If your dog has fleas, it's a problem not only for the dog, but for its owner as well. If the dog's fleas are not treated, the problem can escalate to infesting your home, onto your other pets and even onto you. Needless to say, it's an issue that needs to be dealt with quickly before the situation becomes worse.

How to Detect Fleas

Dog owners often detect that their dog has fleas because it scratches more than usual. The reason for this is because the flea's bite; if the dog is allergic to the fleas (in actuality, the saliva) it can cause extreme itching. It might progress in which you notice your dog loses fur in places of its body. This in turn can lead to inflammation and infections.

The above signs are the outward manifestations that your dog has fleas. However, even though these pests are very small, they are still visible to the naked eye. They are brown in color and like to hide in the dog's fur, particularly under the collar or the belly. Another sure sign that your dog has fleas is if you see black specks on your dog's coat. Unfortunately, you are looking at the fecal matter of the fleas.

Dog Flea Treatments

So now that you have established the fact that your dog has fleas, what is your next course of action? Flea collars, powders and sprays help with the prevention of fleas but if your dog is already infested, you will need to get clean your dog's environment, namely, your house. You will need to clean the carpet, the sofa, the dog bed - wherever your dog roams as flea eggs can fall off the dog. Even if you get rid of the dog fleas, these eggs will hatch and eventually grow into adult fleas whereby the whole cycle starts over again. The lifecycle must stop. This is why you must get rid of all traces of the fleas by cleaning the house and get special medication that specifically states that it will kill the fleas and eggs as well.

Dog fleas are just a huge nuisance for the dog and owner alike. Not only is it a health issue but an environmental issue as well for dog and human combined. It is best to prevent dog fleas and there are numerous products available in pet stores or even online at a fraction of the cost.

Article by: Miriam Ma