How do I know if my dog has fleas?

Dogs come into contact with many places, other pets and people that could give them fleas. So, it’s very easy for your four-legged friend to catch them!

We recommend using suitable flea prevention (spot on/tablet/collar). This can be bought from your vet or local pet supply shop. It will significantly reduce the chances of your dog catching fleas. The key is focusing on prevention to ever avoid the need for treatment.

Signs of fleas in your dog can include: 

• Scratching frequently, or even nibbling at themselves
• Losing fur particularly around the base of their tail (where the tail joins their back) 
• Seeming quite unsettled, whining and showing signs of general irritation 
• Sore, red and inflamed skin. This is often a side effect of having fleas as the skin becomes irritated and itchy

Another sign of fleas: small white segments that look like grains of rice near your dog's rear end or in their bedding. These are tapeworm segments - fleas can transmit tapeworms to dogs, so if you spot these, mention it to your vet when you go for flea treatment.

Spotting fleas or evidence of fleas (flea dirt) is the best way to confirm your dog has them. Start by gently parting their fur, or use a fine brush, in multiple areas. This should include the base of their tail, along their back and behind their ears. Even their face if they have longer fur. If you see small black dots, some reddish staining or moving black insects, it’s time to reach for the flea treatment.

When checking your dog, focus on the hotspot areas where fleas congregate most: the base of the tail, groin, armpits, behind the ears, and along the belly.

Checking a black or dark-coated dog for fleas

Fleas and flea dirt can be harder to spot in black or dark fur as they blend into the coat. The wet paper towel test is the most reliable method for dark-coated dogs: comb through the coat with a fine-tooth flea comb, then tap the collected debris onto a damp, white piece of kitchen roll. If the specks dissolve and leave reddish-brown streaks, this is flea dirt - the red colour comes from digested blood. Plain dirt or debris from the environment will not turn red.

Once you find fleas, it’s important that your dog and other pets in the home receive species and weight specific treatment. They should also continue with preventative parasite treatment. Most veterinary practises and pet supply stores offer plans for these. Your home, and car if you have one, should also be treated with a targeted spray. This will remove any fleas in the environment and prevent future reinfection.

Are dog fleas and cat fleas the same? 

Dog fleas and cat fleas are different species, but in practice both will infest cats and dogs. In the UK, cat fleas are actually the most common type found on dogs. If any pet in the household has fleas, all pets need to be treated at the same time. Important: never apply dog flea treatment to a cat, as many dog products contain permethrin which is highly toxic to cats.

If your dog has developed red, inflamed and itchy skin, seek veterinary support. They may need flea treatment and some additional treatment to soothe the irritated skin they have been scratching. It's also important to look for other causes, like allergies, if no fleas are found while at the vets. In this situation, it's best to carry on using veterinary prescribed flea prevention treatment. These products contain ingredients that continue to support the skin.

Treating the home is just as important as treating your dog. Up to 95% of a flea infestation exists in the environment - in carpets, bedding, and furniture rather than on your pet. Flea pupae can remain dormant in carpets for up to 12 months, hatching when they detect movement or warmth. This means that without environmental treatment, re-infestation will keep occurring. Wash all bedding in hot water, vacuum daily and empty the bin outside, and apply a household flea spray containing an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) to carpets and upholstery. 

Human transmission

Fleas will also bite humans in the household - particularly on the ankles and lower legs - but they cannot live permanently on people as we lack the dense fur they need to hide and breed. Flea bites on human skin typically appear as small, itchy red bumps, often clustered on the lower legs. If family members are being bitten, treating the dog and the home simultaneously should resolve this.