What Are the Little Black Bugs on My Dog's Skin?

You've been grooming your dog and notice what appear to be little black bugs on her skin or in her coat. Before jumping to conclusions or thinking the worst, take some time to properly identify what you're dealing with. Choosing the appropriate course of action depends on it. If you can't be sure, always consult an experienced veterinarian regarding the health and treatment of your pet.

  1. Itchy Fleas

    • When scratching won't help.

      Look closely. Fleas are more brownish-red than black. But if there are many of these sesame seed-sized pests running and jumping about on the surface of your pet's skin or in her fur, then this is the culprit you're likely dealing with. Sometimes, if you can't see the actual fleas, you might see their feces, which are small black specks. Another good indication your dog has fleas is her constant scratching at the flea bites. Dogs can be allergic to flea bites, which can lead to serious problems, so treatment of both the dog and the environment is recommended.

    Blood-sucking Ticks

    • Ticks are quite common outdoors and the hard variety can carry parasites that can seriously harm your dog's health. Take special caution when removing a tick, as they have barbed noses which make them difficult to extract. If your canine pal spends time outdoors amongst the long grass, expect to find the occasional tick around the head and neck, especially around the ears. However, it is unusual to find many ticks on a single pet.

    Might be Mites

    • Too small to be seen.

      Ear mites are too small to be seen by the naked eye, but generally produce a dark brown waxy discharge that resembles coffee grounds, as they feed on the outer layers of your pet's skin. If the "bugs" you see are located around the ears, and your dog has been shaking her head and scratching her ears, sometimes causing bleeding of the outer ear, you'll need to consult a veterinarian about treatment.

    Lice

    • Dog lice are tiny insects just visible to the naked eye. They cling to a dog's hair and feed on the outer layer of the skin. Lice lay eggs that look like small white dots, but they are firmly rooted to the hair follicles. Treatment is fairly straightforward, but it's best to confer with a veterinarian to confirm the presence of lice rather than some other infestation or disease. The good news: dog lice is specific to dogs and therefore not contagious to people, just other dogs.