What does a flea look like on a dog?

An adult flea is tiny, around 2 to 3mm, reddish-brown and wingless, flattened side to side rather than top to bottom like a tick. They move fast and can jump remarkable distances, which is why they're often felt or glimpsed rather than clearly seen.

How do I get rid of fleas on my dog?

Use a proper vet-recommended flea treatment, spot-on, tablet or collar, rather than relying on a flea comb alone, since a comb only removes fleas it can catch rather than treating the whole problem. Treat every pet in the household at the same time, and tackle the home environment alongside it: vacuum thoroughly and wash bedding on a hot cycle.

Guides

Fleas and Your Dog: Spotting, Treating and Preventing Them

Q: How can I tell if my dog has fleas?

Look for excessive scratching, biting or licking, especially around the tail base, belly and back legs, and small dark specks in the coat that turn reddish-brown when wiped on a damp paper towel, that's flea dirt (digested blood), not just ordinary dirt. You may also spot the fleas themselves, small, fast-moving, reddish-brown insects, particularly on the belly or around the neck.

Q: Do I need to treat my house as well as my dog?

Yes, almost always. The fleas you see on your dog are only a small part of the problem, most of the eggs, larvae and pupae end up in carpets, bedding, sofas and cars rather than staying on the animal. Treating your dog alone without also washing bedding, vacuuming thoroughly and treating the home usually means the infestation just carries on.

Fleas are one of the most common things I deal with as a dog walker and boarder, and one of the most misunderstood. Most people think of them as just an itchy nuisance for the dog, but the real problem is usually bigger than that. Here's how I spot them, treat them and keep them from coming back, and what I'd want any owner to know.

How dogs pick up fleas

Fleas don't need a garden full of long grass the way ticks do. Dogs can pick them up almost anywhere: from other dogs or cats, from wildlife visiting the garden, from a boarding stay, or simply from an environment that already has flea eggs or larvae lying dormant in the carpet. A single adult flea can lay up to around 50 eggs a day, so numbers build up fast once they take hold.

How can I tell if my dog has fleas?

Watch for excessive scratching, biting or licking, especially around the tail base, belly and back legs, along with small dark specks in the coat. To check whether those specks are flea dirt rather than just everyday dirt, comb some onto a damp piece of white paper or kitchen towel: if it turns reddish-brown, that's digested blood, and a clear sign of fleas.

What does a flea look like?

An adult flea is small, around 2 to 3mm, reddish-brown and wingless. Unlike a tick, which flattens top to bottom and swells as it feeds, a flea is flattened side to side, built for scurrying quickly through fur, and it can jump remarkable distances for its size. That combination of speed and size is exactly why you'll often feel or half-glimpse a flea rather than get a clear look at one.

Myth

If I can't see fleas on my dog, they don't have fleas.

Fact

Fleas move fast and hide low in the coat, so a dog can be host to plenty of fleas, and an itchy skin reaction, without you ever spotting one directly. The flea dirt test is far more reliable than a visual check alone.

Myth

Fleas are just an outdoor, summer problem.

Fact

Once fleas get into a heated home, they can breed all year round regardless of the weather outside, which is why winter infestations are common too.

Do I need to treat my house as well as my dog?

Yes, almost always. It's easy to assume the fleas on your dog are the whole problem, but they're usually only a small part of it: most flea eggs, larvae and pupae end up in carpets, sofas, bedding and even the car, not on the dog itself. Flea pupae can also lie dormant for weeks, ready to hatch as soon as they sense a warm body nearby, which is why a house can suddenly seem "reinfested" after being empty for a while, such as after a holiday.

Treating your dog alone rarely solves it. Alongside a proper flea treatment for your dog, vacuum thoroughly and often (carpets, sofas, skirting boards, the car if your dog travels in it), wash all bedding and soft furnishings on the hottest safe cycle, and treat every pet in the household at the same time, not just the one who's scratching.

Treating your dog

A flea comb can help you check for fleas and remove some adults, but it isn't a treatment on its own, it only catches what it catches. Speak to your vet about a proper flea treatment, spot-on, tablet or collar, rather than relying on over-the-counter products alone, since effectiveness and safety vary a lot between products and between species (some treatments made for dogs are dangerous for cats in the same household, so always check).

Fleas can also carry tapeworm larvae, which a dog can swallow while biting or grooming at itchy skin, so it's worth asking your vet about worming at the same time if your dog has had a flea problem.

Preventing fleas

Keep your dog on a year-round vet-recommended flea preventative, not just during warmer months
Treat every pet in the household together, not just the one showing signs
Groom and check your dog's coat regularly, a fine flea comb makes this easy
Vacuum your home regularly, particularly carpets, sofas and skirting boards
Wash your dog's bedding on a hot cycle every week or two

Not veterinary advice: this guide is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. If you're ever unsure what's causing your dog's itching, or a flea problem isn't clearing up, please speak to your vet.

Fleas are unpleasant, but very manageable once you know what you're dealing with. If you're ever unsure whether your dog has a flea problem, message me, I'm always happy to talk it through.