How do you know if your dog has fleas?

Answer 1

Usually if you part the hair and look at the skin near the eyes, on the tummy, under their legs in the "underarm" area, or on the back end near the tail, you can see them as tiny dark brown or blackish shiny spots that might be moving and hopping. But sometimes the spots are not the bug and aren't moving, but rather the excrement of the bug, another sure sign that there are fleas hiding somewhere.

You can also get a flea comb, which is a comb made for the purpose with very fine teeth, that when combed through the coat will pick up the fleas and you will see them on the comb (you may need to hold it over something white to see the best). Some people also hold something white near the dog's skin, such as a piece of paper, a white sheet, note card, etc. and then rub the dog's hair and skin lightly but briskly with their finger tips...this can make the fleas hop and you will see them when they land on the white background as tiny black or brown spots.

Another big clue is if the dog is scratching a lot and especially if chewing on places where the fleas are using his front teeth, trying to kill them between his teeth. This may be due to other problems such as Allergies or skin disorders, so you should be sure to confirm there are fleas before treating with flea medicine. You can also avoid using the flea chemicals if you have a small enough dog to carefully comb them with the flea comb over every inch of their body and coat until the bugs are gone. Repeat this several times over a period of days and then check and use the comb every few days to catch any missed ones or newly hatched ones.

Note:

If your dog has fleas and you treat the dog, but DON'T treat your house and the dog's bedding, not only will the fleas jump back onto the dog (or any other animal in the home) but you'll likely also find them on yourself, your bedding, in the carpet, etc. The optimum treatment is to treat the dog, the dog's bedding, AND the home in one fell swoop.

Answer 2

the dog willvery likely be scratching- mainly around its ears and the base of the tail although it can be itchy all over. also on parting the fur you may see live fleas crawling through the coat quickly away from you- they are big enough to see easily with the naked eye, dark brown in colour and fast moving. they may jump. another tell tale sign is the finding of flea droppings through the coat- they will be small black specs. as flea dirt is essentially digested blood you can differentiate it from normal dirt or soil by doing the "paper test". comb some dirt onto a white sheet of paper and wet your finger. dot the wet finger on the dirt and drag it accross the paper- flea dirt will be brown-reddish. normal dirt is just black or grey. if your dog has fleas i would strongly recommend using a proper flea treatment from your vet and you must treat the house. call your vet for advice.

Answer 3

Are you talking about a food allergy? If so, a dog will show a food allergy almost immediately. My 100# lab ate some zucchini and he instantly starting coughing and using his front paw to wipe his face. We were not sure what was going on with him. Then after a while his eyes were very droopy and kinda rolled inward. Almost looked as if he got hit in the head really hard. Called the Vet office and he asked me if he had gotten into anything. Since the coughing started after the zucchini he had eaten i told the Vet that, and he said it sounded like a food allergy and I needed to bring him right in because his airway was probably closing. Got him in the office and YES his throat was very tight and the Vet knew first off by looking at his eyes that he had a allergy. Gave him a shot of DepoMedrol and we were on our way and almost instantly he was better. Very scary and I now know that Dogs to not need to eat any vegetables, esp Zucchini and Onions. ------- Also, if your dog is not showing interest in his food and/or is vomiting and having diarrhea often, it could be a poultry allergy. Poultry is a very common ingredient in dog food and many dogs are now beginning to exhibit a sensitivity toward it. See your vet for further care.

Answer 4

Dogs that have flea allergy dermatitis are hypersensitive to the saliva a flea passes into the dog's skin when it bites. The bite from a single flea will have a minimal affect on a normal animal, but dogs with flea allergy will experience immediate itching, redness and swelling.

Common findings in a dog that is allergic to fleas include increased scratching or itchiness, loss of hair, hairs that appear broken, crusts and erosions of the skin, and pimple-like bumps. Thickened skin with darkened areas can be seen in severe cases. Fleas or flea feces, which can be difficult to detect, indicate the presence of fleas. Hot spots sometimes can be seen along the dog's back and tail base. These sores are usually circular, red, oozing, and very painful, often requiring medical attention.

Answer 5

Your dog with fleas will start to scratch itself and lick itself much more than usual. You can also try to look at your dogs skin, or run a flea comb through and if you see any black specks immediatly wash it off. These black specks are often called "flea dirt" and are essentially digested blood expelled from the adult fleas. Don't be afraid when you see red or orange when washing your dog or the flea comb, that just means the dirt is coming off.

The most effective way of getting rid of fleas is to use one of those once a month flea medications such as Frontline, Advantage or Advocate. The best, most effective brands can be bought from your vet. These are a once a month flea medication that will prevent fleas & ticks from getting on him or her for a month. You apply it topically. Combing the dog regularly will remove dead or dying fleas, and should be done until no more fleas can be seen. Washing the dog using a flea shampoo for dogs is also another method for helping getting rid of fleas.

As well as treating your dog, you need to treat the house, too. Flea eggs and larvae can spend many months hiding in carpets, bedding and other fabrics and even between floorboards. Daily vacuuming will get rid of many, but be sure to either place a cut-up flea collar in the vacuum bag, or throw away the bag after each use; the bag can be a breeding ground for fleas. Washing bedding and other fabrics very regularly helps also. There are many flea-killing sprays or chemical "bombs" on the market which are said to also help in treating the house.

Answer 6

Fleas usually leave bites. They will likely be itchy and commonly swollen slightly and red. Similar to mosquito bites. That would be the most obvious way to tell. You can also see them if you look very close, some people may need to use a magnifying glass. They are very small black (sometimes brown) dots and they move and jump when disturbed making them easier to see and feel as they jump around on you. You can use a flea comb on your hair to see if there are any, since the flea combs are very fine toothed and capture the fleas. Often if your dog has fleas and is in the house, the carpet will have fleas that will jump on you as you walk through, so remember to treat the whole house for the fleas and not just the dog. It is especially important to treat the dog's bed and near the bed, following the directions on the label of the product you use (which may or may not require keeping the dog and children from the area temporarily after treatment.) Ask your veterinarian's technician or at a specialized pet store for recommendations of products they carry and information for use.

Answer 7

Flea bites in dogs show up as small little red or pink dots in their skin. It is important to move to hair away and expose the region where the bites may be. Flea bites should be treated immediately by thorough cleaning with medicated soap.

Answer 8

Consult your vet. A microscopic examination of a skin scraping can determine the presence of mange mites.

Answer 9

From the bites