan 2023
