While fleas may appear small and innocent, if picked up, these blood-sucking parasites feast on your pet and can lay up to 50-eggs in a single day. Before you know it, your cat or dog can experience an explosion of itchy and irritating flea activity. Unfortunately, if brought into the house by one of your pets, fleas can also latch onto and bite humans which can transmit a host of serious viruses and bacteria. Keep reading below to learn warning signs that indicate if your dog or cat has picked up fleas and affective methods to rid your pet, as well as yourself, of this dangerous infestation.

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Flea Symptoms: How to Tell if You Pet Has Fleas

Fleas may be difficult to observe as they are tiny parasites that thrive off blood from their host by biting onto the skin. During this process, they also inject their saliva under the skin of their host which puts them at risk for some serious health issues. 

When first inspecting under your dog or cat’s coat for fleas, watch for subtle parasite movement or ‘flea dirt’ which looks like black pepper spots on your pet’s skin. Other telltale symptoms of fleas include constant itching, red scabby skin, hair loss, pale gums, and occasionally hot spots that looks like pimples will raise if an infection has begun.

If left untreated, a flea infestation can become a far more serious issue as they are parasites that carry harmful diseases, such as:

• Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD): Some pets are allergic to fleas, or become allergic, and experience extreme immune reactions to flea bites.
• Anemia: An abundance of fleas, after time, can create severe blood clots that can lead to harmful tissue damageand even premature death.
• Tapeworms: If your dog or cat swallows a flea infected with tapeworm larvae, the parasite can begin to grow inside your pet’s gut.

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How to Rid Your Dog or Cat of Fleas

Truthfully, getting rid of a flea infestation is a multi-step process that can take months depending on the severity of the situation. The first step is to visit your pet’s veterinarian to inspect and prescribe an elaborate process to eliminate the fleas from your dog or cat as well as clean your home of this pesky parasite. Common prescribed methods to reversing a flea infestation usually includes:

• A Flea Comb: This fine-toothed metal comb is designed with a purpose to knock fleas off your pet’s skin and fur. It’s recommended to brush your pet once per day in the bathtub and occasionally dip the comb into the soapy water to remove any fleas or eggs it’s picked up.
• Various Medications: Several oral, topical, natural, and other medications exist and are commonly prescribed by veterinarians to combat your pet’s flea problem. Depending on what stage your dog or cat is in their flea infestation, and if they’re experiencing health issues (tapeworms, infections, hair loss, etc.), your veterinarian will determine the apt medication.
• Flea Shampoos and Sprays: Being another prescribed treatment, certain shampoos and sprays exist that contain active ingredients to kill parasitic fleas. As it’s a process which immediately relieves your pet from itchy fleas, bathe your pet with flea shampoo every day until the infestation is gone.

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Optimum Canine & Feline Coat Health

Finally, after you’ve eradicated your pet and home from the irritating flea infestation, it’s important to prevent this from ever happening again by providing your dog or cat with optimum skin and coat supplements. 

With canines, in addition to fleas, there are many things capable of wreaking havoc to their skin and coats such as mites, bacteria, the climate, and even poor choices in nutrition. To ensure that your dog’s coat remains healthy, feeding them Dr. Bill’s Canine Optimum Skin & Coat is the best way to ensure optimum skin and coat health. This balanced blend of essential nutrients is easy for a dog to digest, and it’s been clinically proven that Canine Skin & Coat has been effective for over 35-years for both veterinarians and breeders alike.

With felines, a cat’s fur is a good indicator of their overall health. Help maintain that natural shine with Dr. Bill’s Feline Skin & Coat, which provides all essential skin and coat nutrients in an easy-to-digest form. Veterinarians and breeders know that Feline Optimum Skin & Coat really works – that’s why they have been using and recommending it for over 35 years. This supplement provides all of the extra nutrients needed to maintain healthy skin and coats, without adding the extra calories.