How Do Dogs Get Fleas?

When keeping your pup safe and healthy each year, it’s important to be consistent with their flea and tick prevention medication and routinely check your dog for fleas. Fleas are a common nuisance for pets and pet parents and can easily lead to a flea infestation in your home.

What Are Fleas?

Fleas are tiny parasites that can live in a dog’s fur. They are typically dark brown and roughly 1/8-inch or smaller in size. They bite a dog’s skin and feed on the blood to survive.

Fleas are very common in dogs and can be found in most parts of the country. They are most prevalent in climates that are warm and humid and in areas with tall grass or woods.

Fleas can transmit tapeworms and some types of diseases, such as bartonellosis, to dogs. This is why it is essential for pet parents to regularly inspect their dog’s fur for fleas and keep their pets up to date on flea preventatives.

Additionally, while fleas aren’t ideal hosts for humans, they can still bite. This can cause itching and pose a risk of tapeworm infection in pet parents living in a home with an infected dog.

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6 Ways Dogs Can Get Fleas

Dogs can get fleas in a variety of ways, including from:

• Grass

• Other dogs

• Other pets

• Wildlife

• Exposure to new places

• A lapse in flea prevention

Grass

Fleas can be found in grassy areas, especially tall grass and wooded regions. They can easily latch onto your dog and bite them when your pup lounges or plays outside.

Other Dogs

Fleas are highly contagious and easily move between dogs who are in close contact. If one dog in a household has fleas, it’s likely that every dog in the home will get them. Likewise, if you take your dog to a friend’s home and fleas are present, you might bring home these pesky parasites.

Other Pets

Other household pets, such as ferrets or cats, can also become infected with fleas and easily spread them to your dog through close contact or just by being in the same environment. Fleas are commonly found in pet bedding, carpets, and rugs that are shared between pets.

Wildlife

Fleas like to feed on mammals, such as raccoons, coyotes, and foxes. If your dog encounters one of these animals or spends time in an area where they are frequently found, your pup is likely to be exposed to fleas.

Exposure to New Places

If fleas are not prevalent in your geographic area but you commonly travel to warm or humid places, your dog has an increased risk of being exposed to fleas. This is especially true if your dog spends time outdoors in grassy areas or hiking through woods when you’re traveling.

Lapse in Flea Prevention

Keeping your dog on year-round flea prevention, such as Bravecto, is essential in preventing flea infestations from occurring. If you accidentally forget to give a dose, your dog is at risk of getting fleas.

How To Prevent Fleas on Dogs

Various products on the market keep your dog safe from fleas and other parasites. They come in both oral and topical forms to suit each pet parent’s preference and the dog’s needs. Some popular options many pet parents choose include:

• Bravecto

• NexGard

• Simparica Trio

• K9 Advantix

• Credelio

• Onguard Plus

Because there are numerous options to choose from, it’s important to work with your veterinarian to determine the best flea and tick option to suit your preferences and your dog’s lifestyle. For example, some dogs might dislike taking oral medications, so a topical preventative might be a better match.

Pet parents who would prefer to administer flea medication less frequently might choose an option given every three months, such as Bravecto.

For dogs who are prone to seizures, pet parents might want to avoid flea prevention that’s part of the isoxazoline class of medications, such as NexGard, and choose an alternative instead.

Even for dogs who are up to date on flea prevention, pet parents should regularly check their dog’s fur for signs of fleas, including flea dirt—small black specks of flea feces that resemble coffee grounds.

You can do this using a flea comb, which is an easy way to brush your dog’s coat and separate out fleas and flea dirt. For dogs with very thick or matted fur, running your fingers through their coat may be the easiest way to check.