When your dog has fleas, it’s not necessarily due to poor hygiene – it can happen to anyone. For your dog, fleas are extremely irritating. They cause itching, red skin, and sometimes allergic reactions. Fleas can also transmit diseases.

Fleas: an “explosive” problem

Fleas feed on your dog’s blood. They reproduce very fast and can quickly become a serious infestation. Adult female fleas can lay hundreds of eggs, usually in the animal’s fur. The eggs fall off and develop in carpets, on sofas, or in cracks in the floor. Fleas are up to 3 millimeters long, so they can be seen with the naked eye. They cannot fly, but can jump up to 30 centimeters thanks to their strong hind legs. It’s a myth that fleas easily jump from one animal to another, but because of their jumping ability, they can spread quickly throughout a home. That makes them difficult to control.

Why itching?

Fleas cause itching and discomfort in dogs for several reasons:

• Flea bites: When a flea bites, it injects saliva into the skin. This saliva contains substances that can cause an allergic reaction, leading to itching and irritation.
• Flea allergy (FAD): Some dogs are hypersensitive to flea saliva – this is called Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD). Even a single bite can cause severe itching, redness, and inflammation. The more often a dog has had fleas, the higher the chance of developing an allergy.
• Scratching and biting: Because of the itch, your dog scratches, bites, and licks, which can lead to open wounds, infections, and further skin issues.
• Flea dirt: Fleas produce small black specks called flea dirt. This can also irritate the skin.

Symptoms of fleas

The main signs of a flea infestation are itching, red spots, and visible flea dirt (black dots in the coat). If your dog scratches, bites, or licks a lot, it may indicate fleas. In some cases, hair loss also occurs. You often first notice the flea dirt, especially in the groin, armpits, and under the tail. Fleas can also carry diseases and parasites. A well-known example is the tapeworm, which can be transmitted via fleas and enter the intestines. That’s why preventing and treating fleas promptly is very important.

Keeping the coat healthy

To keep your dog’s coat healthy, it’s important to support the skin from within. Do this through proper nutrition, regular exercise, and supplements containing zinc and biotin. These tasty supplements can be added to food, often as an eight-week course. Zinc and biotin strengthen the skin and hair, giving your dog a shiny coat, reducing dandruff, and making dry skin more resilient and less itchy.