How Quickly Can a Dog Get Fleas?

Dogs can get fleas from many different sources. Many fleas are brought into a home on human clothing, while others are spread by the pet itself. One flea can cause an infestation within a few days. Fleas lay as many as forty or fifty eggs a day. After hatching, they can survive for several months on your pet.

Fleas may cause itching, so it is important to treat the fleas as soon as you notice them. This will help reduce the amount of scratching and secondary infections your dog may get. Besides being irritating, fleas are also potentially harmful to your dog. If left untreated, fleas can lead to anemia in young dogs.

Dogs can get fleas from other dogs, animals, and the ground. They can also pick up fleas from another dog in your kennel or from a wild animal. While it is difficult to keep out wild animals, you can take steps to limit their access to your yard. For instance, avoid leaving dog food and other seeds out. Additionally, make sure to keep your garbage bags in a garbage bin so hungry foxes won’t find them.

Fleas are very small and hard to spot on a dog. Adult fleas are about an eighth of an inch in length and have huge back legs. One adult flea can carry up to a hundred immature fleas. If your pet has fleas, you can check for dried blood in their fur. The blood will turn brown when it rehydrates.