Dog Care Information – Fleas are the NUMBER 1 Problem

Posted by M.B.Bryce

March 20, 2009

by M.B.Bryce

All of the dog care information I have found, explains that fleas live off your dog's blood. The life cycle of a flea progresses extremely fast from phase one (egg) to phase four (adult flea), which means they are proficient at reproducing with astonishing acceleration.

An adult flea lays a multitude of eggs per day. Every egg will then become an adult flea, which lay a multitude more eggs of its own. One flea becomes a major problem extremely quickly!

HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOUR CANINE HAS FLEAS

The warnings of a flea problem are unmistakable.

A dog with a flea infestation will scratch almost constantly, often at areas that fleas seem to favor: the ears, the base of the tail, the tummy, and the stifle (the webbing of soft skin between the thigh and the abdomen).

It is actually the saliva of the flea that causes the aggravation, not the bite itself, and some dogs have a genuine sensitivity to this spit (as opposed to a customary annoyance). Canines with allergic reactions bear much more significant negative reactions to a flea problem, and generally develop "hot spots".

These hot spots are areas of sore, raw, flaky, bleeding, and damaged skin, formed by the flea saliva and your pet's own reaction to it. Bald patches will sometimes happen also, from habitual clawing and nonstop irritation.

If you suspect your canine has fleas, you can confirm your misgivings by taking a closer look at her skin: you most likely won't be able to see the fleas themselves, but you should be able to detect what looks like coffee grounds (a thin sprinkling of pulverized black grains) on her skin. This is flea dirt (poop).

If you brush him with a flea comb (which is like a fine-tooth comb), try wiping it on a napkin: if red spots appear on the napkin, you can feel certain that your canine has fleas (on a white background like a napkin, flea poop appears red: since fleas exist on blood, their feces is colored appropriately).

About the Author:

Questions about dog care information? I offer lots more tips and information about dog care information, rid yourself of fleas and other creep-crawly bugs that irritate your dog. I have owned canines for over three decades! Having good and accurate information is one of the most important things you can do for your "furry friend".

Dog Health