Your Pet Has Fleas! Why even one flea is a problem and what to do about it

 In Diaries of a Veterinarian, my human mom, Dr. Dunn, discusses life as a vet, gives vet tips, and discusses all things vet related as a guest on my blog. 

Nothing has the potential to create more stress and frustration in the life of a pet owner than this one little word: fleas. These tiny blood-sucking parasites are not only gross, but they can be the source of a lot of (unnecessary) discomfort for pets and owners alike. What’s worse, even one flea bite can be the source of some more serious medical conditions. But, never fear! With diligence and consistency, even the most infested pet can once again live a happy, bug-free life.

But don’t be a victim of “fleanial”! So often owners come into the clinic with obvious flea problems, but they refuse to acknowledge the presence of these sometimes elusive pests. Either flea “dirt” (the comma-shaped black poop a flea leaves behind), flea eggs, or the fleas themselves are often visible. However, some cats, in particular, are such fastidious groomers that they eliminate any evidence when a low population is present. But the havoc they wreak (dermatitis, itching, tapeworms) is proof that there is a problem.

Please, pet owners everywhere! Just assume that if you are not using consistent, year-round flea prevention as recommended by your veterinarian, you got bugs!

Understanding the Flea Lifecycle

I promise it won’t get too technical here. But to understand how your pet gets fleas and how to get rid of them for good, it is important to know a few things about the flea lifecycle.

So often I hear proud owners tout the miracle that is Dawn dishwashing liquid  (or any number of inane/dangerous remedies recommended by the all-knowing Dr. Google) in killing the fleas on their pet. Vets everywhere are holding in their weary sighs. The truth is, adult fleas are super simple to kill. Heck, even a good flea combing can do the job. The bad news is that the adult fleas you can see only represent 5% of the flea population on your pet and in your home. 

It’s important to remember that for every 5 fleas you see on your pet, there are 95 more fleas in various stages of development around your house (your carpets, furniture, and especially – gasp!- your bed) While many flea preventatives target multiple stages of the flea lifecycle, the pupae (cocoon stage) are typically the most difficult to eradicate.

Fleas can lead to some serious medical problems, so year-round prevention is essential to keep all pets healthy. And remember: It’s always flea season in the house! 

Flea Allergy

Probably the most common thing I see in practice (almost every day, actually) is Flea Allergic Dermatitis (FAD). In dogs, the “classic” presentation is a dog that won’t stop chewing and scratching, particularly around the back end and the tailhead. Sometimes there will be some hair loss, red patches, or even skin infections. Cats can present with crusts or scabs on the body or thin hair on the abdomen or down the sides or legs. Every flea allergic pet does not present with an obvious flea infestation. Regardless, effective flea control is essential for all of these animals.

Anemia

Flea-induced anemia is especially common in younger or smaller animals. However, any pet with a serious flea infestation can become anemic from these nasty little vampire bugs. Immediate veterinary intervention is necessary, as this may sometimes be fatal.

Blood-borne Diseases Transmitted by Fleas

Fleas can pose the most serious risk because of the blood diseases they may carry. These can vary based on geographic location. Some of the more common diseases include Rickettsia, Bartonellosis in cats, and Mycoplasma Haemofelis (Feline Infectious Anemia), among others. These diseases can cause very serious illness and potentially death in infected animals. Of tremendous concern is the potential transmission of zoonotic (human) diseases. Bartonellosis in cats can lead to human Cat Scratch Disease. Fleas are also involved in the transmission of plague.

Tapeworms

Tapeworms are, in a word, nasty. Although they tend to cause fewer problems than some of the other worms, owners will want to get rid of these horrible hitchhikers ASAP. The flea tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum) is transmitted when a larval flea ingests a tapeworm egg packet. As it matures, the adult flea becomes an intermediate host. Once on the animal, the infected flea is ingested as the animal is grooming, leading to a tapeworm infection.

Treating an Existing Flea Infestation 

Because fleas are notorious hitchhikers, they can easily be transmitted to indoor only pets easily from rodents, other pets, or even your clothes. If the first step is admitting the problem, what next? Simple. Go to the vet and get a preventative (oral or topical) for every pet on the property. No, not just the one that is itching, or the ones inside or outside, or the ones that sleep in your bed. If every pet on your property is not treated, you will not get rid if the problem. The products are very effective, but they do not work via transference.

If the problem is serious enough, treating the yard can sometimes lead to faster control. There are multiple products available. Of course, the most important thing is ensuring it is safe to use around pets. Although I have no personal experience with it, a parasitilogist at a recent conference I attended recommended this flea and tick yard spray by Bayer.

Then, sigh, those darn pupae. Those boogers are tough. They can lay dormant for months, leading to re-emergence of adults just when you think you’re getting the problem under control. Although these new fleas will die quickly once the preventatives take effect, it’s frustrating to see new uninvited house guests after two months of diligent treatment.

A few methods have been recommended to get rid of these determined pests. First, a simple vacuuming of carpets can trigger the pupae to hatch. Then, empty the bad and immediately vacuum again. Steam cleaning has also been found to have some efficacy. A most unpleasant but very effective method to rid the house of the flea pupae is to heat the house to 150 degrees Fahrenheit for four hours. Although, if you choose this method, I’d suggest taking you and the critters out for a nice walk or frozen treat until things return back to normal.

Preventing Your Pet From Getting Fleas

If you remember nothing else, remember to keep every pet on the property on monthly vet-recommended flea prevention year round! All of the products recommended and sold by veterinarians are super safe and effective (when used properly and consistently). Unfortunately, “natural” remedies that are touted as safe and effective just simply don’t deliver. So, so often I see the frustration of well-intentioned owners who either want to save money or avoid “chemicals”. In the long run, this approach will lead to growing flea infestations, serious illness, and tremendous expense. Let me just say, in all my years of practice (and pet parenthood) I’ve NEVER lost a patient to a flea prevention that I prescribed (although I have rarely seen a few minor side effects). But I have lost patients to the serious consequences of inadequate flea prevention.

So which preventatives are the best? Well, only you and your veterinarian can decide what is right for your situation. Here are the ones I recommend to my clients, and also use on my own fur kids:

Nexgard – a monthly chewable for fleas and ticks for dogs only

Bravecto – a 3-month prevention that comes as a chewable for dogs or a topical for dogs and cats

Frontline Gold – a monthly topical for dogs and cats that treats fleas and ticks

Seresto – an 8-month collar for dogs and cats for both fleas and ticks

Advantage-Multi – a monthly flea, mite, intestinal worm, and heartworm prevention for dogs and cats

Each prevention has its pros and cons, so discuss those with your trusted veterinarian. But remember, fleas aren’t just a nuisance. They can be costly and potentially deadly. Don’t risk your sanity or your pet’s health. Call your vet today and discuss the appropriate flea prevention protocol for your pet.