Symptoms of Fleas on a Dog & Hair Loss

Fleas can cause a variety of symptoms in a dog. Each dog may act differently depending on the severity of the infestation and how sensitive the dog is to the flea saliva. Hair loss can go along with fleas. It is typically simple to diagnose. Determining if your dog has fleas can be a bit more tricky, but if you look at your pooch closely you can likely find if it has the pests.

  1. Scratching

    • A dog can scratch for a variety of reasons, including dry skin and complications due to allergies. If your dog is scratching excessively, however, it could be a sign of fleas. The scratching can occur anywhere on the body, but often is at the base of the tail and stomach. The excessive scratching can cause redness and irritation of the skin, along with hair loss, which can appear as thinning hair or bald spots. The dog's scratching can also cause wounds and sores on its skin.

    Bites and Sores

    • According to the Dog Owner's Guide website, many dogs with fleas will have bite marks on their skin. The bite marks typically look like red, raised bumps. Since fleas tend to congregate on the stomach and base of tail, the bites often occur in these locations, but they can appear anywhere on the dog. The hair loss may also appear around the stomach and tail areas.

    Visible Fleas and Flea Dirt

    • If a dog has fleas, there is a chance you will see them running around in the dog's coat or on its skin. Fleas are dark brown and very quick. It's hard to see them because they jump off your dog so fast. Many dogs will eat the fleas off of themselves. Sometimes, owners never see the fleas on their dogs. What they can see, however, is flea dirt. Flea dirt is actually flea droppings. It's made from digested blood; you find it on the skin and in the hair. Flea dirt looks like curly pieces of black pepper. If you spot this on your dog, collect a few samples in a brush or comb and place them on a white paper towel. Blot the specks with a few drops of water. If they turn red, they are flea dirt. According to the Dog Topics website, this indicates that your dog has fleas.

    Tapeworms

    • Tapeworms often occur when a dog eats an infected flea. The tapeworm grows inside the dog and will eventually begin to break off into segments. The segments will crawl out of the dog's anus and will often get stuck in its hair or on its bedding. According to the Dog Owner's Guide website, these segments are often the only clues that your dog has fleas,. If you see these segments, treat your dog for fleas and take it to a veterinarian to receive worming medication.