What are fleas?

Fleas are external parasites that can have severe health impacts on cats and dogs.

Fleas are flightless, tiny insects - usually between 2-3mm in size. They are usually grey, brown or black, and can easily be mistaken for a speck of dirt.

They multiply quickly, with a single flea laying between 30-50 eggs a day in the right conditions. Once laid, the eggs can hatch in as little as seven days, so you need to treat them quickly to stop them spreading.

There are over 2000 species of fleas, but one of the most common types found in cats and dogs is called the Ctenocephalides felis (also known as the Cat flea).

If fleas go untreated, they can cause significant damage to your pet’s skin, and lead to secondary bacterial or fungal infections.

What do cat fleas look like?

Adult cat fleas are small dark brown wingless insects about 3 to 4 mm in length. They tend to congregate on the ears, tail base area, armpits and groin and are fast moving. Fleas are relatively easy to see in their adult stage. If you spot one, there’s a good chance you’ll see it jump, too.

Often you may not see fleas in your cat’s coat, but you may see their droppings (so called ‘flea dirt’) which look like black dandruff. Comb out some of these black droppings from the coat, put them on some damp paper towel and rub the towel together. If it is flea dirt, you’ll see red smears as the droppings contain blood.

What do dog fleas look like?

Fleas are only about 3 to 4 mm long and are reddish brown wingless insects. Adult fleas can be seen by the naked eye as a tiny black speck, but they can still be hard to spot, especially when they’re hidden within your dog’s fur.

Fleas tend to leave tiny red raised dots on your dog’s skin which quickly become inflamed once your dog begins to scratch at them.

 

How do pets get fleas?

Contact with other animals is one of the most common ways cats and dogs catch fleas as they can easily jump from one cat or dog to another.

Dogs can also pick up fleas when spending time outdoors, especially if you take them on walks through woodland and areas with tall grass. 

 

Signs & symptoms of fleas in pets

Flea symptoms to look out for include:

• Excessive scratching, chewing and biting
  
  
• Grey, brown or black specks on their fur
  
  
• Hair loss, sores or scabs
  
  
• Irritated or red skin
  
  
• Noticeable difference in your pet’s mood

 

You – or the people in your house – may also feel flea bites on your skin.

 

How to get rid of fleas for cats and dogs

There are a range of different things you can do to get rid of fleas on your cat or dog.

Flea treatments

Consult with your vet to get some advice on the best preventative flea treatments and products that will work best for your pet. These should be given routinely as recommended by your vet to prevent reinfestation. The most common treatment is a liquid medication applied directly to the skin, usually between the shoulder blades or the back of the neck.

If one pet in your home has fleas, you’ll need to treat all pets with recommended flea treatments suitable for the species. If your cat has fleas for example, these can easily be passed onto your dog. As soon as you notice fleas on your cat, you’ll need to treat both pets with suitable flea treatment products.

Don’t mix up your treatments, as they contain different levels of toxins. Treatments for dogs and cats can differ too, so check with your vet that you’re using the right one.

Comb your pet’s hair

A flea comb can be used to brush through your pet’s fur coat. Ensure you dispose of any fall out or dirt in a wet paper towel. If there are any little dark or red specks visible on the paper towel, this is a strong indication that your pet has fleas.

If fleas are established, all your other pets at home are at risk, so they will all need to be checked too.

Wash your pet’s bedding

If your pet has fleas, there are likely to be fleas in their bedding. You’ll need to wash your dog’s or cat’s bedding (or anything they sleep on regularly) at 60°C to get rid of the fleas.

Clean your home

Make sure you thoroughly vacuum furniture, floors and skirting boards before treating the house with a veterinary recommended environmental flea spray to kill off any eggs and flea larvae in the environment. Throw away the vacuum dust bag after each use.

Health problems caused by fleas

Both dogs and cats can experience flea allergic dermatitis (FAD), which is a condition caused by the saliva of fleas getting into your pet’s skin when they are bitten. Contact your vet for advice if you think your pet is suffering with this. 

Other health conditions caused by fleas include:

• Anaemia
  
  
• Tapeworms
  
  
• Bartonellosis

Flea prevention

You can get preventative medication and treatments, such as tablets and sprays, that you can apply to your pet every month or so, or as directed.

You should also:

• Regularly wash their pet bowls with pet-safe disinfectant
  
  
• Dispose of their faeces straightaway
  
  
• Limit contact with other pets if possible
  
  
• Groom them regularly to check for eggs or droppings in their fur

Preventing fleas from coming into your home

Fleas can be found in many different environments that your pet is likely to be exposed to, so it’s hard to completely avoid them.

However, by regularly cutting the grass in your garden, and keeping plants and bushes cut back, you can decrease the likelihood of finding large numbers of fleas there. In extreme cases, gardens can be treated with pesticide to reduce flea and tick numbers.

As well as taking care of the outside environment, you can protect your house from fleas too. Hoover regularly, and throw away old rugs, carpets and pet bedding.

 

 

Pet Insurance with Asda Money

Whilst pet insurance doesn’t cover things like regular treatments for fleas, it does offer financial protection and peace of mind in the event of unexpected vet expenses. At Asda Money, we work with a trusted insurance administrator and provide a selection of pet insurance products to suit you and your pet’s needs.

Explore Pet Insurance at Asda Money and protect your pet today. Compare our different cover types to find the right pet insurance for you and your pet.

 

 

Sources

Preventing fleas in dogs, cats and rabbits - PDSA

Flea Treatment for Cats and Kittens

The Complete Guide to Flea and Tick Prevention and Treatment for Dogs | PetMD

Fleas | Cat Health Advice | Cats Protection