How Can I Tell if My Dog Has Fleas?

If you’ve noticed your dog scratching and biting at their skin more than usual, it may be time to check for fleas. These tiny pests are a nuisance for both you and your dog — and they can be incredibly tricky to eradicate. Not only do they bite and irritate your poor pup, but they can infest your yard and home and any other animals in the family. 

Not sure how to check if your dog has fleas? We’ve put together a guide on spotting the little buggers (or checking for other signs that they’ve been around) as well as how to handle the situation and prevent future flea problems.

Does my dog have fleas? Here’s how to check your dog for fleas.

1. Visually inspect your dog for fleas

Fleas are tiny and can be hard to spot, but the signs are visible if you look carefully. 

• Watch for adult fleas crawling or jumping on their skin. You’ll likely need to part their fur to get a better look or check areas with less dense hair, where they may be easier to see (such as the groin, stomach, armpits).

• Check for flea dirt, or flea poop, which looks like tiny black specks or coffee grounds in your dog’s fur or on their skin. If you aren’t sure if it’s flea dirt, wipe some on a damp cloth. Flea dirt will turn brownish-red because of the flea’s diet of blood.

• Look for reddened areas of their skin, where your dog may be scratching more heavily from flea bites. Actual flea bites can sometimes be seen, too, as tiny red dots. 

2. Use a flea comb to better spot them

Flea combs have very fine teeth that can catch fleas more easily than regular combs or brushes. Comb once carefully through your dog’s fur, staring down at the skin, to see if any adult fleas, larvae, or dirt come up. Regular grooming can help prevent fleas, too.

3. Notice changes in your dog’s scratching habits

If your dog has started scratching more than usual, it may be due to flea bites. Excessive scratching can also lead to skin infections, especially at the base of their tail and on their stomachs and groin area, where it’s more sensitive and exposed. 

4. Are other family members getting bites?

Check if anyone in your house is also getting flea bites. If there’s a flea infestation, you may see small bites around your ankles or on your stomach or armpits.

5. Set a flea trap

Set up a bowl of soapy water under a night light or lamp on the floor, and leave it overnight. Fleas will be attracted to the light and may jump and fall into the bowl. Check the bowl in the morning for any adult fleas.

Symptoms of fleas in dogs

If you think your dog might have fleas, here are some symptoms to watch for:

• Excessive scratching or biting at their skin

• Visible fleas or flea dirt 

• Hair loss and skin irritation

• Scabs or skin lesions 

• Tapeworms in their poop (from ingesting fleas)

Identifying fleas vs. other health issues 

Dog flea symptoms can look similar to other health issues, so it’s important to determine the true cause of their symptoms.

Fleas vs. allergies

Dogs with fleas and dogs with allergies can exhibit similar symptoms, like itching and skin irritation, which can make it tricky to tell them apart. 

Fleas are usually visible and will leave red, raised bumps along your dog’s neck, tail, and groin. Dogs with allergies (whether to food, environmental factors, or flea saliva) may show more generalized itching, ear infections, and inflamed skin across multiple areas of their body. 

Fleas vs. dry skin

Dogs with fleas and dogs with dry skin can both experience itching (though the severity will usually differ), but fleas will usually cause other symptoms. 

Fleas cause irritation through their bites, leading to red bumps, hair loss, and visible flea dirt or actual fleas on your dog’s skin. Dry skin usually stems from environmental factors like low humidity or poor diet and will cause flaky, rough skin and mild itching. Unlike flea infestations, dry skin doesn’t usually lead to intense scratching.

Fleas vs. mites

Fleas and mites both cause itching and discomfort in dogs, but they differ in how they infest and affect the skin. 

Fleas are external parasites that bite, causing irritation, red bumps, and hair loss, and can be easily spotted on your dog’s skin or coat. Mites, on the other hand, burrow into their skin and cause intense itching, scabbing, and sometimes thickened skin. Unlike fleas, mites are microscopic and not visible to the naked eye, so your vet will have to diagnose them.

Flea treatment for dogs

• Chewable flea medication: If your dog currently has a flea problem, giving them an ingestible flea med (like Capstar) to quickly kill off the adult fleas is the first step. These usually work within 24 hours.

• Flea shampoo: Next, give your dog a good bath with flea shampoo to remove remaining adult fleas, flea eggs, larvae, and flea dirt. Let the shampoo sit and soak on your dog for at least five minutes before rinsing. Remember, this only kills off current fleas and won’t prevent a re-infestation.

• Topical flea medicine: Topical medications are great for monthly flea prevention. Simply squeeze some onto your dog’s skin at the base of their neck, and they’re safe from fleas for up to 30 days. Avoid giving them baths after applying so you don’t wash the medicine off!

• Flea collars: A flea collar can be a good option for dogs who are outside regularly or for pet parents who don’t want to administer a treatment every month. Some collars can prevent fleas for up to eight months, as long as they’re tight enough to have contact with your dog’s skin.

Treating your home for fleas

To keep infestations from coming back, you’ll need to treat your house if your dog has fleas. A flea’s life cycle runs in four stages and can be tricky to beat — you must treat the sources, both inside and outside. 

• Regularly vacuum: Vacuuming will remove any adult fleas, eggs, or larvae in your carpets, furniture, or other crevices. 

• Wash linens and dog beds: Wash your dog’s bed and any other linens they have access to in hot water to kill off any fleas and eggs.

• Treat the yard often: If your yard is full of fleas, your dog will never fully be rid of them. Treat your yard and house with pet-friendly flea sprays to prevent them from coming back.

• Use monthly prevention: Similarly, alongside treating your yard, you need to keep your dog on a monthly preventative to keep fleas from reinfesting them. 

• Hire professional pest control: For severe infestations that just won’t go away, professional exterminators can come in and do a stronger, more targeted flea treatment.

Why does my dog still have fleas after treatment? 

Even after treatment, it’s common for fleas to come back. Flea eggs, larvae, and pupae can continue to hatch and reinfest your dog, as some treatments only target adult fleas. 

If all pets and areas in your home and yard aren’t treated thoroughly, fleas can quickly repopulate. It’s also possible that the treatment wasn’t applied correctly, or that the fleas in your area have developed resistance to certain products. Continued treatment of both your dog and their environment is key to breaking the flea life cycle and preventing future infestations. 

Commonly asked questions

Can my dog have fleas if I don’t see them?

Yes, your dog can have fleas even if you don’t see any on them. If your dog has thick or dark fur that’s hard to look through, or if they only have a few adult fleas versus a heavy infestation, you may not spot any. You can check for other signs like red, raised dots (flea bites), flea dirt, and excessive scratching.

Can fleas live in your bed?

Fleas can live in your bed, though it would likely only happen if they’ve landed there after jumping off of your pet. They need a blood source to survive, so it’s not common for them to survive in your bedding for long. You can sometimes find other evidence of fleas in your bed, though, like white flea eggs or flea dirt.

How did my indoor dog get fleas?

Indoor dogs can get fleas if your dog has been around other dogs who are infested, because fleas can jump off one dog onto yours. Or simply being outside where fleas live can cause your indoor dog to pick up fleas.

What do I need to know about adopting a stray or lost dog? 

If you find a lost or stray pet, check for fleas immediately before bringing them into your car or house. A flea bath and treatment should be the first step, followed by preventative measures to treat your home and any other animals in the house. Also, keep the dog separate from your pets to avoid spreading or creating an infestation. Notify a vet or local shelter for further care.

References

About Dog or Cat Tapeworm Infection

Comparison of Two Techniques for the Detection of Flea Faeces in Canine and Feline Coat Brushings

Control Fleas on Your Pet, in Your House, and in Your Yard

Flea Control | Oklahoma State

Fleas | Cornell University

Fleas | UC Davis