Puppy Fleas: How To Get Rid Of Fleas On Puppies And Older Dogs

Fleas on puppies are a common problem and may come back all too frequently as your puppy grows up.

We help you banish puppy fleas from your dog, your home, and your life.

You’ll find all the information you need to know about puppy flea infestations

And how to get rid of them for good.

In addition to being unpleasant for you and your dog, and let’s face it, a bit embarrassing, puppy fleas are trouble.

They can cause unpleasant allergies that result in hair loss and unsightly sores on your dog.

Dog fleas can also carry unpleasant diseases that can be passed to humans. So you need to set to work immediately to get rid of these unwelcome visitors.

The first step in any battle is to ‘know your enemy’. So let’s find out about fleas!

Puppy fleas:  know your enemy!

It’s all too easy to associate puppy fleas with abandoned pups, or with strays and neglected dogs.

But in reality, even the best cared for pets will surprise their owners with unwelcome guests at some point.

It’s unlikely to be because we’ve done anything wrong, fleas are just uniquely adapted to survive and thrive wherever a potential host is nearby.

Let’s take a quick look at what we’re up against…

Puppy flea suspect no. 1 – the cat flea

Cat flea? But I’m here about my baby dog! My DOG has fleas. D. O. G.

I hear you, but here’s a fun fact: the dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis) only accounts for around 10% of fleas found on puppies and older dogs.

However the pesky cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) accounts for up to 80% of puppy fleas and those affecting dogs of all ages.

(The remaining 10%, in case you’re wondering, are usually a motley assortment of rabbit fleas, human fleas, hedgehog fleas and the intriguingly-monikered stick-tight poultry flea.)

How puppy fleas live and hide

When female fleas lay eggs, the eggs fall from the dog’s coat and land in the environment.

Larval fleas hatch from the eggs and spend roughly two weeks eating and moulting until it’s nearly time to find their final host.

Then they build themselves a cocoon, and wait… for three months if necessary… until clues from light and shadows, temperature, and even ambient CO2 levels (ambient CO2 levels! I told you they were smart survivors!), tell them a host animal is nearby.

Then it takes a matter of minutes to hatch and jump on board, and tuck into their first blood meal.

So don’t be embarrassed if you suspect your puppy has fleas. It can, and does, happen to the best of us.

So how can you tell when it’s happened to you?

How to spot puppy fleas – what to look for

Sometimes it’s as simple as spotting fleas in your puppy’s coat.

Fleas are 1-2mm long, and reddish brown in color.

They feed by sucking your dogs’ blood through specially adapted straw-like mouth parts, so if you find them they’ll be nestled as deep as possible in your dog’s coat, right against the skin.

Their bodies are laterally compressed (which means they look like they’ve laid down on their side and been squished) to help them slide down between your dog’s hairs, but it also makes them fiendishly difficult to see, even against a white coat.

You might have more luck spotting their poo – tiny black flecks left in your dog’s fur.

If you can catch some of those flecks on a piece of white paper, add a drop of water to them and swirl it about.

If the water turns reddish brown, you’re almost certainly looking at flea poo.

How to know if your puppy has fleas

If your puppy has a dark coat, the first signs they have fleas are likely to be physical symptoms.

If your puppy isn’t allergic to flea bites (flea allergies often develop later)  they might not show any signs of having fleas straight away.

But if a small infestation goes unchecked, they could develop any of the following symptoms:

• Anemia – look out for unusually pale gums.
• Skin irritation – watch for them scratching more than usual.
• Tapeworms – tapeworms are transmitted between animals by flea bites, so a dog with tapeworms almost certainly has fleas too. Tapeworm segments look a bit like grains of rice, either in your pet’s poo, or on the skin around their bottom.
• Hotspots – damp red patches on their skin caused by scratching, licking and chewing at bites, which then fester under the warmth of their coat.
• Lesions on their lower legs caused by excessive licking.

Flea allergy in dogs

Sometimes flea bites on dogs trigger an allergic reaction which causes in intense itching sensation that takes a long time to subside.

Flea allergy is is most common in dogs between three and five years old, but younger pups are sometimes affected

Besides a constant need to scratch, if your dog is allergic to fleas you might also notice redness of the skin and itchy scabs forming over the flea bites.

Left untreated, allergic dogs with a flea infestation may begin to suffer hair loss, areas of their skin may become leathery and their coat color may change.

This can happen surprisingly quickly in a flea-sensitive dog.

How do puppies get fleas?

Dogs almost always pick up fleas from their environment. Puppies may arrive in their new home with an extra visitor or two, if the breeder failed to eliminate fleas completely from the whelping area.

If you have more than one pet and they sleep together, adult fleas may occasionally jump from one to the other.

But usually they will stay on their first host until they are killed or cleaned away through grooming.

Fleas prefer warm climates, so depending how cold your winters are, you might find that fleas are more of a summer problem. This study carried out on dogs in Italy   showed that flea infestations peaked between June and October

A large study conducted across Germany in 2006 found that living in an urban or rural area didn’t make any difference to the likelihood of getting fleas.  So this isn’t something you can easily avoid!

Flea control for puppies – getting help

If you dog has symptoms of a flea infestation, it’s really important to ask a vet to confirm your suspicions.

There are other problems that can cause scratching

Your vet will be able to help you treat any side effects of fleas your pet is suffering, and also check for other illnesses which often go hand in hand with fleas, like tapeworms.

Flea treatments for dogs – a two pronged approach

Any time your dog gets fleas, from puppyhood to old age, you’ll need to attack the fleas from two directions.

Getting rid of fleas means:

• killing the adult fleas on your puppy
• eradicating the eggs and larval fleas from your home

If you only treat your pet and not your home, the chances are your pup will be re-infected very quickly

Let’s look at getting rid of fleas on the dog first

Flea treatment for puppies

While you can buy flea treatments over the counter, not all are suitable for young puppies, and some are not very effective.

There are also some breeds of dog that are sensitive to some flea treatments, and some that are harmful to cats.

So your first flea treatment must start with a visit to your vet. Don’t worry, they won’t be judging you, most puppies get a flea or two at some point!

Your vet will recommend a dog flea treatment for your pet, which you’ll then be able to re-order at intervals, or purchase elsewhere if you need a repeat treatment in the future.

Flea treatment for dogs comes in all sorts of forms these days: dog flea shampoo, flea sprays and powders, as well as flea medicines and spot on treatments.

Flea shampoo for puppies

You can buy special shampoo for bathing puppies, and you might be tempted to try these first.  They often contain herbs such as citronella.  You may have already tried one.

Your vet might recommend a flea medication for dogs you can buy over the counter next time, but to begin with, it’s wise to start with a professional recommendation about the most suitable product for your dog’s needs.

Many vets prefer regular spot on treatments and these do have some benefits.

They are particularly useful for dogs that suffer from flea allergies, or in homes where family members are allergic to flea bites as once the initial infestation has been treated, these flea medicines they prevent new infestations getting established, or re-occuring.

If you want to try to control your puppy’s fleas without chemicals, your vet will be able to recommend a shampoo or spray that contains an effective ingredient which is safe for your pup.

Bear in mind if you have other pets at home, your vet is likely to recommend treating all of them.

Dogs and cats must never share flea medicine!

If you have a flea problem you’ll need to treat your cat too. But with a product specifically designed for cats.

Even though dogs and cats get the same fleas, flea and tick medicine for dogs frequently contain permethrin, which is incredibly poisonous to cats!

The same caution needs to be applied to flea treating any bed that your cat and dog may share.

Home remedies for fleas on puppies

There’s a lot of interest at the moment in natural remedies for fleas on dogs, based on essential plant oils though to deter fleas.

It is just as important to discuss these with you vet before using them.

The risk of home remedies recommended by other dog owners online is that if they don’t work, your dog will continue to suffer the effects of fleas, and if they are too aggressive they could irritate your pet’s skin even more.

Remember, herbs can be powerful, and not all are suitable for puppies

The best flea treatment for puppies, especially puppies under four months old, is always the one recommended and approved by their vet!.

Okay, so, once you have rid your furry friend from his annoying visitors, it’s time to tackle your home

Getting rid of fleas from your home

Unfortunately because fleas spend so much of their life cycle in the environment instead of on a dog, treating the flea infestation on your dog is only the tip of the flea population iceberg.

To stop the next generation of fleas reaching your dog, you need to treat your home too.

Flea eggs and larvae are microscopically small, and they can work their way into the tiniest spaces. So the key to successfully getting fleas out of your home is to get in the fighting spirit, be thorough, and be determined!

Start by putting your vacuum cleaner on its highest setting, and giving all carpets, rugs, hard floors, and fixed upholstery a really intense clean.

Vacuum along the tops of your baseboards too, and give extra attention to the places where your dog likes to rest and sleep.

Next, I’m afraid you have to chuck the bag from your vacuum cleaner straight into an outside bin.

Repeat this every day for as long as the course of flea treatment from your vet lasts.

This will pick up new eggs laid by the fleas on your dog, until all the fleas on your dog are definitely dead.

Wash removable upholstery covers and bedding at 60ºC/140ºF or more, and dry them for at least 30 minutes in a hot dryer if possible.

If your dog has any special toys or blankets which cant be washed, put them in the freezer for a couple of days instead.

Finally, give yourself a reward for all your efforts! It hasn’t been easy, but it will be worth it!

The success rate for treating dog fleas

Without a doubt, the tiny flea is an enormous nuisance. And an early attack or preventative treatment is the easiest route to success

But the good news is, the vast majority of flea infestations and their side effects can be treated and then forgotten.

When to take extra care: a young puppy with fleas

As we’ve seen, fleas survive on the blood of their hosts.

We’ve talked quite a bit about vets in this article. That’s because it’s much easier for fleas on puppies to cause dehydration or anemia in your little dog, simply because they have less blood to spare.

If your small puppy shows any signs of fleas, do take him straight to the vet.

Depending on how big and mature they are, your vet may recommend a specialized flea treatment for puppies of that age.

Flea prevention for dogs

Much easier than dealing with a flea infestation, is taking some regular precautions to make sure the infestation never takes hold.

The first part of this is keeping the population of adult fleas on your dog to a minimum.

If your dog likes a bath, and they’re small enough to wash regularly, this is a great way to remove adult fleas.

You don’t have to use a specialist flea shampoo for dogs every time, only when you know you’re dealing with an infestation.

If soaking in the tub isn’t an option, your vet can recommend flea products for dogs which you apply every four to six weeks to eradicate any fleas which have made their way into their coat.

Since fleas spend so much of their life cycle lounging on your sofa or kipping in your carpet, it’s smart to vacuum regularly, including upholstery and baseboards to pick up flea eggs and larvae.

Get into the habit of washing your dog’s bedding regularly too.

Can dog fleas live on humans?

Finally, this is often the question on people’s minds when they’ve finished worrying about their pets.

And the short answer is yes, but the long answer is that if you have a dog, or any other furry pets living at home, the fleas will practically always choose them over you.

As a result, dog fleas on humans are pretty rare.

Much more common is an allergic reaction to being bitten.  And a rash of unsightly itchy spots and blisters around the ankles is a sure sign that fleas have made their way into your home.

Fleas on puppies – a summary

Fleas are a common problem for dogs, from puppyhood to old age. The advantage of this is that we have lots of products and knowledge at our disposal for getting rid of them.

Puppies are especially vulnerable to heavy flea infestations and need to see a vet to ensure a safe program of treatment is set in place.

Don’t be embarrassed if you find out your dog has fleas, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.

Remember the secret to getting rid of them is simply a matter of being methodical, and thorough, and before you know it they’ll be just a memory.

Dogs with fleas: share your experiences

Sometimes it can be hard to tell when your puppy has fleas. If your dog has had fleas, what were the first signs you noticed?

What are your top tips for getting rid of fleas from the home?

Share your experiences in the comments section below!

 

“Today’s article is by Sarah Holloway. Sarah holds a bachelors degree in Zoology and has a special interest in animal behavior and communication”

References

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• The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, “Keep Fleas in Check”, www.rspca.org.uk.
• Rinaldi L et al. A survey of fleas on dogs in southern Italy. Veterinary Parasitology 2007
• Dryden, M. W., (1989), “Host Association, on-host longevity and egg production of Ctenocephalides felis”, Veterinary Parasitology, Volume 34, Issues 1-2, pp 117-122.
• Jacobs, D., Fox, M., Gibbons, L., (2015), Principles of Veterinary Parasitology, John Wiley & Sons, p34.
• Paterson, S. (2009), Manual of Skin Diseases of the Dog and Cat, John Wiley & Sons, pp 122-124.
• Ferreira M et al. Potential role for dog fleas in the cycle of Leishmania spp. Veterinary Parasitology 2009
• Rust M.Advances in the control of Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea) on cats and dogs. Trends in parasitology 2005
• Blagburn B & Dryden M.Biology, Treatment, and Control of Flea and Tick Infestations. Veterinary Clinics Of North America: Small Animal Practice 2009