Fleas are the most common cause of excessive scratching in dogs. Some dogs are even allergic to the saliva of fleas, a condition known as flea allergy dermatitis. Flea allergy dermatitis will cause your dog to be extremely itchy, and his skin will be inflamed and covered in tiny red bumps. Flea allergy dermatitis can be triggered by only one bite from a flea. Fleas can also transmit other diseases to your dog. For example, your dog may develop tapeworm from accidentally ingesting a flea.

 The two types of fleas that impact dogs are Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea) and Ctenocephalides canis (dog flea). The cat flea is the most common flea to infect dogs. Your dog can contract fleas if the fleas leap from an infected animal directly onto your dog. Your dog can also get fleas through contact with a flea-contaminated environment. Kennels, grooming facilities, animal shelters, and even your own house can host fleas ready to make a home on your dog. In addition, in warm weather, fleas can be found outside in places such as your yard, the dog park, and the woods.

If your dog has fleas, you will usually be able to see the fleas themselves or “flea dirt” which is actually flea feces. Fleas usually congregate in your dog’s armpits and groin, so these are the best places to start looking. Fleas are about .5mm large, and they have very long hind legs. Flea dirt looks like little black flecks which you find floating in your dog’s fur. To distinguish flea dirt from plain old dirt, use a fine-toothed comb to remove some of the black flecks from your dog’s coat. Place the flecks on a damp piece of white paper. After about a minute, if the flecks are flea dirt, the paper around the flecks will turn red. The red is actually blood contained in the flea feces.

There are multiple weapons available to protect your dog against fleas including topical liquids such as K9 Advantix and oral medications such as Comfortis, . These new products have pretty much rendered obsolete the flea collars of years past. Although your veterinarian should advise you as to which product is best for your dog, you can familiarize yourself with common flea protection and treatment products by clicking here for our flea protection and treatment product guide.

If your dog is infected with fleas, you will have to treat both your dog and any areas in which he has come into contact with. Your veterinarian will help you decide what treatment is best for your dog, and you can click here for a guide to common flea protection and treatment products. Your veterinarian will also advise you on how to rid the fleas from your dog’s environment. It is generally best to throw away all of your dog’s bedding, vacuum daily, and throw away the vacuum bag each time you vacuum. It is also possible to hire an exterminator to fog your home and even your yard. However, you must ensure that any chemicals used by the exterminator are safe for you and your dog.