Identifying Fleas on Dogs
Fleas are parasitic insects that can cause a variety of health problems for dogs. Aside from the irritating itching, some dogs are allergic to fleas and can suffer unpleasant reactions to an infestation. Flea infestations can also cause skin infections, especially if the host dog scratches persistently. Because of their ability to jump, fleas are quite capable of moving from one pet to another, but they can be controlled with flea powder. Identifying fleas is the first step to removing them.
Instructions
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Instructions
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Monitor your dog's behavior. Dogs suffering from flea infestations are often irritated and will scratch at themselves to relieve the itching. Fleas commonly live on the area just above a dog's tail. If your dog is gnawing at this area, inspect it for redness and signs of fleas or their eggs.
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Inspect your dog's fur with your hands, and look out for any live fleas. Fleas are very small but they are visible to the naked eye, look out for a brown spec with disproportionately large back legs.
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3
Inspect your dog's skin, and look out for any signs of irritation. Use a magnifying glass to perform a close inspection. Any scratches, patches of redness or scabs should be treated as a sign of possible flea infestation.
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4
Run a comb through your dog's fur then inspect the comb for flea eggs or dead fleas. Live fleas will probably jump off from the dog when you are combing the fur.
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Collect any flea dirt you find. Look under the dog's fur and on any surface where the dog has been. Flea dirt looks similar to pepper. It is a light brown granular substance. If you find any, try to collect some of it.
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Sprinkle the brown granular substance onto a damp piece of paper. If it turns a reddish color, it is definitely flea dirt.
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Attempt to catch any fleas you find in a glass jar. Take the jar to a vet and have him confirm whether or not the insect is a flea. If you get a positive identification of a flea, talk to the vet about your flea control options.
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Tips & Warnings
Flea powder can be used to prevent infestations instead of treating them. Speak to your vet about options.
You should boil wash any material on which you find evidence of fleas, including pillows, blankets, dog bed covers and towels. If you suspect there are fleas in your house, throw away any vacuum cleaner bags that have been used in recent weeks, as these can contain flea eggs.
The key to getting rid of fleas is to kill the live ones and prevent the eggs from hatching. Flea eggs can remain unhatched for months, especially in warm climates, so infestations may return if you do not adequately treat the infestation and remove the eggs.
Some dogs can suffer bad reactions to flea infestations, especially those with anemia.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit dog image by Trav from Fotolia.com
