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Fleas - The Damage They Cause, Where They Lay Their Eggs and How to Prevent

Once they move in to your house they can be a right pain to get rid of

Fleas - The Damage They Cause, Where They Lay Their Eggs & How to Prevent

In this latest blog piece, we take a look at another small but hugely irritating bug that can cause immense discomfort to both your pet and your family, fleas. Once they move in to your house they can be a right pain to get rid of.

Fleas, they are small but they are MIGHTY! They can cause havoc to both our pets and us, and really are not nice visitors to have in your home.

The fleas we find on dogs are dark brown/copper in colour and are roughly about the size of a pin head. 

Like the tick, fleas are a parasite that feed on the blood of their host.

Just one bite can be enough to cause immense irritation, which if left untreated causes secondary infections such as Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD).

Our in-house Veterinary Nurse Sue said,

Our dear cat suffered from this and caused her to over groom, causing bare patches and a scabby infected skin if not caught in time. Fleas can transfer from animal to animal, brought in on clothing, etc. So, prevention is better than cure, by controlling the fleas on the pets and treating the environment”.

Fleas do not lay their eggs on the animal, they in fact lay their eggs in bedding, soft furnishings or in any nook or cranny they can find. When the time is right i.e. temperature and vibration, the eggs hatch and jump on to any passing host.

These days with central heating fleas can be an all-year-round problem.

Signs your Pet may have Fleas

Fleas can be sneaky little critters. Some common signs that your dog might have fleas include:

Scratching, Licking, and Biting: If your dog can't seem to stop scratching or biting at their skin, that's a pretty clear sign.

Red or Irritated Skin: Check for any redness or bumps, especially around the tail, groin, or under the legs.

Flea Dirt: This looks like tiny black dots but is actually flea feces. You can usually find this where your dog sleeps or on their skin if you part their fur.

Visible Fleas: Sometimes you can see the fleas themselves scurrying around on the skin. They're tiny and fast, so you have to look carefully.

Hair Loss: Frequent scratching can cause hair loss or bald patches.

Allergic Reactions: Some dogs are allergic to flea saliva and may show symptoms beyond the usual scratching and irritation.

You're already on the right path with a raw food diet, as a stronger immune system can help a bit in dealing with these pests. But if you suspect fleas, it's time to take action with appropriate treatments like flea shampoos, oral medications, or topical applications. Prevention is key too, so maybe consider flea collars or regular flea treatments to keep them at bay.

To check for Fleas

Wet a piece of kitchen roll or damp white tissue and place under your pet or as close to and rub the fur back and forth. The wet paper will to catch any debris, if any debris (flea dirt) falls on to the paper and turns a reddish colour, this is the dried blood in the flea poo, indicating your pet has fleas.

Of course, you can also run your fingers through your pet’s hair and, in many cases, can visually see the fleas scurrying through the roots. It is better to look in areas with thinner hair such as the belly or the inner thighs. 

At Nurturing by Nature, we stock Billy No Mates which is a herbal mix which is a flea, tick and mite repellent. It can be fed on a daily basis which is great when feeding a raw dog food diet. It’s available in dry form or a tincture if your pet doesn’t like eating it.

We also stock Neem and Coconut Shampoo, which not only repels ticks and fleas, but also has a soothing and calming element to reduce the discomfort your dog or cat might be suffering.

Another great product for repelling fleas is the Neem Shield Pet Spray. This can be used directly on your dog but can also be sprayed on the bedding to deter fleas from laying its eggs there. 

If left unchecked fleas multiply and cause untold problems!

Once you have treated the dog or cat you will then need to clean the environment i.e. your home. You will need to wash the bedding in warm soapy water and wash or steam clean any carpets or surfaces that your pet may have come in to contact with. This needs to be done regularly because fleas can be quite resilient little pests.

If you still have a flea infestation after you have applied all of the above, you may need help from a specialist flea control company to come into your home to use more powerful techniques to eradicate them properly. 

Ultimately, with fleas, prevention rather than cure is the most trouble/hassle free way to approach the issue of ticks. The earlier you find them the easier it will be to get rid of them without too much disruption to your pet and your family.

If you have any questions about flea treatment or prevention, or feeding your pet a raw dog food or cat food diet, then do feel free to get in touch and as always, we will do our very best to help.

"A flea is a small, wingless insect that feeds on the blood of mammals and birds."

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