Fleas bites can cause itching and pain to humans and animals. In dogs, flea bites can cause skin irritations, infections and anemia, which can be fatal if not treated. Tapeworms and other diseases can be transmitted to dogs that ingest fleas.
Things You'll Need
- Fine-toothed comb Water Paper towel
Instructions
Search for fleas by combing through the dog's hair with a fine-toothed comb. Start at the tail area and work up toward the neck. Fleas look like small black dots in their early stages; as adults, they look a lot like human lice.
Kill the flea by squeezing it between your fingers or by using a flea treatment on your dog's coat.
Find flea dirt or excrement, which is normally a dark brown color and looks like freckles on the dog's skin.
Place the flea excrement on the paper towel and add a few drops of water to it. If the water turns reddish brown, this is dried blood that the flea has digested and excreted back onto the skin. If flea dirt is visible, the dog probably has flea anemia already.
Look for symptoms such as weakness or pale gum color and lethargy in your dog. Pale gums are light pink or white. Protect your dog from fleas until you can see a veterinarian. Do this by repeating steps one and two every two to four days. This gives you a chance to kill fleas as they hatch. Use a flea treatment on the dog and on his bedding and any furniture he comes in contact with.