Fleas can be extremely upsetting for your dog and equally unpleasant for you to discover. Throughout the flea life cycle, they exist in many forms, not just as adult fleas. In fact, flea eggs and larvae constitute about 85% of a flea infestation.
About 95% of the flea problem is in your pet’s home environment as eggs, larvae and pupae.
Eggs can scatter, falling off your dog wherever it moves and spreading the flea infestation throughout your home.
Flea larvae then hatch from the eggs, hiding in dark places, deep in carpet, bedding or in cracks in the flooring where they feed on flea dirt.
Fleas on dogs… where to start looking?
Check your dog’s ears carefully for signs of scratching, redness, blood, or dirt. These can all be signs of fleas. The skin on the belly, groin, or base of the tail may appear red and bumpy, especially if your dog is doing a lot of scratching.
But what do fleas look like? Well, unfortunately, fleas are not all that easy to spot. Your dog’s coat could be both beautiful and a beautiful place to hide. Especially since fleas move so quickly, making them hard to detect.
Most of the time, it’s easier to spot the black grit or flea dirt, that they leave behind rather than the fleas themselves. Fleas on dogs are normally flat-bodied and dark brown, almost black, in colour. The more blood they ingest, the lighter in colour they may appear.
Learn more about fleas here
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