Your dog has a flea problem, and you wonder what is causing it. It turns out that our dogs can get infected with fleas not only from other dogs but also from cats and other animals. If you notice fleas on your dog, you must take steps to deal with them as soon as possible.
A dog can get fleas from another dog or another pet he has had contact with. If you want to get rid of fleas on your dog’s skin, you need to give him a good bath using shampoo to fight these parasites. You also need to wash all your dog’s accessories.
What will you learn from this article
- A dog can get fleas from another dog, but also another pet
- Fleas on his skin can cause the dog’s excessive scratching
- The basis for getting rid of fleas on a dog is bathing using shampoos designed for this purpose
Fleas on a dog
I’m sure you will try to take care of your pet as much as possible. You pay a lot of attention to his hygiene and cleanliness. Unfortunately, very often, despite great care, dogs can catch fleas. First, I want you to know that it doesn’t mean that you are a terrible babysitter and you don’t care about your dog’s hygiene. Nothing could be more wrong.
Fleas are a problem that can affect any dog, both yours and mine. Sometimes I get the impression that the more I pay attention to keeping my dog clean and tidy, the more he feels the need to splash in the nearest puddle he encounters during a walk.
That’s why I want to tell you how you can deal with this flea problem. It would help if you did not underestimate this because I assure you that these parasites will not decide to leave your pet alone. Your intervention will be necessary for this.
What are fleas
Do you know what fleas are? That is a parasitic type of insect. Their primary food source is blood. That’s why they choose dogs or cats as their target. Thus, they have unlimited access to blood.
Pets cannot get rid of fleas on their own. That’s why they like them so much. That is why it is essential that you, as a dog guardian, know about these canine parasites and how to fight them effectively.
Why does your dog have fleas
At the very beginning, it is worth finding out what may be the reasons that your dog has fleas. That may be due to several factors. Please familiarize yourself with them and consider which is most likely the cause of fleas on your pet’s skin.
The dog got fleas from another dog
One of the most common causes of fleas on your dog is when they infect another pet. Unfortunately, even one short meeting with such a dog can cause fleas to appear on your pet’s body. That is why paying attention to what kind of dog your pet spends time with is crucial.
Unfortunately, the most common carriers of fleas are dogs that the owner does not care for. Therefore, if you are not sure about the hygiene status of a given dog, it may not be a good idea to let him play with your pet.
This situation also works the other way around. If you know your dog has been infected with fleas, it’s time to eliminate them. Try to isolate your pet from other quadrupeds. In this way, he does not spread these parasites to other dogs. That is a very responsible approach.
Other pets can transfer fleas to your dog
Although we mainly associate fleas with dogs, they can parasitize other animals. Hence, your dog can get infected not only by dogs.
The source of the presence of fleas on his skin can also be cats, but not only. Your dog can also become infected with these parasites from other animals he meets on his way and with whom he will have closer contact.
Therefore, if your dog spends a little more time in another pet’s company, check his skin condition carefully after such a meeting.
A dog staying in some place can become infected with fleas
Fleas live primarily on the skin of living organisms. Unfortunately, this does not mean they cannot exist in other conditions. There is a possibility that fleas can pass onto your dog’s body from where he is staying.
The habitat of fleas can be on furniture or fabrics. You’re probably wondering what these parasites are even doing in such a place. They usually seek shelter when lured from the skin of the animal they used to live on.
Of course, this is a temporary situation for them before they locate their new victim, to which the body will transfer.
Knowing this is important because we usually perceive other animals as a potential source of flea infection for our dog. Therefore, if they are not around, our vigilance may remain dormant.
How to tell if a dog has fleas
You are probably wondering if you can see with the naked eye that your four-legged friend has fleas. This parasite is tiny, but if you look closely at your dog’s skin, you can spot individual fleas.
They are black and slightly oval. They are a bit like a pinhead in size, so they are not entirely tiny and invisible. It is known that they are easiest to spot in dogs with light coats. However, looking very closely, you can see them on a dark-haired dog.
How a dog behaves when he has fleas
Fleas choose dog skin because they can feed on his blood. Although a single flea bite may not be painful, many can be very annoying for the canine. That is an uncomfortable feeling for the quadruped, which he will undoubtedly try to fight.
Therefore, a very characteristic behaviour of a dog with fleas is persistent scratching. If you notice that your pet is scratching almost constantly and trying to bite into the skin with his teeth, it’s a sign that something is wrong.
Scrutinize your dog’s fur, as he is likely behaving this way because fleas have attacked him.
How to deal with fleas on a dog
As soon as you notice that fleas have attacked your four-legged friend, your action should be immediate. Procrastination can make the case and your pet’s health even worse. So what should you do to eradicate fleas from your dog effectively?
Clean your dog’s accessories
You need to clean all your dog’s accessories. Although fleas are found primarily on the dog’s skin, some can be on his things. Then, when you get rid of the parasites from the canine’s body, they can attack him again by passing from his accessories.
Therefore, your task will be to wash the dog’s bed and blankets, harnesses or leashes, and even toys. Maintaining complete hygiene in such a situation is crucial in the fight against fleas on a quadruped.
If you want to learn how to clean your quadruped accessories effectively, I refer you to the entry on this subject, which you can find HERE.
Dog blanket |NAP brown
A thorough dog bath
It would help if you gave him a total bath to eliminate fleas from your canine’s skin. It would help if you used specialized shampoo to fight these parasites. An ordinary person might not be able to cope with this task.
In most cases, foaming shampoo should be left on your canine’s skin for about ten minutes – this application is the most effective. He realizes that it can be challenging in the case of quadrupeds, for whom bathing is a real torment. However, in this situation, the dog’s health is more important than his preferences.
Do this type of bath with gloves. You’re dealing with parasites, so you don’t want to touch them directly with your hand.
Combing the hair
Special flea combs are available on the market. However, I do not believe this way of getting rid of parasites is 100% effective.
However, as the second stage of the fight against fleas, after giving the dog a decent bath, yes. That will give you confidence that you have gotten rid of all the parasites on your dog’s skin.
Quick reaction to fleas in a dog
The basis in the fight against fleas on a dog is a rapid reaction. Thanks to this, you will limit the reproduction of fleas on the dog’s skin.
Has your dog ever had fleas? How did you deal with it? Tell me about it by leaving a comment below.
If you have any questions or want me to discuss a topic in the next post, share it in the comments section.
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