What Are Fleas and Why is Your Pet Susceptible to Them?

By: Tanera Swan

With nearly 2,000 species and subspecies, fleas thrive in warm, humid environments, and feed on the blood of their hosts. Dogs play host to the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis), whose dark brown or black body is usually one to three millimeters in length.

Why Are Dogs Susceptible to these tiny creatures?

flea life cycle, suwanee, ga

Hearty, nimble and searching for a host, these little guys can jump 10,000 times in a row (the length of three football fields). Three pairs of legs make for excellent leaping capabilities (up to two feet), and a laterally flattened body allows for quick movement in a dog’s fur. With a complete life cycle ranging anywhere from 16 days to 21 months, depending on environmental conditions, fleas are most commonly found on a dog’s abdomen, the base of the tail and the head. With heavy infestations, however, these tiny creatures can thrive anywhere on the body. They feed once every day or two, and generally remain on their host during the interim.

What Are Some Signs of Fleas in Dogs?

– Droppings or “flea dirt” in a dog’s coat – Flea eggs on dog or in dog’s environment
– Allergic dermatitis
– Excessive scratching, licking or biting at skin
– Hair loss
– Scabs and hot spots
– Pale gums
– Tapeworms

What Are Some Complications of Fleas in Dogs?

dog boarding in loganville, ga Since fleas can consume 15 times their own body weight in blood, they can cause anemia or a significant amount of blood loss over time. This is especially problematic in young puppies, where an inadequate number of red blood cells can be life-threatening to some dogs. Signs of parasitic anemia include pale gums, cold body temperature and listlessness. When a dog has a heightened sensitivity to the saliva of fleas, just one bite can cause an allergic reaction. This condition is known as flea allergy dermatitis and causes intense itching and discomfort for your dog. Signs include generalized hair loss, reddened skin, scabs and hot spots. Flea allergy dermatitis often leads to skin infections.

Please make sure your pet is on a monthly flea preventative. It is very easy to catch fleas, but extremely difficult to get rid of them once an infestation is present. Be aware, if your pet comes into our salon with an infestation he/she will be given a “medicated bath” at the owners expense. However, for the month of September, we will be offering FREE FLEA BATHS with the purchase of a full groom!