How Do Fleas Look on Dogs?

One way to determine if your dog has fleas is to part its hair and look for dark specks on it. Flea dirt is the feces of fleas and can be found on your dog’s fur, carpet, and furniture. Flea dirt looks like small bits of dirt, but when it gets wet it turns reddish brown.

Fleas are often hard to spot, but they are easier to see on dogs with light colored fur. You can also spot fleas by noticing increased scratching and biting in one area. Fleas prefer dark, hidden areas, so you’ll want to keep an eye out for these areas.

Fleas are tiny, brown insects that can grow to be an eighth of an inch long. They move fast and are able to jump 12 inches. Their big back legs allow them to move quickly, and one adult flea can contain as many as 100 immature fleas. If your dog’s coat is thick or colored, it will be harder to see fleas with the naked eye.

Fleas can cause itching and can turn into a full infestation within days. Fleas can be hard to spot and can be hard to get rid of. Thankfully, there are solutions available to control the flea population.