Four Common Kinds of Little Black Bugs on Dogs
Fleas are the most common dog skin parasite and are large enough to be seen without a microscope. If your dog only has a few fleas, it might be tough to find them. You can also look for flea “dirt” which looks like black sand in the fur which turns red if dabbed with a wet tissue (it’s actually flea poop).
Fleas cause a lot of scratching and are worse during warm seasons. There are many ways to get rid of them, including gentler natural methods. Don’t forget to treat all of your pets, your home and your yard if you want to beat fleas.
I wrote an article with step-by-step instructions for fighting fleas naturally.
Ticks range in size from about 1/32 of an inch all the way to 1+ inches when engorged. The small ones are often called “seed ticks” and I’ve seen dogs with literally dozens of them.
Ticks are the second most common external parasite we see on dogs. Ticks can transmit blood parasites to dogs and humans, so it’s really important to get rid of them A.S.A.P.!
You can remove them manually using tweezers. Grasp the tick with the tweezers as close as possible to the dog’s skin and gently pull away.
It’s best if you can get the tick’s head and not leave it embedded in the skin but that’s not always possible. If the tick’s head is left behind, watch the area for significant inflammation and get your vet’s help if you notice this.
Another option is to use a topical medication or an oral medication. Frontline Plus and NexGard are popular tick control products many of my clients use for their dogs.
There are a bunch of different kinds of mites that can infest dogs.
One of the ones that are big enough to be seen without a microscope is Cheyletiella, also called “walking dandruff” as they are very tiny (less than 1/32 of an inch) but look like specks of dandruff moving among the dog’s fur.
I don’t have a photo of Cheyletiella mites on dogs, but I can tell you they look more whitish than black.
If you part the dog’s fur and watch closely, you’ll notice what looks like small flakes of dandruff but it moves a little bit.
Unlike fleas that race around quickly, Cheyletiella mites move slowly. Check out some Cheyletiella photos on Veterinary-Practice.com.
Other mites that come from birds and rodents usually look blacker than Cheyletiella. It’s possible for bird or rodent mites to infect your dog, but it is not a common problem.
Cheyletiella mites can make your dog really itchy. Plus they can infect humans. The good news is that they’re pretty easy to get rid of. Mites are much less common than fleas and ticks.
Lime sulfur dip (make sure to dilute it) and Frontline Plus are both effective against Cheyletiella mites. You’ll want to clean your home and bedding really well and consider calling an exterminator, too.
Lice are tiny but they are visible to the naked eye. About 1/8 to 1/4 inch in length, lice are less common parasites of dogs in North America. They can appear whitish to dark brown in color.
Lice attach their eggs to the hair shaft and you can see these “nits” if you look closely at the base of your dog’s hair shaft. They also cause a lot of scratching and are highly contagious to other dogs, but not to humans.
They’re relatively easy to get rid of, too, thank goodness! You can get rid of lice by using Lime Sulfur dip, Neem oil shampoo, or Frontline Plus.
Be sure to treat all dogs and cats in your home, using appropriate treatments recommend by your vet. Some pets are good at masking the signs of a flea infestation. But if one pet is infested, all pets in the household can be. This is why knowing how to get rid of fleas ahead of time can prove to be very beneficial.
Flea pupae are protected by their cocoons – all pupae will have to hatch out and be killed as adult fleas on the pet. It can take several weeks for all pupae to hatch in an infested environment. If undisturbed, pupae can exist for many months in the environment, which is why encouraging them to hatch (by allowing your pets to roam their usual haunts) and regular flea treatment are important in helping to rid a home of an infestation.
Black specks on your dog or in your dog’s bed may be “flea dirt” – the fecal matter from adult fleas. There are two easy ways to check for black specks:
Although fleas can be a problem for your pets all year, flea populations typically explode about five to six weeks after the weather starts to warm up. So pay special attention to flea prevention in the spring and early summer months and make sure you know how to get rid of fleas.
If infested with fleas, your dog may become very nervous, annoyed and may scratch excessively. When you discover fleas on your dog, your home is probably already part of the problem. There will be eggs, larvae, and pupae wherever your dogs like to lie around or sit. It’s time to take action!
While some over the counter shampoos claim to banish these tiny insects, you can never be certain.
In this guide, we are going to share the most common causes of black bugs on your dog, and offer guidance to help you banish these insects for good.
If you think your canine friend has been infected with lice, we always suggest reaching out to your vet for proper treatment.
There is nothing worse than brushing through your dog’s fur, only to discover crawling critters that have made your dog their home.
Insects of all kind can make their way into your dog’s fur, leading to an array of irritating symptoms to follow.
Black Spots On Dogs Nipples
There is nothing worse than brushing through your dog’s fur, only to discover crawling critters that have made your dog their home.
Fleas are the most common tiny black bugs that you will find crawling across your dog’s skin, but there are other insects to be aware of as well.
Fleas are a common threat to dogs, but they are not the only ectoparasites that dog owners should be educated on.
Some of these other insects can transmit deadly diseases to pets and humans, making it essential to treat them quickly to prevent potential complications.
Not only can tiny black insects be a potential health threat for your dog, but they can quickly multiply once they enter your home.
Much like dealing with bed bugs or another infestation within the home, you need to be diligent to make sure the issue has been resolved.
In this guide, we are going to share the most common causes of black bugs on your dog, and offer guidance to help you banish these insects for good.
If you see tiny black bugs on your dog, it’s highly likely that you are dealing with a case of fleas.
Fleas are very small, around 1/8 of an inch, and often appear dark brown to black in color.
They are a flat insect, and will often be found jumping long distances and scurrying throughout your dog’s fur.
Fleas also cause significant skin irritation, so you can expect to see your pup scratching at every opportunity.
Not only will you be able to see the insects if there are enough of them on your pet, but you will also see the dirt they leave behind.
Flea dirt looks like tiny black speckles deposited throughout the fur, often turning red the moment their fur gets wet.
Fleas are also prolific breeders, as female fleas can lay at least 2,000 eggs on dogs before dying.
This means that a small flea problem can quickly become a serious issue, as fleas will continue to multiple until they are banished.
Flea treatments for dogs can be purchased from your vet’s office, pet stores, and even online with a veterinary prescription.
You can start by bathing them in an approved dish soap (as this drowns the living fleas on your dog’s skin), treating your home for any current flea infestations, and having your pup on monthly flea prevention going forward.
Ticks are typically larger than fleas, and there are an abundance of species that your dog can encounter during their time outdoors.
These species can range in terms of size and color, but some of them can be black in appearance.
If you find a tick on your dog’s skin, it’s important to properly remove these critters as soon as possible.
Ticks can transmit disease to both dogs and humans, as they have the ability to pass on harmful pathogens with each bite.
Some of the most common tick diseases include Lyme disease, Rocky mountain spotted fever, ehrlichia, and anaplasmosis.
Ticks are commonly found under the fur on the dark areas of your dog, such as under their legs or behind their ears.
Tick are best removed using tweezers, as long as you ensure that you have removed the head of the tick as well.
Dogs cannot be infected with the lice that like to burrow into our hair, but they can become infected with species specific lice that target our canine friends.
These fleas are typically very small, but they can be seen when examining their fur closely.
These critters can be anywhere from tan to dark brown in color, which is why some could mistake them as small fleas.
The lice on your dog’s skin cannot be transmitted to humans, but it does not mean these infestations should be ignored.
Canine lice can cause severe skin irritation to the dog affected, often leading to secondary skin infections as a result.
If you think your canine friend has been infected with lice, we always suggest reaching out to your vet for proper treatment.
While some over the counter shampoos claim to banish these tiny insects, you can never be certain.
Though most mites cannot be seen with the naked eye, you may still see some evidence of their presence.
Some of the most common skin mites in dogs include demodectic and sarcoptic mange, both of which leave a trail of significant skin irritation in their path.
Though it is impossible to see these mites without microscope, we still feel it’s important to mention when discussing crawling critters of the skin.
If you ever think your pup has been infected with any type of mite, we always suggest reaching out to your vet for further guidance.
As you can see, a flea infestation is not the only issue you should be concerned with when discovering tiny bugs on your dog’s skin.
Insects of all kind can make their way into your dog’s fur, leading to an array of irritating symptoms to follow.
Diligence with flea and tick prevention is essential in keeping our pups critter free, as many of these medications can banish other insects as well.
As long as you follow your vet’s guidance when offering monthly prevention, your pup will have ample protection against these tiny invaders.