How Many Fleas On A Dog Is Considered An Infestation?
Since just one bite can jumpstart a quickly-moving reproductive cycle, finding a flea on your dog or cat means that you probably already have a problem. Any pet can pick up the ubiquitous flea if they spend time outside, in kennels or around other animals. Even an indoor pet that rarely spends time in the great outdoors isn’t entirely immune from fleas. This is because the humidity inside our homes is often stable, meaning fleas can thrive inside any time of year after an unsuspecting host brings these pests indoors.
Fleas are not easily visible—especially when they’re living on our pet. However, if an infestation is heavy, you may be able to spot the fleas on your dog’s skin. Another sign you might have a flea problem is spotting small black or brown specks on or around your pet’s bedding. These specks resemble coffee grounds and are sometimes called “flea dirt”. This substance is flea feces, which turns a reddish color if wet.
While they are so small you are unlikely to notice them, flea eggs are oval-shaped and white and are about the same size as a salt crystal. For the most part, the most obvious sign of a flea infestation is noticing your pet scratching more than usual or spotting an irritated “hot spot” on its skin from flea bite dermatitis.
If you notice your dog or cat is miserable and you think fleas are the reason why, you’ll want to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian immediately. Your vet can diagnose the reason for excessive scratching and recommend effective products that will kill the fleas, both fully grown and in immature stages, on your dog or cat. Do keep in mind that homeowners with multiple pets should treat each animal separately, since fleas can move from one pet to another and some treatments for dogs can be dangerous if administered to cats.
Now that we have established the risk these parasites pose to your home and furry friends, let’s talk about when you are more likely to see them.
Does One Flea Mean An Infestation?
It started with a scratch. At first, you didn’t think much of it, but your dog had been itching nonstop for a few weeks now. When you took a closer look at your pet’s fur, you noticed a small creature hop out of sight which seemed to confirm what you might have already suspected: a flea has been tormenting your beloved furry family member.
Soon after you conclude that you might have a flea in your home, you may wonder, “does one flea mean an infestation?”
While one flea may not seem like a big deal, these small bugs breed extremely quickly. So fast that if immediate action is not taken, an infestation is surely on the horizon.
In this post, we’ll talk more about flea behavior and activity and offer up some tips on what to do if your home is invaded by these tiny parasites.
Fleas are common household pests which prefer dog and cat blood, but can also feed on humans. Homes can become infested after just one of these high-flying creatures launches itself from somewhere in your yard onto your pet’s body, or even your pant leg, and hang on tight until you or your dog or cat come back inside. These insidious hitchhikers can feed within minutes of finding a host and can breed within 24 hours, laying up to 50 eggs a day in your home and yard. So, yes, one flea can—and often does—become a problem.
Flea eggs usually fall off your pet and land anywhere your pet spends time: carpets, furniture and in bedding. If your pet sleeps with you, fleas could end up on your bed as well. In only a few days, these eggs hatch. Adult fleas are about one-eighth of an inch in length, and are brown to black in color. While most fleas during peak season live for around three weeks, these parasites can survive on their hosts for over 100 days.
One adult flea can consume as much as 15 times its body weight daily. Flea bites can cause swelling and irritation on your pet’s skin, and may even lead to a bacterial infection and hair loss. To make matters worse, fleas can spread bacteria and viruses, and can serve as a host for tapeworms, meaning that a grooming pet can unknowingly swallow an infected flea, leading to an even more serious infection.
Once they have become established, fleas can be spread to raccoons and opossums that might frequent your property, who can then reinfest your yard after outdoor treatments, making controlling the population on your property even more difficult.
Once fleas have infested your home, you’ll need to be vigilant about treating your pet, home and yard and also implement a monitoring schedule to ensure these pests don’t come back.
How to Spot Fleas on Dogs
How do you know if fleas are causing all that itching (pruritus in veterinary terms)? Generally, unlike the burrowing, microscopic Demodex or Scabies mites, fleas can be seen scurrying along the surface of the skin.
Fleas are a dark copper color and about the size of the head of a pin. They dislike light, so your best chance of spotting fleas on a dog is to look within furry areas and on the belly and inner thighs.
“Flea dirt” can also signal that there are fleas on a dog. Flea dirt looks like dark specks of pepper scattered on the skin’s surface. If you see flea dirt—which is actually flea feces that is composed of digested blood—pick some off the pet and place on a wet paper towel. If the tiny specks spread out like a small bloodstain after a few minutes, its definitely flea dirt, and your pet has fleas.
Fleas In Dogs | Vet Explains
Fleas are like vampires. They feed off the blood of our furry friends, which can lead to a variety of health problems if not treated quickly. Theyre one of the most common pet healthcare concerns, and its crucial that as a pet parent you stay vigilant.