How Do Dogs Get Fleas? Myth vs Reality

A fear of many dog parents is finding out their furry friend has fleas. Many ask themselves how that happened, especially if they keep their dog mostly inside, and others feel their hearts sink with guilt. These reactions are totally normal, but feeling guilty isn’t, as it can happen to anyone.

Fleas are pests that seem to appear out of nowhere. The good news is that aside from their super stealth, it’s easy to learn how do dogs get fleas and how to prevent them in the future. In this article, we will learn how fleas get on dogs, why some dogs get fleas more often, and how to keep your pet flea-free with techniques and products such as FurLifes.

Let’s jump right in!

What Are Fleas and Why Are They a Problem for Dogs?

Fleas are tiny wingless parasites that thrive on the blood of animals, including dogs. They are especially resilient in different types of weather conditions and can cause signs of both discomfort and irritation in our pets.

But itchy skin isn’t the worst problem. They are also known to carry different types of diseases and other parasites (like the flea tapeworm - Dipylidium caninum) and make it easier for other pets to join them, like ticks. This makes them a bigger threat than many think.

It’s important to know that they aren’t a sign of poor hygiene. They are opportunists, meaning they latch onto any host they find. Luckily, by learning the basics of how flea infestation occurs, it becomes easy to get rid of them. But before that, we need to learn how do dogs get fleas

How Do Dogs Get Fleas

Dogs can pick up fleas in two ways: either by being in direct contact with other animals that are infested, or by being in contact with fleas in the environment. The latter is more common. Let’s delve into them separately:

Direct Contact With Other Animals

Fleas can move from animal to animal. This can occur during playtime in the dog park, while meeting neighborhood pets during walk time, or even while visiting the groomer, vet, or being at doggy daycare. Sometimes, our dogs can even catch fleas if they come into contact with squirrels, racoons or other types of wildlife.

Catching a flea can happen even if the dog only does a quick snigg or a rub, as that short amount of time is more than enough for them to hop over.

Fleas in the Environment

It’s important to know that fleas don’t only live on pets or wild animals. When an adult flea lays an egg on your dog's fur, it can fall off and land either somewhere at home or outside. Depending on the location, the egg can begin to develop at a different pace.

Most of the flea's life cycle occurs in the environment. Immature fleas like larvae and pupae spend their time hiding in grass, soil, carpets, and other warm, humid locations where they can slowly mature.

The most common places where you can find fleas are in the yard, carpets, cracks in the floorboard, furniture, and in other moist hiding places, like patios, garages, or piles of leaves outside. So, even if your pet is mostly indoors, they can still come in contact with fleas.

Can Indoor Dogs Get Fleas?

The answer to this is obviously YES. Indoor dogs can definitely catch fleas, but how?

Fleas can get inside your home and start making it their by many ways. Most commonly, they can hitch a ride on the shoes or clothes of humans after they’ve been outside, or from other pets when they visit your home.

For those living in apartments, the shared common areas also allow fleas to travel between units and cause an unwelcome visit. Other common areas with fleas can be places where a lot of animals pass by, like groomers or veterinary clinics.

How Do Fleas Get on Dogs in the First Place?

Since fleas don’t have wings, they developed a different asset to get on the hosts - jumping. Did you know that fleas are considered the animal that can jump the highest compared to their size? One flea can leap 7 inches vertically and over 15 inches horizontally, making it easy to hop onto a dog the second it walks by.

So, the answer to how do fleas get on dogs is that fleas get on dogs through everyday environments, from walking in the park to passing someone at the vet clinic. Once the flea lands on the dog, it begins to feed the same second, and shortly after, it begins to mate.

Depending on the weather, mating can be slower or faster. During the summer, the time between a flea hopping on a dog and the first signs of infestation is very short. This is why many owners are surprised by a severe infestation, even if their dogs are mostly indoors.

Why Do Fleas Like Dogs?

Have you ever wondered why fleas prefer our pets, but not us?

This is because dogs, unlike us humans, offer them an ideal microclimate inside their fur. Our dogs temeprature is ideal for them to thrive and mate, while their fur serves as a perfect hiding spot. Our dogs are also a buffet, as they offer fleas a steady supply of blood meals, which makes survival and mating easier and faster for them.

But fleas are more attracted to some dogs. Those dogs that have thicker fur make it easier to remain hidden, due to the difference in their skin chemistry and how much time the dog spends outdoors.

There’s research showing that certain animals attract more fleas due to scent and skin oils, so it’s not just random. One study done by Haiwen Ya found that fleas pick their host based on factors such as sex, reproductive status, chemical cues, overall body heat percentage, and rate of movement.

Signs That Your Dog Might Have Fleas

Even one flea is enough to cause symptoms. This is because one flea doesn’t bite once; it bites more times to feed, and its saliva irritates the skin.

Some important signs which could point to a flea infestation include:

• Excessive scratching - Dogs that become more focused on scratching (or chewing) different parts of their bodies could indicate flea bites.

• Irritated skin - Flea bites look like small red bumps on the skin. They can be easily spotted on the belly, base of the tail, or around the neck. In severe infestations, the constant scratching of these areas makes the skin look scabby and even sore.

• Hairloss - Because of constant scratching, some pets damage their fur and cause hair loss in patches around the body. One study done by the Department of Parasitology in Queensland found that dogs with FAD (flea allergic dermatitis) almost always develop hair loss during a flea infestation.

• Changes in behaviour - Pets with fleas usually have trouble relaxing and are less interested in play time, as the constant itching makes them both distracted and anxious.

Common Myths About How Dogs Get Fleas

In this part of the article, we will address some common myths about why fleas like dogs.

One common myth is that a dirty dog equals a dog with fleas. The truth is that fleas don’t care about how clean or dirty a dog is. They only care if they can easily get to the skin and feed.

A somewhat dangerous myth is that indoor dogs can’t get fleas. This is also entirely untrue, as fleas can be carried indoors by other animals or people who have unknowingly come into contact with a flea. Not treating your pet for fleas, even if they don’t go outside, can be very annoying! If indoor pets ever get in contact with fleas, they could develop severe symptoms since their immune system hasn’t been exposed to fleas previously.

The myth that cold weather kills fleas is another inaccuracy. While freezing temperatures outside can kill fleas, they can still survive indoors throughout the year or in hiding spots outside. Another myth is that one bath is enough to get rid of fleas. While bathing might help, it is rarely enough to solve an infestation by itself.

How to Prevent Fleas on Dogs

Now that we know how dogs get fleas and ticks, it’s time to learn about the importance of prevention. Waiting until your dog gets a full infestation can cause more damage to them, which is why looking out and preventing it before occurring is a smarter move.

By checking your dog's fur, especially after a walk or play time outside, you could see if a flea hitchhiked a ride to your home. Another good tip is to always wash your pets bedding regularly, as hot water destroys flea eggs and larvae. Keeping the house clean and vacuuming regularly also helps in getting rid of immature fleas.

If you live in a house with a yard, keep it neat - Trim the grass, remove debris, and make sure there isn't any wildlife roaming around. Fleas like to hide in damp spaces, so piles of dry leaves can be a perfect spot for them in your yard.

Combining this with prevention products makes it easy to keep fleas away. Always aim to use vet-approved products that don’t contain any harsh or possibly toxic ingredients. Something like our products - FurLife. We offer a wide range of flea treatment plans, making it easy for owners to choose the one closest to their lifestyle without feeling overwhelmed.

What to Do If Your Dog Has Fleas

If you find fleas hiding in your pet's fur, don’t panic, as it can only make things worse and can lead to mistakes. A good plan of action in dealing with fleas is:

• Confirm the fleas and flea dirt - Check your dog for signs of fleas or flea dirt. It’s a common indicator of an ongoing infestation. Flea dirt is actually the flea's fecal matter, which larvae use as food. It looks brown, but if you run over it with a damp cloth, you’ll see it's actually made up of blood.

• Start a treatment plan - Combined treatment plans are considered the best. They include regular baths, combing, and using natural repellents.

• Treat the environment - The biggest number of fleas aren’t on the dog, they’re in the environment. By vacuuming, taking care of the yard, and using a deterrent spray like FurLife™ - All Natural Flea & Tick Spray for Dogs and Cats, you’ll make it harder for fleas to cause a reinfestation.

• Prevent reinfections - Stick to a routine and don’t miss when flea treatment needs to be applied.

When to Talk to a Vet

While most flea infestations can be dealt with without the help of a vet, there are some situations when their help and advice are very valuable.

It’s considered a rule of thumb to always consult a veterinarian when flea infestations lead to excessive scratching, widespread hair loss, signs of infections or anemia, and especially if you have a puppy. Flea infestations are more dangerous to puppies, as they can become anemic more easily and their immune system isn’t developed as well as an adult's.

Other signs that point to visiting the vet are if you find ticks alongside the fleas. Combined infections could cause your dog to develop more severe symptoms of anemia, and they could even get a disease that ticks carry.

Final Thoughts

Fleas are common, and any pet can accidentally get them. Their tiny size and sneaky demeanour make them a hassle, but they’re not unbeatable. Once you understand how dogs get fleas and how quickly they can spread throughout your home and other pets, you’ll also know how to properly manage them.

And that is by prevention. With the knowledge we offered you in this article and our products, getting rid of fleas becomes an easy task, with you always being one step ahead.

So, what are you waiting for? Go to our webpage and start your flea prevention journey!