Translated by Nick R
Fleas have always been a problem that our furry ones frequently face, so here I bring everything you need to know about these parasites and the best tips to prevent and eliminate them effectively.
Table of Contents
What is a flea?
Fleas, also called Siphonaptera, “are hematophagous (blood-feeding) external parasites … they can perform long jumps in proportion to their size, being able to easily reach new hosts…” according to Wikipedia.
The flea most commonly found on our furry friends is the Ctenocephalides felis or cat flea, which is present in 90% of canines in several countries. While the Ctenocephalides canis or dog flea occurs in 10% of dogs.
It is an ectoparasite that “generally infects only the superficial layers of the skin” according to PAHO (Pan American Health Organization). In addition, they remain attached to the skin for prolonged periods.
How does the flea act on my dog’s skin?
When fasting, the flea gets lodged in the host (our dog) and starts sucking blood. The flea can suck blood for 20 to 150 minutes, during which it can obtain an amount of blood 10 to 20 times the size of its stomach.
After sucking it up, the blood is excreted on the skin to dry and form the so-called “flea dirt”, which serves to feed the larvae during their development.
In addition, females suck more often and repeatedly than males.
Females begin to produce white eggs 1 to 2 days after they have started to draw blood. They can lay an average of 30 eggs per day, and more than 100 eggs under optimal conditions for copulation.
However, the flea’s purpose in the host is only as a food source, once it gets enough blood it will leave as it is not a suitable environment for reproduction. Because of the large number of eggs it lays and will eventually need to feed, we may see a lot of fleas on our dog.
How long do fleas live?
Fleas have 4 stages of development.
- Eggs: they hatch between 1 to 10 days.
- Larvae: they will maintain the larval phase for 5 to 11 days.
- Pupae: after molting, they form a cocoon woven by themselves, reaching the final stage of development in 5 to 19 days.
- Imago or adult: they emerge from the cocoon once they are fully developed and the environment is suitable for hatching. If conditions are not optimal, they remain dormant there for up to 5 months.
The life span of a flea is 2 to 3 months under favorable conditions such as a temperature of +25 °C and 60% humidity. However, if there are changes in this environment such as an increase in temperature from around 36°C to 37°C, the flea’s lifespan is reduced to only 3 to 4 weeks.
The optimal conditions for a flea require isolated places such as rugs and carpets where there is a lot of dust accumulation and closed places that meet these conditions.
However, that changes when they are in the developmental stages, so if heat reduces their lifespan in the imago stage, they will grow faster in the developmental cycle, reducing the time of the reproduction cycle.
How do fleas harm my dog?
Fleas are carriers of various infections and diseases because they are intermediate parasites of other hosts that already have an infection. They carry several pathogens due to their great capacity to parasitize different species. Here I’ll show you what these pathologies are.
Flea allergy dermatitis
This is one of the most common conditions in dogs and is the reason why many owners take their dogs to the veterinarian. It’s caused by flea bites (specifically the contact of saliva to the skin) that generate an immune reaction in the canine.
This response results because the saliva, once it enters through the subcutaneous route, provokes hypersensitivity in the affected area. This happens because the composition of the salivary protein of the flea is composed of chemicals such as histamine and amino acids that generate this allergic reaction.
Symptoms:
- Skin pain
- Alopecia (hair loss)
- Skin cracking
- Hyperpigmentation of the skin
- Skin flushing (redness)
- Intense scratching
- The appearance of pustules (bumps on the skin with pus or fluid) and irritation lesions due to scratching and biting of the canine.
Dipylidiosis or Dog Tapeworms
In the process of biting or licking the area affected by the flea bite to relieve the itching, the dog may swallow fleas. The dog will get infected with tapeworms (a white parasitic worm) if the fleas it ingested were infected as well.
The full development of this parasite is Dipylidium caninum, but for it to be transmitted to another host, the flea parasitizes it in its larval stage called cysticercoid. Once inside the host, it develops into Dypylidium caninum and lodges in the small intestine.
Symptoms:
- Progressive weight loss
- Anemia
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea with constipation
- Anal itching (constant and intense itching around the anus)
- Parasites (worms) visible during bowel movements and around the anus
Bartonellosis
Bartonellosis occurs when the canine is infected with the bacterium Bartonella henselae. The cause of the infection is not clear, but for the dog to become infected, it must have had contact with fleas (which already have this bacterium) or have swallowed flea dirt. It can also be spread if there is blood-to-blood contact.
Symptoms:
- Fever
- Epistaxis (nosebleeds)
- Weight loss
- Anemia
- Endocardial inflammation
- Neurological, skeletal, and hepatosplenic (liver and/or spleen-related) disorders
Endemic or Murine Typhus
This is a disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia typhi. Dogs get infected if the flea is infected with this bacterium. Fleas, as intermediate parasites, pass this bacteria from hosts such as cats, rats, or opossums.
Transmission of this bacterium occurs in subtropical and tropical climates and in some places it is considered a rare condition, such as in the United States.
Symptoms:
- Acute fever
- Vasculitis (edema)
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Skin rash
- Hemorrhages
- Myalgia (muscle pain)
- Lameness (caused by body pain)
- Hyperemia (increased blood flow to a part of the body)
- Petechiae (spots appearing on the skin from bleeding)
- Necrosis on the face or extremities
- Neurological signs
- Lymphadenomegaly (painful or painless visible enlargement of one or more lymph nodes)
- Abdominal pain with kyphosis (causing the back to curve)
Hemoplasmosis or mycoplasmosis
How this bacterium (haemobartonella) is transmitted to dogs is not certain, but some information suggests that fleas are involved.
In dogs, the infection is caused mainly by variant species of this bacterium such as Mycoplasma haemocanis and Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum.
It mostly affects cats, but the cases that have been found in canines are associated with a previous splenectomy (surgery to remove the spleen because of a tumor).
Symptoms:
- Paleness of mucous membranes
- Lethargy
- Anorexia
- Weight loss
- Depression
- Fever
Anemia
As I mentioned, the flea reproduces many eggs in a short period of time, creating a major problem for the canine. If the dog gets a large number of fleas and they bite him, his red blood cell levels will drop significantly.
The dog is their food source, so if too many of them are absorbing blood from the canine, he will develop anemia; this especially happens in small breeds and puppies.
Symptoms:
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Rapid breathing (due to increased heart rate)
- Breathing difficulty (due to lack of oxygen)
- Change in gum color to a pale pink or whitish color
- Signs of blood loss (in the nose, stool, urine, or vomit)
- Bruising of the skin (due to loss of platelets)
- Dark stools
- Potential death if not treated immediately
Filariasis
This infection is caused by the nematode (worm) Dirofilaria immitis, which infects the vascular system (heart) and subcutaneous tissues.
Its transmission occurs with one of its variants called Dipetalomena reconditum, which develops and transmits in its immature stage through the flea. Once developed in the canine, the main areas affected are the subcutaneous layer of the body, such as the hypodermis (composed of fatty tissue).
Once in its mature stage, it will use the subcutaneous tissue as a conductor to reach the bloodstream and go to the heart.
On the other hand, the symptoms will appear late because unless a large number of worms are present, no external signs will be seen. The time of onset can vary from a couple of weeks to a couple of months.
Symptoms:
- Cough
- Thinning
- Fatigue
- Fast breathing
- Nosebleeds
- Unwillingness to do physical activity
- Fainting, right after exercise
- Excessive scratching
Why does my dog get fleas?
Several factors contribute to the likelihood of dogs getting fleas, which are related to the environment surrounding him and his state of health.
State of health of the canine
Weakness or illness
When the canine is not in good medical condition, such as having a strong immune system or healthy skin, it can be a welcome target for fleas.
Fleas look for affected areas that are ideal for feeding such as eczema (inflammation on the skin) or irritations due to the canine biting and causing those affected areas to bleed.
In addition, a canine with low defenses won’t have as much energy to scratch and relieve the itching from the flea bite. This gives the fleas a better chance to feed and not be killed by the dog’s bites or scratches.
Prolonged time without deworming
A common cause of canines reacquiring fleas is that a long period of time has passed since the last deworming treatment. It means that since the dog is no longer protected, it will no longer be able to repel these parasites.
The dog’s interaction with the environment
There are only two environments with which the dog interacts, the interior corresponding to its home and the exterior.
Outdoor environment
The development and growth of fleas is accelerated when the environment has a high temperature and is cool as is typical in the spring. Such weather allows them to shorten the reproduction cycle.
Here are some outdoor environments where fleas stay waiting for a host to pass nearby to feed.
- Soil
- Shrubs
- Trees
- Bush (small, branched, woody plant)
Additionally, interaction with other dogs or animals also causes them to become infested with fleas.
Likewise, this happens to their owners when they get involved with people or animals that have fleas. That is why we must be careful where we take our furry friend for a walk as well as where we walk ourselves.
Indoor environment
The indoor environment is influenced by the interaction of the dog or the owner with the outside. The parasite is carried into the house where nothing was initially infested.
The flea will look for cold and poorly lit places to stay safe while it finds a food source. While during its developmental stage it will keep the regular time (because there is no alteration of the temperature that accelerates its development), but with the advantage that if it is in this kind of place it will not get rid of it while it reaches its imago stage.
Here are the places that fleas can frequent the most in our home.
- Clothes
- Blankets
- Beds
- Carpets or rugs
- Corners with little light and dust such as joints in wooden floors
Importance of deworming your dog
It’s imperative to treat your dog frequently to preserve his well-being. The recommended frequency to deworm him is one month depending on the product you use.
It is necessary to avoid not only that the canine is infested with fleas and affects their skin, but also the implication that these parasites have as transmitters of infections and deadly diseases as I showed you before.
General check-up of your dog
When you walk with your dog in potential flea spots and he interacts with other dogs or people, it is important that you do a general check-up after these moments.
The check can be done with a special flea comb which is metallic with very close bristles or with your hand and in case you find any, later I will tell you the methods to get rid of these horrible fleas.
Checking with your hand
You are going to keep your dog standing and with your hand, you are going to start checking from his head, then neck, back, and tail. This is without forgetting the ears, both outside and at their entrances.
The idea is that with both hands you go digging the canine’s hair (it can be a little more difficult if it has long hair) while you notice if it has fleas, eggs or larvae that are white or flea feces that are small black balls that when you remove them are blood.
Once you have checked the entire top, you are going to turn your dog upside down to check the chest and abdomen area in the same way as the back, digging where there is hair.
Check with the comb
This one is simpler because you only need to pass the comb several times over the whole body. For the chest and belly, again put him upside down and do the same procedure.
Prepare a bowl of water or alcohol to drown the fleas in case one gets between the bristles.
Previous recommendations for flea treatment
You should keep these recommendations in mind when treating your dog to avoid any problems.
Products for dogs
For this type of procedure always use products designed exclusively for dogs, to avoid intoxication or a more serious condition.
The first time
If this is the first time you deworm your dog, be sure to consult your veterinarian for guidance and use the correct flea control product. Also, since it is your dog’s first time, try to be alert for a possible allergic reaction or side effect.
Special medical condition
Consult your veterinarian for the appropriate treatment in case your dog has a previous illness, general weakness, if he is on medication and what he is taking cannot be combined with the flea control, if he is already at an advanced age or on the contrary is a puppy, or if she is pregnant or breastfeeding.
For these special health conditions, it is better to have the recommendation of a veterinary professional to be sure that the treatment won’t affect their health but, on the contrary, will be effective.
8 Tips to eliminate and prevent fleas on my dog
Here I’ll show you all the tips you need to know to prevent this common parasite that somehow ends up affecting your dog’s wellbeing.
1. Deworming on time
Once you start the flea treatment, you must check the duration of the product you use. It’s necessary to deworm again once the product’s effect is over to avoid exposing our furry friend and giving fleas the opportunity to take hold of him.
2. Flea control application in any method
Whichever method you use, be sure to follow the product’s instructions to the letter. This is to ensure that the product does not intoxicate him, but that it has the correct effect.
The first consideration is the weight of the dog in order to use the right amount of the product. If you don’t take this into account when using the treatment, two things can happen.
The first: is that the dog gets intoxicated by the excess of the medicine or the second: is that it doesn’t work because the quantity was not enough.
Then, check if it should be applied in a ventilated space if it is a product with odor if the canine should be fasting before consuming the medicine if it is oral or if it is necessary to use the Elizabethan collar to prevent the canine from licking the area where the product was applied.
Besides following the instructions, try to calm and relax the dog when applying the treatment.
In the case of oral medications, most of them come with flavors so that the canine can chew them, so if he does not eat it, you must open his jaw and with your fingers gently sink it in his throat until he passes it. This is to ensure that he does ingest it.
With applicable medications, make sure your dog stays still while you apply it to avoid getting it in the wrong area or wasting the medication. While you do this, you can give him a toy to distract him.
3. Long-term flea elimination
There are various long-term deworming methods, and here I’ll show you three ways to do it.
Deworming medications
There are two ways that offer longer protection and therefore are more recommendable than frequent treatment.
Oral medication or tablet
Oral anti-fleas not only get rid of fleas but also offer a broader spectrum against other external parasites, such as ticks or mites. They are flavored tablets so that the canine can eat them more easily.
It is necessary to know the exact weight of the animal in order to choose the right concentration of medication to make it work. The effect can last from one to three months, depending on the product you buy.
The medicine begins to take effect from 30 minutes to 48 hours after ingestion, also depending on the product.
Pipette
This is a topical medication so it must be applied directly to the canine’s skin. The application should be done on dry hair and the coat should be cleared to allow the liquid to fall directly on the skin.
The pipette provides 4 weeks of protection, but it depends on the concentration and chemicals it contains, so it could be reduced a little bit.
It should be applied all along the back up to the base of the tail, without wasting the medicine and applying it uniformly. It can start being effective from application up to 48 hours later. For this reason, the dog should not be bathed before this time so that it has absorbed the liquid well in its skin.
Visiting the veterinarian
There is nothing more effective than taking the dog to the veterinarian to get better advice on which method can be more effective. The veterinarian can prescribe a single or combined treatment depending on the health condition of the dog to have a greater effect.
Flea collar
The flea collar is a collar that releases chemical substances with which it is impregnated to repel these parasites. In addition, like oral medications, these can have different chemicals to get rid of other parasites such as ticks.
These collars can be found combined with chemicals or with more natural substances, so it is recommended to use a natural composition. On the other hand, this collar lasts for a very long time, since it can protect the canine for 6 to 8 months.
Remember to consult your veterinarian to make sure if the collar method can help your canine or not given the chemicals used to repel parasites. Since some chemicals can be too strong for your dog, you can choose to make a homemade collar with natural essences.
4. Short-term flea elimination
These methods are immediate-acting or short-term in effect, so they are ideal for getting rid of fleas faster, but should be done more frequently.
Topical medications
There are two options that can be used to have an immediate solution against fleas.
Spray
This is a liquid medication that you spray on the canine’s coat and skin. It is easier because of its practicality and because it has an immediate function to kill fleas. These sprays are applied approximately 10 cm from the coat.
They usually last between 7 and 15 days or even less depending on the quality of the product. However, some with a stronger chemical composition can last for almost a month.
Keep in mind that you should protect areas such as the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth of your furry friend to avoid irritation or poisoning. And remember to do this treatment in a well-ventilated place and apply the product against the hair (lift the hair in the opposite direction of hair growth).
Talcum powder
There are also talcum powder anti-flea solutions that are basically used in the same way as the spray. It is applied to the canine’s hair and then massaged gently so that it penetrates the skin well; it should be applied against the hair.
It has a short duration in terms of effectiveness, so it can last up to 7 days or less. It should be repeated after that time or applied twice a week.
The spray and talcum powder are ideal for puppies because they are not highly toxic, so consult your veterinarian to know which product in these presentations is recommended.
Anti-flea bath
This bath is similar to the regular one but uses a specific flea-killing shampoo. Although a regular bath with soap eliminates fleas, special soaps for eliminating these parasites are more effective.
Let the product work for the required time for it to take effect. If your dog has sensitive skin, visit your veterinarian for a special soap for these cases.
This bath has an immediate effect so it should be done at least every 15 days if you don’t resort to a treatment that has a prolonged effect such as oral medication or flea collar.
Manually
This is a more tedious method and doesn’t guarantee that you will get rid of all the fleas. However, you will be able to provide some relief to your furry friend so that he doesn’t despair scratching.
For this process, you need a special flea comb, which has close-knit bristles to trap the eggs and fleas. This comb is usually made of metal or plastic.
If you don’t have one, you can just use your hands which will help get rid of mainly adult fleas.
You must have a bowl with soap and water (enough soap to make it foam in the water), alcohol or some insect poison, to immerse and kill the fleas and eggs that you find.
If you use a comb, you only have to pass it through and then soak it in the liquid solution. Alternatively, if you do it by hand, you can scratch and massage the back of your canine’s back with a little alcohol.
Doing this will make the fleas go to the abdomen or chest area where it will be easier to catch them. So, the next step is to turn your dog upside down and start the hunt by removing the fleas and immersing them in the liquid.
Immobilize them a little bit so they don’t jump out by spraying some alcohol on them; this will make them dizzy and disoriented, and give you time to catch them so they don’t escape.
Do this process until you see no more fleas. Although this is a time-consuming way to eliminate fleas, it is useful to alleviate the animal’s discomfort. Remember that a long-lasting treatment is best.
Home remedies
Natural remedies are ideal for not exposing your dog to chemicals to which he may be allergic. Most of these remedies are based on essences and natural oils such as lavender or coconut.
These remedies are not long-lasting, but they are cheaper to manufacture compared to buying a special medication. However, you should always look for the best treatment to prevent and eliminate fleas effectively.
If you want to know more about what these home remedies are, I invite you to read 21 home remedies to get rid of fleas on my dog.
5. Fumigation
It is a very effective way to prevent and eliminate fleas and other parasites such as mites or ticks from the root. For this method, a specialized company can fumigate your house and its surroundings, or you can make a homemade solution based on poison for these pests, but always with the advice of an expert in the use of these poisons.
The effect of fumigation can last from 30 to 90 days, depending on the level of infestation in your house. The ideal is to carry out this process after treating the canine so that he/she arrives in a flea-free environment.
In addition, for the fumigation, it is important that neither your dog nor the inhabitants of the house are present while the fumigation is being done and the odor effect passes, to avoid a possible intoxication.
6. Avoid potential places with fleas
As I mentioned before, the main issue is outdoor environments that are favorable for you or your furry friend to get fleas and bring them home.
Avoid walking your canine in places with high grass, large or medium-sized bushes, medium-sized trees, and on the ground because these are places where fleas are on the prowl to jump on the next host.
Places with low grass are more advisable for you to go for a walk with your furry friend and minimize the likelihood of flea infestations.
7. Dog hygiene
Don’t let too much time pass before bathing your dog; this is an ideal state for fleas to get on him. Soap and water help to keep fleas at bay.
Or if the canine doesn’t bathe as frequently as every month or two months and gets a little dirty, it is advisable to brush him weekly with a special flea comb to check that he doesn’t have any parasite on his coat.
8. Cleanliness in the places of the house frequented by the dog.
Places such as beds, blankets, clothes, and carpets are ideal for fleas to lay their eggs and after a while develops into fleas.
A thorough cleaning of both your belongings and your furry friend’s is vital. You can also fumigate objects such as beds, blankets, and carpets.
Another cleaning method is to vacuum these places very well to remove possible eggs or larvae already in that space. On the other hand, washing all these items with hot water helps to eliminate fleas.
It is recommended to perform these procedures, both washing, and vacuuming, on a weekly or biweekly basis to avoid an increasing infestation of this parasite.
As we know, fleas are not the only problem that our canines have, there are other external parasites such as ticks that are also a big problem. That is why I invite you to read our 11 tricks to prevent and eliminate ticks on my dog.
