How to Spot Fleas on Dogs and Cats: Signs, Symptoms, and Prevention

Table of Contents

• 1 What is a chip?
• 2 Did you know?
• 3 How do dogs get fleas?
• 4 What are the symptoms that show the presence of fleas in my dog or cat?
• 5 How to recognize fleas in my dog or cat?
• 6 How can I protect my dog or cat against fleas?
• 7 Anti-flea treatments for the home
• 8 Anti-flea products for dogs & cats

The presence of fleas affects many pets. These tiny brown parasites with flattened sides can be very itchy and cause your pet to scratch with force. Despite this, a flea infestation is not always easy to spot, these insects being quick and often difficult to flush out, especially in long-haired animals.

What is a chip?

Fleas are tiny parasites that attach themselves to their host’s skin and feed on their blood. Flea bites can cause bothersome problems in dogs and cats, like itching and hair loss.

Cats can develop miliary dermatitis (inflammation of the skin with scabs) and can lead to injury, especially if your cat is allergic to fleas. In dogs, there is more itching and inflammation of the skin from bites.

There are two species of fleas, namely the dog flea and the cat flea, the latter being the most common, including in dogs. The flea needs blood to reproduce. A day after her meal, she lays a few dozen eggs (20 to 45 on average), which find scattered in the environment.

In 2 to 10 days, these eggs hatch to give birth to larvae. These, fearing the light, take refuge in or under rugs, rugs, cracks and other small openings. Larvae develop into pupae and give birth to adult fleas after a period ranging from a few weeks to a year, depending on the temperature and vibrations in the environment.

For this reason, flea invasions often occur after a period of absence (after returning from vacation, for example). These new adult fleas search for a host to feed on blood, after which the cycle repeats. Under ideal conditions, a full-cycle lasts about 2 to 3 weeks.

Did you know?

Studies have shown that 95% of fleas are found in the environment, while only 5% will find on animals. In addition, adult fleas represent only 1 to 10% of the population, against more than 90% for eggs, larvae and pupae. So any adult fleas you might find on your pet are just the “tip of the iceberg”.

How do dogs get fleas?

A dog or cat can pick up insects in places where there are a lot of fleas. An infected animal, be it a dog, a rabbit, or a guinea pig, can infect other dogs and cats. Flea eggs can also stick to your shoes or your pet and cause a new infection.

What are the symptoms that show the presence of fleas in my dog or cat?

While fleas are often very itchy, they are not always obvious. The itchiness can cause your pet to scratch, but some may also wake up with a start during the night or bite their bottom. Other visible symptoms may be small red dots, bald spots, and scabs (most often in the lower back and at the base of the tail).

In very young animals, a heavy infestation can even lead to anaemia due to the overconsumption of blood by the fleas. Animals allergic to flea saliva will be susceptible, even sometime after the bite. When the itching is extreme, some dogs can create a “hotspot” or sensitive area by licking and biting.

Often just above the base of the tail. In cats, a flea allergy is verifiable by touch with the presence of dozens of scabs along the entire length of the back.

In addition, fleas can be carriers of tapeworm eggs, which can also infest your pet when it licks itself. In addition, fleas can also transmit cat scratch disease, which is dangerous for humans, viral hemorrhagic disease (HDV) and myxomatosis in rabbits.

How to recognize fleas in my dog or cat?

Fleas are not always easy to find, especially if your dog or cat has only a few and is not allergic. In addition, they nestle deep in the coat, making them very difficult to find in some animals.

Favorite places for fleas are in your dog’s or cat’s armpits, groin, and the base of your dog’s tail.

The most practical method of controlling the presence of fleas is to use a flea comb., which will sometimes allow you to dislodge fleas present in your pet’s coat. If you can’t find any, you can look for tiny black grains. These grains are flea droppings. If you put these on wet tissue paper, their color will turn rusty brown (due to digested blood in the faeces).

How can I protect my dog or cat against fleas?

You can protect your dog or cat against fleas in the following ways:

Treat your pet with flea control products. It is essential, especially during an infestation, to simultaneously treat all dogs and cats in the household.

Choose an insect growth regulator product that will add the eggs and larvae to get killed, especially if your dog or cat has fleas.

Also, don’t forget to treat your dog or cat’s environment.

Besides insecticides, there are also products with natural flea control properties. No studies were conducted on the safety and efficacy of these products. Therefore, these products are often not registered as flea control agents. Also, note that some natural substances can be toxic to your dog or cat.

Please note: dog products are often not suitable for cats or rabbits and vice versa! Always read the instructions carefully before using any effect on your dog or cat.

Anti-flea treatments for the home

Since the majority (95%) of fleas are found in the environment, it is also essential to treat the environment properly. It requires careful vacuuming, washing baskets and carpets at high temperatures and applying an antiparasitic spray such as indoor flea sprays from Flea Free or Indoor-X.

Depending on the severity of the infestation, the duration of treatment may be relatively long. During a flea infestation, it is recommended to treat your animal and the environment for a minimum period of 3 consecutive months.

Anti-flea products for dogs & cats

Anti-flea products are available in the form of pipettes, collars, tablets, sprays and shampoos. Contrary to what some rumors report, there is currently no concrete evidence of resistance to anti-flea products.

Spot-on products (pipettes) are applied directly to the skin, preferably between the shoulder blades or in the neck, to prevent the animal from accessing them. The effectiveness of pipettes is generally 4 weeks.

Many pipettes also work against ticks. Warning: never administer a product intended for dogs to a cat. Indeed, permethrin, the active substance used in some anti-flea pipettes for dogs, is toxic to cats! For dogs, you can use Advantix, and for cats, there is Advantage.

The collars flea: a necklace effective flea and lasting suitable for dogs as cat is the necklace Seresto. This collar remains effective for up to 8 months and also protects against ticks.

The tablets Flea: there is now also flea tablets like Comfortis tablets for dogs and cats or Bravecto tablets for dogs, effective for 3 months. These products are only available on prescription from a veterinarian. Bravecto is currently causing a lot of controversies.

Sprays: Use a rush, such as from Frontline or Effipro, is particularly recommended for puppies and kittens for which the use of a pipette or other products is not possible due to age and weight.

The shampoos: Several shampoos in the market use flea bath exclusively for dogs, as Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo with Precor 12 Ounces or Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Flea and Tick Shampoo for Dogs (these products are not suitable for cats!). However, shampoos are only helpful as a complementary treatment, as they only have a short duration of action and therefore do not offer complete protection.

Note that fleas are active all year round, including in winter. The heating is then helping to create an ideal climate for them. Therefore, it is essential not to interrupt the treatment in winter.

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