How Do Dogs Get Fleas?
This article is written by Pet Circle's qualified veterinarian,
Fleas are undesirable and unwelcome guests on our pets and in our homes. They can make life very uncomfortable for our furry friends and therefore it's important to understand the ways in which our dogs might become the hosts to these pesky creatures.
It's a common misconception that your dog needs to be in close contact with another flea infested pooch to have a flea jump on, however the truth is that fleas are far more common than you might think and unfortunately can lurk in some unsuspected places.
Whether playing with their friends at a dog park or lying on the grass in their own backyard - dogs are at risk of fleas. This article will help you to understand the intricate life cycle of fleas and the environmental factors that aid their spread. This article aims to equip pet parents with the knowledge necessary to ensure their pets are protected from the discomfort and health risks posed by these tiny yet formidable pests.
Read on as we navigate the world of fleas, decoding the mysteries of how dogs get them, and what we can do to stop it!
In this article, we'll explore:
⢠Primary Sources of Flea Infestation in Dogs
⢠Flea Life-Cycle and Reproduction
⢠Further Reading
Primary Sources of Flea Infestation in Dogs
There are a wide variety of ways your dog can pick up fleas and become the unwilling hosts for these nasty parasites.
Dogs can pick up fleas from other animals including other dogs and wildlife, and more commonly from the environment - parks, walks, their backyards and even inside their own homes!
Fleas don't have wings however they sure know how to jump. A flea can jump 50 cm away or 20cm high (this is the equivalent of an adult human jumping the length of a football field!)
Below I'll discuss the multitude of ways that fleas can jump on board your pet.
Contact With Other Animals
Although direct contact with flea-ridden animals is actually not the most common way that dogs can pick up fleas, it's definitely a possible source.
Think how easy it would be for your dog to come within 50 cm or brush up next to another dog when playing at the park, fleas are such tiny creatures and well hidden in the coat of dogs so it's impossible to tell from a distance which dogs might be harbouring unwelcome guests. You cannot always expect to see fleas because many animals will lick, groom, and chew after being bitten by a flea. This causes the flea to either jump off the pet or get swallowed.
It is also not just dog to dog transmission that can occur - dogs can also pick up fleas from cats! Although there are different species of fleas (known as the 'dog flea' and the 'cat flea'), your cat's fleas can most definitely set up shop on your dog too.
Outdoor cats can easily wander to areas that have fleas, they can then bring these fleas home to jump directly onto your dog.
Domestic pets like dogs and cats might be the first animals that come to mind when we think of animal transmission risk however don't forget about the wildlife! Possums, rabbits, rats, mice, foxes - all of these animals can carry and spread fleas.
The Home Environment
As awful as it is to think about - fleas are actually commonly found in our homes! Fleas can enter our homes on animals, on us, on belongings or on wildlife. The larvae and pupae (juvenile stages of the flea life cycle) can then lie dormant for a long time before finding a suitable host to jump on to (e.g your dog!).
Fleas thrive in the well-regulated temperatures in the home and unfortunately flea larvae also survive incredibly well in the carpet in our homes. It's also a common myth that if you donât have carpet you don't have fleas, but fleas love the cracks in hardwood floors too. They can actually lie dormant in your flooring for many months and they tend to burrow deep down to the base of the carpet fibres which can make it tricky to get rid of them.
Human Interactions And Activities
There are so many different sources for fleas that it might not surprise you to learn that you can be one too! Fleas aren't fussy and although they don't use humans as long term hosts they can bite humans and hitch a ride on human clothing until they are able to find a more suitable long term host.
This means that fleas can be brought into your dog's environment by you or visitors to your home.
Some people will be more at risk of flea exposure than others - working with animals or outdoors means you will be more likely to come into contact with an adult flea and bring it home to your pet.
Outdoor and Environmental Factors
So fleas like to live inside homes, what if I have an outside dog? Is my backyard a risk?
Yes! It seems that nowhere is safe when it comes to these crafty critters. Fleas thrive in moist, sheltered, outdoor areas - often your backyard will be the perfect environment.
Any dog that spends time outdoors in a backyard has potentially been exposed to fleas.
It's also important to remember that environments which have a high number of animal visitors will be more prone to harbouring fleas - kennels, grooming facilities and vet clinics are all possible sources and ensuring your dog is up to date with flea prevention before visiting these areas is the best way to reduce that risk.
Other Animals in the Neighbourhood
But my pet doesn't leave the backyard! How would fleas get there? Strays and urban wildlife will commonly enter backyards and leave behind eggs and flea larvae which will then lie in wait for your pet to arrive.
Travel and Climate Factors
Perhaps your dog has never had issues before but is lucky enough to take part in the ever growing trend of travelling around australia in a camper. Or perhaps they like to accompany you on holidays or visiting family and friends?
The downside of new locations means new populations of fleas and more possible chances for exposure.
There is increased flea activity in warmer climates and seasons, so if you're swapping the cold wintry weather of the southern states for the tropical north you might find that you're not the only one who prefers a warm climate. Fleas thrive in warm weather and their numbers are often much larger.
Flea Life-Cycle and Reproduction
In order to best understand how fleas can survive so well in our environments for such a long time it's important to understand the flea life cycle. Did you know that only 5% of the fleas life cycle is actually spent on your pet?
Fleas have four different stages to their life cycle - Egg, larva, pupa and adult.
It's the adult stage which most people think of when they think of fleas - this is the stage you will see on your pet - small wingless creatures that feed on blood.
Adult fleas then lay large numbers of eggs (they can lay 50 a day!) These eggs then fall off the coat into the environment as your dog moves around (or cat or wildlife).
The eggs can take 2 weeks to fully develop and then the larva stage hatches. The larva can burrow deep into all the places listed above - your carpet, the hardwood floor, your clothes, your garden! The larvae then encases itself into a cocoon and this then becomes the pupal stage.
The pupal stage can last for a long time - fleas can lie dormant in this stage for up to 6 months! Once a host has been detected nearby (by changes in temperature, CO2 or vibrations - the adults will hatch and jump onto a host and the life cycle begins again!
With the large number of eggs being produced daily by a single flea you can imagine how quickly flea numbers can multiply and spread. This rapid multiplication combined with a hardy pupa stage and the ability to thrive in many environments means that fleas have remained a common problem in domestic pets for years.
Flea treatment and prevention
Regular flea spot on or oral flea protection is currently our best method for keeping your pet parasite free. There is also a injection available from your vet to provide protection against fleas and paralysis ticks for a full 12 months.
If you have seen fleas on your pet then make sure to check out our articles on how to get rid of fleas by treating your pet and the environment too.
⢠How to tell if a dog has fleas
⢠How to get rid of fleas on dogs
⢠What is the best flea and tick treatment
⢠Choosing a flea and worming product for your dog
⢠Your guide to fleas, ticks and worms
Want to know more? Check out our Discover Page for more tips from our expert vets on keeping your pets happy and healthy.