Most dog owners know that fleas are a common parasite found on the surface of a dog's skin. What some are unaware of is that there are numerous different types of fleas on dogs that have varied characteristics and appearances. Some fleas carry diseases that can be harmful or fatal to your pet, and most fleas multiply at a rapid pace. Common pet products like Frontline or Advantage can prevent your dog from becoming infested or diseased by different types of fleas.
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Ctenocephalides Canis Fleas
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Ctenocephalides canis, otherwise known as the dog flea, is the most common flea found on the epidermis of a dog. The dog flea is a brownish red, wingless parasite that has a tube-like mouth used to draw blood from its host--your dog. It has a flat body to move easily through fur, a hairy spine, and long hind legs to spring from host to host. Dog fleas lay eggs on the dog's skin that hatch into larvae before maturing. Adult dog fleas will feed on the blood of your dog and the larvae feeds on the feces of adult fleas.
Xenopsylla Cheopis Fleas
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Xenopsylla cheopis, also referred to as an Oriental flea, is a more complex parasite found on the surface of a dog's skin. These fleas should be removed and destroyed with urgency because they are known to carry diseases such as typhus and plague that can be transmitted to your dog. The Oriental flea lays its eggs in debris rather than on the host, and once larvae has matured it will attach to the host. When feeding on blood from your dog, it is common for blockage of its digestive track to occur. When this happens, the flea regurgitates the blood back into your dog, essentially transmitting any potential diseases and bacteria to him.
Echidnophaga Gallinacea Fleas
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Sticktight fleas are most common in chickens. If you are a dog owner who lives on a farm, or near live poultry, you should keep an eye out for echidnophaga gallinacea. This breed of flea is also known as the sticktight flea, and is most common in chickens. However, the sticktight flea--appropriately named for sticking to the host after fertilization--is known to also attack dogs, cats and humans. The sticktight flea can be removed with tweezers, but chemical treatment is strongly advised. This flea is most common in tropical areas like South Africa, but has been known to infest animals in Florida, and has been found in areas as far as Kansas and Virginia.
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