5 Signs Your Pet Is Suffering From Fleas

It’s challenging to become a pet owner. Dangers are everywhere, and your pet pooch or feline can acquire health-threatening parasites when they go out in the yard. These pesky critters are fleas, and it can be tough to detect these bugs on your pet’s body. Below are five signs of fleas on your pet to help you check if your animal companion has these pests:

Incessant Scratching And/Or Biting

Cats, dogs, and other animals scratch. Like humans, the action is a way to relieve itchiness. But, your household animal companion might be scratching and/or biting their skin more than usual.

Fleas can deliver sharp and annoying discomforts when they bite into your pet’s skin. Thankfully, animal saliva may help reduce the itching and stinging sensation. But, it doesn’t mean that scratching and biting can solve the issue at hand.

If you see your pet incessantly scratching and/or biting their skin, consider giving it a medicated bath. After removing the fleas from the animal’s body, make sure that your four-legged friend is free from this infestation in the future. 

Consider protecting your home against future flea attacks by using a subscription service like flea mail. This assistance gives you products that help keep fleas away from your property and your pets.

Red Patches On Skin

Aside from itchiness and sharp pains, another sign of flea attack is the existence of unusual red patches on the skin. Some animals have short coats, so it should be relatively easy for you to detect these red blotches. However, some pets with long fur can make it tough for you to identify these patches.

Red patches that appear because flea bites can cause allergic reactions to the skin of other animals. Moreover, the bacteria from flea bites aren’t exclusive to the bitten area. Hence, pets, like cats or dogs, can become hypersensitive to the discomfort that the bacteria can spread to other areas of the body, causing rashes or lesions.

Protect your pet from the discomfort wrought by fleabites by using preventive measures, like unique collars. Consequently, don’t forget to talk to your veterinarian for expert advice on the matter. 

Hair Loss

As a furparent, you don’t want your pet’s fur to fall out. Incessant scratching, biting, and the existence of red patches can result in fur or hair loss. The severe reactions of these symptoms may cause your pet’s coat to start breaking and falling out of the skin.

You can notice that your cat, dog, or other animal companion in your home is shedding hair more than average. But, you may find more hair lost in areas like the tail, head, inner thighs, and lower back. 

Flea Dirt And Eggs

Perhaps, one of the most apparent signs that your pet has fleas is when you can see the pests crawling on your animal companion’s fur and skin. Adult fleas have a length of about an eighth of an inch, and they tend to have a reddish-brown color.

Don’t disregard the existence of one tiny flea on your pet. The chances are that one pest will leave eggs that can hatch to hundreds of immature critters, which will, then, feast on your poor pet’s health.

Moreover, fleas can leave behind their “dirt” or droppings, which can cause additional irritation. Act fast once you see one or two of these pesky critters crawling on your household animal friend. Wait too long, and you might have to deal with an infestation. 

Anemia

Is your cat or dog looking weak?  Does it look like your four-legged family member has unexplained weight loss?  If so, chances are it has fleas.

Fleas like to feast on blood, and they might stop at nothing even if your poor pet becomes anemic. Anemia can happen because the body of the animal can’t produce more red blood cells fast enough to combat the blood loss caused by the blood-sucking pests.

Aside from unexplained weight loss, you’ll know if your pet has become anemic if they have pale gums. Some pets tend to have gums that are lush pink or a dark red shade. Consider taking preventive measures as soon as you see that your pet’s gums turn pale. 

Final Thoughts

Fleas on dogs, cats, and other animals are always reasons for concern and worry. The sight of one flea means that there might be hundreds more lying in wait. Take precautionary measures as soon as you see signs, like incessant scratching, red skin patches, and hair loss. Talk to your veterinarian immediately if your pet’s life becomes at risk of a flea infestation.