Of all the parasites that can affect your dog, fleas are the most common.
Chronic infestations that are left untreated can lead to an infection and other flea-related diseases.
To help keep your dog and her environment a healthy, it’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of flea infestations.
Here are 2 key signs that your dog has fleas:
- Itching and scratching: Like all parasites, fleas rely on a host for their survival – for this situation, your puppy’s blood. Mutts can be oversensitive to the protein in insect salivation and will tingle or scratch when the bug chomps the puppy’s skin. A single bite from a flea can make your dog anxious or upset and scratch exorbitantly for a few days.
- Red bumps: These side effects may show up on your puppy’s crotch or gut, under the legs, at the construct of her tail or in light of her behind (back end). Steady tingling or scratching of these territories can bring baldness and dry skin. Left untreated, dried up sores and contamination can create and prompt more extreme insect related ailments.
If you see any of the above signs from your dog, start checking your dog’s comb or brush during grooming sessions. If you suspect a problem, you need to check as there might be a possibility that your dog has fleas.
Checking Your Dog For Fleas
- Visually checking for them: Fleas in the adult stage are little and dark colored and are generally simple to see with the exposed eye. Have your dog lie on her side and check meagerly haired zones, like her belly or within her rump.
- Flea comb: Fine-toothed, metal flea brushes are accessible from your vet or nearby pet supply store. Run the brush along her back or underbelly while applying enough weight so the brush interacts with her skin. Adult flea defecation – regularly called “bug soil” – looks like little dark pepper spots. Have a little bowl of sudsy water convenient to suffocate any adult fleas you may pull up with the brush so they don’t bounce back onto your dog.
- The white towel test: Have your puppy lay down on a white paper towel or white towel. Brush or rub her fur and verify whether there are dark droppings on the towel. Adult flea feces will look like modest grains of sand and will turn red if it comes in contact with water.
In the event that you can’t distinguish any parasites, flea feces or eggs, but your dog keeps on scratching or appears to be awkward, have your veterinarian examine her.
There is a skin test your vet can perform to test for insect hypersensitivities.
It’s also possible that your dog might be experiencing another sort of sensitivity, for example, a food or contact hypersensitivity which the vet can analyze during your visit.
Safely Rid Your Dog and Home of Fleas
Adult fleas will continue to recreate and flourish with your dog and inside your home, until the point when you break their life cycle.
Luckily, there are many successful flea treatment medications at your local drug store or veterinarian. From powders to shampoos and topical fluids, various items are accessible to avoid or wipe out bugs, and treat your dog’s environment.
If you believe your dog has fleas but want to be sure, our skilled professional dog groomers have over 25 years of experience, and are available for your pooch’s complete grooming needs.
Please call 219-240-0032 for more information or to get a quote.
[Source: https://www.hartz.com/how-to-tell-if-your-dog-has-fleas/ ]