How to tell if your dog has fleas

If your pup is harboring some unwanted guests, you might notice the following symptoms:

• Persistent scratching - sometimes jumping to bite their rear end
• Fur loss, rough spiky fur or bald spots
• Inflamed or sore skin

Some poor pooches also suffer from an allergy to fleas, which can cause very severe skin reactions,and excessive scratching and biting.

How to get rid of fleas

Step 1 - Speak to your vet

• The best way to treat fleas is with a prescribed spot-on treatment, injection or medication from your vet.These high-strength treatments will resolve the problem quickly for your pup, rather than any home remedies or over-the-counter products that may not be strong enough, and allow the fleas to multiply. 

• Your vet can also help to prescribe soothing creams or bathing solutionsto help your dog’s irritated skin, especially if they have any sores as a result of excessive scratching.

• Your veterinarian may also prescribe extra worm medication, as some fleas can pass tapeworms to dogs. 

Step 2 - Treat your pets

• Following your vet’s suggested protocol, treat your pup and any other petsyou have in the home. This is because fleas spread easily, and will most likely have jumped onto your other family members too!

Step 3 - Treat your home

• The life cycle of a flea means that they are most likely laying eggs around your home!So your next step is to eradicate them from your house with a thorough clean.

• Do a deep vacuuming session,followed by an insecticide spray- which your vet can recommend, as certain brands and formulas work well for different homes. Also if your pooch has been in the car recently, it's a good idea to treat this area too. While this may be a big job, a single application of these sprays can last for six months to a year - so you’ll be preventing further issues. Just be sure to keep your pets out of the house while using these sprays, as some can be toxic to fish and cats. 

• Wash anything your dog has been near on a hot cycle- bedding, toys, sofa cushions, bath mats, blankets, bedding. You may need to repeat this step a few times until you are sure the fleas are gone. Repeat this frequently until the infestation has ended.

• You may also want to apply a non-toxic flea treatment for your yard too, as fleas can sometimes hide in grassy areas. 

Prevention really is the best cure…

Whilst all our dogs will probably suffer from a flea outburst now and again, preventative methods can really reduce those chances. 

There are plenty of great options available to keep fleas in check,and your vet can help you choose the right one for you. The most common include:

• Flea Collars - these special collars contain active ingredients to ward off any pesky parasites. Low maintenance and easy to use, they will simply need replacing every few months, depending on the brands suggested lifespan for the product. However, a collar might not be the best option for houses with small kids, who might try and put them in their mouths! It’s also best to make sure your dog does not have a reaction to the collar by watching them closely when first putting it on.

• Topical Treatments- these treatments are applied on a regular basis directly to the skin, but just be sure your dog can’t reach the area with their tongue! Some treatments also have a multi-purpose action that tackle worms as well as fleas, so you can tick off 2 jobs in 1! Your only issue might be remembering to apply these, although a simple calendar event could help, or even subscribing to a flea subscription package which will arrive when your next treatment is needed.

• Oral Treatments - these preventatives come in pill or chew form, and may be more reassuring for some owners who want to be sure their dog has absorbed the medication. However, it’s best to speak to your vet first, to be sure these won’t upset your pup’s stomach.