Sand Fleas & Dogs

Fleas can be a significant problem for dogs

Fleas are a major health concern for dog owners. They transmit disease, can cause dermatitis problems on your dog and are extremely difficult to eradicate once infestation happens. Sand fleas are not the fleas you would often associate with dogs.

Definition

Sand fleas are a crustacean found at ocean shorelines in North and South America. They feed off the flesh of aquatic animals.

Misconceptions

The sand flea is not a typical pest found on dogs. Dog flea eggs have the ability to develop in sandy environments causing the misconception that fleas found at the beach are sand fleas.

Warnings

While sand fleas prey on aquatic animals such as the Portuguese Man-o-war, it can create problems for humans and dogs. It burrows under skin or fingernails, consuming flesh and creating infection.

Diagnosis

Tiny black dots mark the location of the sand flea where it burrows under the skin. As the sand flea continues to consume flesh, white nodules develop around the area of penetration.

Eradication

Removing the sand flea in whole and soaking the area repeatedly with alcohol will kill the flea and reduce infection probability. Place Seven Dust over your dog until the fleas have been completely eradicated. Replace all bedding and fumigate living quarters to prevent re-infestation.

References

• Jigger-Ahadi: About the Jigger
• Cats of Australia: Sand Fleas