What Dog Owners Need To Know About Flea Infestations

Educating pet parents about the most common conditions their furry friends might face is an important step in preventive care. As a veterinary practice, you are in a unique position to teach clients about flea infestations in dogs: what they are, how they occur, how concerned owners can prevent them, and the treatment options available.

Flea infestations are relatively common for dogs, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be taken seriously. Without prompt action, they can lead to complications such as flea allergy dermatitis, anemia, and tapeworms.

The information below is a great starting point for creating client education materials. Weave makes it easy to prioritize client education and communication in your practice through user-friendly tools and advanced features.

What are fleas, and how do they affect dogs?

When pet owners understand what fleas actually are and how they spread, they can take steps to prevent fleas from spreading.

Fleas are small insects that feed on human or animal blood. When they do, they create flea bites that can cause itchiness and discomfort.

The flea life cycle

Understanding the flea life cycle can help pet owners recognize early signs of flea infestations and take steps to mitigate them.

Eggs: An adult flea lays eggs on a host, such as a dog. These eggs do not cling to the animal’s skin; instead, they typically fall onto furniture and bedding. Female fleas lay up to 50 flea eggs a day.
Larvae: The flea eggs hatch into larvae, which are approximately half a centimeter long. These larvae feed on organic debris like adult flea feces, eggshells, and even other flea larvae. This feeding enables the larvae to transition to the next stage of the life cycle.
Pupae: After feeding on enough debris, larvae spin into cocoons, becoming pupae. These cocoons blend in with their surroundings because they attract debris and dust. The pupae inside cocoons can remain dormant for months until something triggers them to emerge.
Adults: Adult fleas emerge from their cocoons when they sense movement, heat, or carbon dioxide from potential hosts nearby. They bite the host and start to mate, then the females lay eggs, repeating the cycle.

Ctenocephalides canis (dog flea) is the flea species that primarily affects dogs. Likewise, cat fleas are known by the nomenclature Ctenocephalides felis.

Health risks associated with flea bites

When left untreated, flea infestations can lead to health complications, including:

Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), which is an allergic reaction to the fleas’ saliva
Anemia due to blood loss
Transmission of tapeworms
Potential for secondary bacterial infections

Recognizing flea infestation in dogs

Knowing the signs of a flea infestation can help pet owners seek fast treatment.

Physical signs may include:

Excessive scratching or biting at the skin
Hair loss, especially near the base of the tail
Red, irritated, or inflamed skin
The presence of flea dirt, which looks like black specks that resemble pepper

Dogs might also start acting differently when they are experiencing fleas. They may groom or lick their fur more often than usual or appear uncomfortable or restless.

If a pet owner notices these signs, they can attempt to confirm the presence of fleas by running a flea comb through their fur and looking for the adult fleas or eggs. It’s also important to consult a vet after noticing fleas on a pet.

Effective treatment options for flea infestations

Fleas can be challenging to treat due to their long life cycles. It might take weeks or months to get rid of fleas. Consulting a vet can help pet owners determine the best course of treatment for their specific situation.

Treatment options may include:

Topical treatments: Spot-on treatments like Frontline or Advantage, or combination products for fleas and ticks, disrupt the nervous systems of these insects, killing adult fleas. Some products also contain insect growth regulators that can prevent flea infestations from recurring.
Oral medications: Fast-acting tablets like Capstar or monthly chewables like Comfortis and Nexgard work by entering a dog’s bloodstream. When a flea bites and ingests the blood, it also feeds on the medication, killing it.
Flea shampoos and dips: These topical treatments provide immediate relief for active infestations, killing the insects on a flea-infested animal’s skin. However, they are a temporary solution and not for long-term flea control.
Environmental control: Treating fleas also involves removing fleas and their eggs from the environment by vacuuming carpets, furniture, and bedding regularly and washing pet bedding and toys in hot water. Some severe cases may require flea sprays or foggers to eliminate the fleas from the home.

Preventing future flea infestations

Aside from treating active flea infestations, pet owners should use flea preventives throughout the year.

Year-round flea prevention: Dog owners should administer monthly flea preventives. The right product depends on the dog’s age, weight, and health status.
Environmental maintenance: For homes with ongoing flea issues, spraying outdoor flea control products may be necessary. Generally maintaining a clean living environment can help prevent future infestations by reducing their habitats.
Monitoring and regular checks: Dog owners should get into the habit of conducting routine flea checks during grooming sessions and watching for signs of re-infestation. (Vet practices can use Weave to send text and email campaigns to alert clients about flea seasons.)

Special considerations for puppies and senior dogs

Before administering flea treatment, dog owners should understand the correct types of products for their furry friends. For puppies, gentle, age-appropriate flea treatments are best. Owners should consult a veterinarian before starting any treatment to ensure that it is safe for their young puppy.

Senior dogs may have age-related sensitivities to flea treatments. Dog owners should adjust the flea prevention they use based on their dog’s health status and medications. They should monitor closely for adverse reactions after administering treatment.

When to consult a veterinarian for flea treatment

A pet owner should consult a veterinarian if they are unsure what treatment is best for their dog’s flea infestation. They should also seek veterinary support if:

The infestation is severe. Noticing signs of anemia, significant hair loss, secondary infections, or hot spots might indicate severe flea infestations on dogs and should prompt the owner to seek prompt veterinary attention.
Over-the-counter treatments are not working. This might mean the dog needs prescription treatments that end the entire life cycle of the flea more effectively.
The dog has an allergic reaction to the flea medication. Excessive itching, hives, gastrointestinal issues, and lethargy can all indicate an allergic reaction.

Weave helps veterinary practices streamline client education

When dog owners know how to prevent, detect, and treat fleas, they can keep this common infestation at bay. Preventive measures like monthly topicals and environmental maintenance are important steps in keeping dogs healthy and happy.

Pet owners should seek veterinary advice when they have questions about flea treatments or are having trouble managing infestations on their own. Vet owners can use Weave to streamline client education and communication; request a demo of our veterinary software today.

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