Top 5 Ways To Know If Your Pet Has Fleas

admin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 03:59:10 +0000

PETS & PESTS – Fleas

So my birthday was coming up and I asked for a Beagle puppy. Well, we ended up getting two. Sisters. And they came with a special bonus … fleas!

To say the least, seeing those little puppies scratching and nipping at their hindquarters was horrifying to me. Now they were on my front room carpet and I could just see the fleas bouncing off their unwitting hosts and swan diving into my carpet. I was ‘itching’ for days to follow. Certainly this was all conjured up in my mind (the swan dive anyway), but nevertheless, it was unacceptable!

If you think your pet has fleas, here are the tell tale signs to look for.

Top 5 Ways to know if your pet has fleas:

1.Flea Dirt: If flea dirt is visible on your pet, you can be assured that fleas are present. Flea dirt, as it is commonly referred to, is nothing more than flea feces (digested blood). Flea feces can be identified by placing some of the ‘dirt’ (which looks like black specks) on a wet paper towel. You will know this is flea dirt if it spreads out like a small blood stain within a few minutes.

2.Itching and Wimpering: If your pet is scratching constantly, primarily on the lower back, tail and the abdomen surrounding the urogenital and anal opening, he more than likely has fleas. Wimpering for no apparent reason could also be an indication that fleas are biting and feeding on your pet.

3.Skin Irritation and Hair Loss: When you inspect down into your pets fur, you will see irritation on the skin. You may also see spots of hair loss as well.

4.Bites on you: Bug bites on your feet, ankles and calves may appear. These bites are generally small and red. They are typically hard and cause more pain than itching. But you will more than likely notice if fleas have been biting you.

5.Physically Visible on Skin: Fleas can sometimes be seen moving in a hurried, agitated way along the surface of the skin. They appear as tiny, dark copper colored dots. They are more likely to hide in ‘darkness’, such as the fur of your pet, since they have an aversion to light.

*Although the 5 ways listed above will give you a good idea of whether your pet is suffering from fleas or not, diagnosis and treatment should be made by a licensed veterinarian. A Veterinarian may take a thorough history of your pets health and perform a physical exam. If fleas are not visible, a skin-allergy test may be performed. Whether your pet is suffering from fleas or a malady of a different sort, a veterinarian will be able to develop a treatment plan specifically tailored for your pet’s needs. This can include oral antibiotic and/or anti-parasitic medication.

Remember, the life cycle of the flea makes it a formidable opponent and it is imperative that you treat the host animal as well as the indoor and outdoor environment. Once fleas establish themselves in your home, your pet or your outdoor environment, it may take several treatments to eliminate them. Therefore, do not take a flea infestation lightly. Strict eradication is the only effective treatment for fleas.

The good news is that you will know your efforts have been successful when your pet experiences decreased scratching and healthy skin.

Alta Sierra Pest Control » Pets & Pests

Top 5 Ways To Know If Your Pet Has Fleas