How to Tell if Dogs Have Fleas
Dogs are great pets to have, making loyal companions and playmates. However, no one wants a dog that is infested with fleas. Not only does this pose a risk to the dog, but it is also a hazard to your home and those who live in it.
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Things You'll Need
- Fine metal comb
- White sheet
- White towel
- Damp paper
- Rubbing alcohol
- Cotton balls
Instructions
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Observe the dog's behavior. If he is doing a lot of scratching or biting himself often, there's a good chance he has fleas.
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Conduct a flea check. Lay down a white sheet and seat your dog on it. Place your hands on her back where there is a good deal of hair, and rub your fingers quickly back and forth. Do this for at least one minute and then look down at the sheet. You will see fleas or flea feces if your dog is infected.
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Give your dog a bath. Put a white towel on the bottom of the tub or wherever you bathe your dog. Put the dog in the water on top of the towel. (Do not use shampoo, as this would obscure the fleas.) Start rinsing him with water and watch the towel; the fleas should fall off into the water. The white towel will make them easier to spot.
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Check your dog for flea dirt. These are dark flecks that resemble dirt rather than fleas. If you place these flecks onto damp paper they will turn from a black to a rust color, which is the blood they have fed on from your dog. The flecks are not fleas but actually are feces and the blood appears in it.
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Examine your dog on a regular basis. Take a fine comb, preferably metal, and comb through your dog's hair section by section. Look carefully at the comb and you may see fleas. Sit him down and examine his hair. Have a couple of cotton balls handy that are dipped with rubbing alcohol. Dab the alcohol on the fleas if you see any because the alcohol slows the fleas down and you will be able to contain them better as you remove them.
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Tips & Warnings
Drop the fleas that you catch into a bowl of water with a few drops of cooking oil added. The fleas will smother.
References
- Photo Credit Photodisc Royalty Free Photograph
