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signs of fleas

The signs of fleas can be difficult to spot

Fleas are tiny and can be difficult to see, particularly if you have not seen them before, or your pet has dark fur. One study found that 49% of dog owners and 38% of cat owners whose pets were infested with cat or dog fleas were unaware their pets had fleas.

I only treat fleas when I see them

It is not uncommon to hold the belief, ‘I’ll treat for fleas when I see one’. As the study results above show this viewpoint is very ineffectual. By waiting until a flea infestation is present it is likely that there will be established population living in your home. Once there are flea eggs in the environment it will take a minimum of three months to make your home flea free again, regardless of which flea product you use.

What are the signs of fleas?

In your pet

You pet may display signs of excessive grooming, biting the fur, scratching around parts of the body that have been bitten, fur loss, bald patches. Flea dirt may be visible as you part your pet’s fur. It may be difficult to spot the signs of fleas in pets with darker fur. Fleas can also cause tapeworms if they are ingested.

In your home

You may notice flea bites on your lower legs, fleas jumping from furniture or curtains, you may be able to see fleas in your pet’s bed.

Fleas exist all year round

Historically, fleas were considered be a summer problem, and that flea treatment could be restricted to the warmer months of the year. This is no longer the case. Milder winters and pets living in warm central-heated homes allow fleas to flourish and multiply all year round.

Flea prevention is better than cure

If you are not proactively preventing fleas it is likely that your pet will be exposed to flea bites. The more often a pet is exposed to flea bites, the more likely they are to develop a Flea Allergic Dermatitis (FAD). FAD causes an exaggerated immune response to flea saliva which causes intense itching, skin inflammation and frequently secondary bacterial infections.

When it comes to fleas, all the experts agree, prevention is better than cure. The only way to prevent fleas is to use a high-quality flea treatment at the interval recommended by the manufacturer. A Protect My Pet subscription box provide a convenient solution to fleas. High quality market-leading products are delivered to your door just as they are required. When it arrives in the post it’s time to dose! 

Don’t give fleas a chance. Know how to spot the signs of fleas and stay flea-free all year round with our range of market-leading flea treatment products.

Written by Lindsay Rose MA VetMB CertAVP CertVBM MRCVS