PET42 guide
Fleas on dogs and cats: recognition and treatment
Scratching, flea dirt and skin irritation can suggest fleas. Treatment must address the animal and its surroundings to control an infestation.
Recognise symptoms and successfully combat fleas
Fleas are one of the most common parasites on dogs and cats. A flea infestation is not only annoying, but can also be unpleasant for your animal and cause other health problems. This makes it all the more important to recognise the first signs early and act consistently.
How do you recognise fleas?
You don't always see the fleas directly. The symptoms that are often noticeable first are:
Fleas are particularly common in:
A typical indication is so-called flea dirt. These are small black crumbs in the fur. If these are rubbed on a damp handkerchief, they turn reddish.
- Frequent scratching
- Increased biting or nibbling on fur
- restlessness
- Skin redness
- Hair loss
- Small crusts or skin inflammation
- Excessive grooming in cats
- Back
- base of the tail
- Belly
- Neck
- Groin area
Why fleas are more than just a nuisance
Fleas suck blood and can cause various problems:
Animals with a flea saliva allergy in particular often react to individual flea bites with massive itching.
- Severe itching
- Flea saliva allergy
- Skin inflammations
- Anaemia in severe infestations
- Transmission of tapeworms
How do fleas get on dogs or cats?
Many pet owners think that fleas are a problem for unkempt animals. That's not true.
Fleas can be transmitted through:
Even indoor cats can get fleas if flea eggs or larvae get into the house on shoes or clothing.
- Contact with other animals
- Walks
- Gardens and parks
- Animal boarding facilities
- Wildlife
- the environment
Why you can't just treat the animal
The biggest problem:
Only a small proportion of fleas are found directly on the animal.
The majority are present in these stages:
These stages develop in the surrounding environment.
That's why it's usually not enough to just treat your dog or cat.
- Eggs
- larvae
- pupae
The environment must also be treated
If you have a flea infestation, you should also clean:
Important:
Otherwise, new generations of fleas can arise again and again.
- Pet beds
- Blankets
- Cushions
- Sofas
- Carpets
- Scratching posts
- Car seats
- Vacuum regularly
- Wash textiles as hot as possible
- Dispose of vacuum cleaner bags immediately
What flea treatments are there?
There are different options:
Which variant makes sense depends on:
A vet can help assess these factors.
It is therefore always advisable to seek individual advice from a vet.
- Spot-on treatments
- Tablets
- Collars
- Sprays
- animal species
- Age
- health
- way of life
Be careful with home remedies
There are numerous tips circulating on the Internet about:
Important to know:
“Herbal” does not automatically mean effective or safe.
Cats in particular are sensitive to many essential oils. Some can even be harmful to your pet’s health.
- Vinegar
- Coconut oil
- essential oils
- Herbal mixtures
When to go to the vet?
A visit to the vet is useful if:
- Severe itching
- Skin inflammations
- Suspected flea saliva allergy
- Puppies or kittens
- Uncertainty about treatment
- Recurrent flea infestations
Conclusion
Fleas are a common problem in dogs and cats. Anyone who recognises the first symptoms and acts consistently can usually get an infestation under control.
What is important is not only the treatment of the animal, but also the thorough cleaning of the surrounding area. When choosing suitable flea protection products, you should seek individual advice from your vet.
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