A flea infestation can cause a lot of problems to your dog. In fact, fleas are believed to be the single biggest reason why dogs tend to feel itchy most of the times. These pests do not even have to bite the dog to irritate the animal. Just by crawling through the body, the dog will be irritated enough to start chewing and biting the region. And if the dog is too young, then it can become seriously ill because of the constant flea bites. Below, we check out six ways in which your dog can be hurt from fleas.
- Bites
The first obvious ways in which flea can cause pain to your dog is by biting the animal. A flea bite can be intensely painful and itchy. Add to the fact that there might be many of these things on the body, you should start getting a good idea of how painful these pests can become. Dogs bite and chew their coat and skin precisely to stop these fleas from biting and hurting them.
- Tapeworm Infection
Generally, all fleas will have tapeworms on them. When your dog bites themselves, they can end up eating the flea. And eventually, the tapeworms will live inside the animal’s intestines. These worms are known to hamper the proper nutrient absorption in the intestine, causing health issues in the dog. In addition, the tapeworms can lay eggs inside the intestine and worsen the situation. If you notice anything that looks like grains of rice on your pet’s stool, then understand that you are essentially looking at tapeworm eggs. The only way to deal with the issue is to visit a good vet who will provide the necessary medication to get rid of the problem.
- Flea Bite Dermatitis
There are dogs that get allergic to the saliva of flea. Such animals usually get affected with a condition called flea bite dermatitis. If your dog is afflicted with this, they will soon start shedding hair. Some of the regions of the skin will have a reddish color to it together with very flaky skin. Most of the dogs tend to develop this allergy after several flea bites. But some dogs can be extremely sensitive that they start having flea bite dermatitis right after experiencing the first bite from a flea.
- Anemia
Flea bites not only cause pain to the dog. These pests will also suck out a little blood every time they bite. Though one or two such flea bites is not much of an issue, a large number of fleas doing this will eventually cause blood loss in the animal. The resulting anemia can turn out be a serious threat to the dog’s life. Only a licensed veterinarian will be able to resolve the matter and rescue the dog from a terrible fate.
- Hot Spots
Because the dog constantly tries to get rid of the flea by chewing and biting a region, the area becomes susceptible to hot spots. To soothe out the dog, you need to clean the region with an anti-bacterial shampoo. This will provide the dog some relief from pain while also lowering its desire to itch. You can also try to use a hydrocortisone spray to soothe the skin.
- Bartonella Infection
In addition to tapeworms, fleas also tend to carry Bartonella bacteria with them. And these microorganisms can easily end up infecting the animal, resulting in conditions like diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and so on. The lymph nodes can also swell. If you think that your dog is infected with Bartonella, you should take it to a vet as soon as possible. Any delay can cost you its life.
Given the above, it need not be stressed anymore as to why protecting your dog from flea is important. You can check the article Keeping Those Fleas and Ticks Away – Essential Pet Care for information about the best ways to prevent a flea infestation in your dog. Plus, remember to keep your pet away from hot and damp conditions since fleas usually thrive in these types of conditions.
Dogs which are infected with flea typically tend to scratch or chew the affected region. In addition, intense biting and rubbing can also be seen. There might be skin abrasions in the area together with some pus that can ooze out from these sores. The dog will also start losing too much hair and you will start seeing patches of baldness. So, if you notice such signs, be sure to check out for flea infestation and take measures to cure your dog of it.
Last Updated on by kalidaspandian
