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Let’s talk about fleas!!
It’s not a very glamorous topic. But it can be a big problem that is hard to get rid of.
How do you know if your dog has fleas??
Well scratching is a good indicator, but not always accurate. Sometimes our dogs just have an itch. You could look at your dog and hope to see a flea. Chances are you won’t see them because fleas are quick little buggers and they can jump pretty good too. There are specific areas to look for fleas. They like dark, damp places. So you want to check around the ear canal (especially in drop eared dogs), the groin, or around the rectum. Use your finger to move the fur against the grain and watch closely. If you catch something moving out of the corner of your eye it may have been a flea. Fleas are a shiny brown color, about the size of rice. So good luck looking.
A better way to detect the presence of fleas is flea dirt. What the heck is that??
Flea dirt is dried blood and looks like pepper. This is most noticeable in the groin. So sit on the floor with you legs straight out in front of you and lay your dog on his/her back between you legs with their head by your feet. I have small dogs so this is easy. I’ve never done it with a big dog so you may have a better way. Anyway how do you know if it is flea dirt or just plain dirt. Collect a few pieces put them on a white tissue and add a drop of water. If they dissolve and leave a rusty mark that’s flea dirt. If they remain the same little pieces they are plain old dirt. Hey! you will never be so happy to see plain old dirt on your pet.
What happens if you have fleas? Well, a lot, fleas can be in bedding and in your carpet. Your pet will need a flea bath and if it is severe you may need to fog your house. Fleas can bite humans, though they will not live on you. If you have little red bumps usually around your ankles those could be fleabites. Then you probably do need to fog the house.
Where do fleas come from? The most common places I know of to get fleas are from other dogs or the critters in the back yard. Squirrels, rabbits and such. The flea can jump off and lay in the grass until you nice warm doggie walks by and they jump on.
It is humanly impossible to screen and check everyone who comes to play. Even if you checked it is no guarantee that you will see them. Some dogs have such a heavy coat it would be impossible.
Here at Poochies & mutts our guests are kept busy playing with each other. This can make it easy to pass fleas. So although we do not require our guests to be on a flea preventative we do strongly recommend it.
Please talk with your Veterinarian for the best plan of action to ensure your pet remains healthy and free of parasites, such as fleas.
Be Happy and Live Like a Dog
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