10 facts about fleas you need to know

Picture this – you’re sprawled out on the sofa and spot your dog having a good itch. A few minutes later they do it again, and again, and again… And you start to wonder do they have fleas? When was their last treatment? And what do you do if they do have them? Fear not! We’ve got 10 facts about fleas to give you all the info you need.

What are fleas?

Fleas are small, brown insects the size of a pinhead that live in your dog’s fur, feeding on their blood. They can’t fly, but do have large back legs and jump impressive distances. They’re flattened in shape standing tall and narrow on six legs, allowing them to run through the hair coat.

There are actually many species of flea – some very specific in their choice of host animal to feed from. Believe it or not, the most common flea we find on dogs is the cat flea!

Where do fleas come from?

Fleas breed and develop in nests, beds and anywhere animals lie down. Adult fleas live on the animal with juvenile stages (eggs, larvae, pupae/cocoons) normally scattered throughout the environment.

Dogs pick up fleas directly from other animals or areas where infested animals have been lying. They reproduce incredible quickly, so if your pup brings home even a single adult flea, you can rapidly have an infestation to deal with.

When do dogs get fleas?

Historically, fleas have been a big problem for dogs in spring and summer. This is because the warmer and more humid weather provided perfect conditions for them to repoduce rapidly. Although it’s possible to have a flea infestation at any time.

With our central heating and milder winters nowadays, fleas can survive and infest your home all year round.

How do I know if my dog has fleas?

Your dog will usually start to scratch as flea bites are itchy. There are many reasons for itching though, so how do we know fleas are the cause?

You may see little insects scurrying through the coat when you part the hair. Particularly around the back of the ears, groin, inner thighs and base of the tail. You may also see ‘flea dirt’ or faeces, which appear as tiny black crumbs like black pepper. If you comb this out of the coat and place on wet cotton wool, it will ‘bleed’ into the surrounding area, as it’s made up of digested blood.

Read more about how to use a flea comb.

How do I treat fleas on my dog?

With so many products on the market for treating fleas, it can be confusing to know which to pick.

The two key factors to successful flea protection are consistency and correct dosage. In other words, one that’s tailored to their needs and you can easily remember to apply. And because fleas also transmit tapeworm, it’s important to use an effective prescription wormer against tapeworms at the same time.

Enter the tails.com monthly flea, tick and worm treatment. Created by vets, as a tails.com subscriber you can log into your account and add it to your monthly deliveries. We’ll deliver the exact quantity your dog needs, exactly when they need it. 

Find out more about how to pick a flea treatment for your dog.

Do I have to treat my home for fleas as well?

Because a single female flea can lay over 500 eggs in her lifetime, and eggs can result in adult fleas within 14 days, the potential to develop an infestation is huge. Often by the time you notice adult fleas there may already be hundreds of eggs and larvae developing in your home. They can live on bedding, soft furnishings, carpets and flooring.

It’s crucial to treat your home environment at the same time as your dog. This will help reduce the chances of another infestation.

This includes:

• Vacumming the entire house
• Discarding the contents of the vacuum cleaner immediately in a sealed bag
• Washing bedding on a high heat
• Using a deterrant spray on your home

What flea products are effective?

Most flea products are a liquid spot-on medication applied to the skin on the back of your dog’s neck. This requires you to part their hair exposing their skin, squeeze the full treatment on and make sure it doesn’t get rubbed off.

It’s important to remember that using flea treatment doesn’t mean fleas won’t ever land on your dog. But that these fleas should die within 24 hours of jumping onto your pet.

How do I stop my dog from getting fleas?

The best approach to prevention is the use of a reliable, monthly flea product.

Our flea, tick and worm treatment is available to tails.com subscribers and is delivered monthly, keeping your dog protected against fleas, ticks, worms* and lice. The handy letterbox-friendly package will also give you a helpful reminder that you need to reapply.

*This treatment doesn’t protect against lungworm – please speak to your vet to get this treatment prescribed.

Why does my dog keep getting fleas?

There’s been some fear recently about fleas becoming resistant to prescription medicines. But resistance is very rare, and application error is actually a common reason flea treatments seem to not work.

Spot-on solutions must be applied to your dog’s skin. If it’s only squeezed onto their coat, it’s less effective. You should also avoid washing your dog, or letting them swim, for 3-4 days after applying their treatment to avoid washing it off.

Under-dosing can also be a challenge, so knowing your dog’s size and weight is essential to keep them protected. Remember, new waves of flea emergence can occur many weeks later if eggs, larvae and pupae (cocoons) are left in the environment.

This is why it’s crucial to treat your dog and home at the same time with proven effective products.

What problems can fleas cause if left untreated?

If fleas are left uncontrolled they’ll rapidly breed and cause a heavy infestation. They not only irritate your dog, causing itchiness, but suck their blood and can result in anaemia. In puppies and smaller dogs, flea bite anaemia can even prove fatal.

Many dogs will develop a hypersensitivity or allergic reaction to flea bites, suffering from intense itching, hair loss and skin infections. Fleas prefer not to live on humans, but can still bite us, so prompt treatment and ongoing preventive measures are strongly advised.