If you ’ve ever dealt with fleas , you know exactly how unpleasant and retentive they can be . Thin , wingless , and only a few mm long , these midget parasites can have Brobdingnagian problems for animate being and people alike .
More than 15 flea species have been found in domestic dogs over the geezerhood — and it change state out canines may actually be the gross horde for land flea - pay diseases into homes [ 1 ] .
We all know that fleas can cause itchiness and rashes , and that they ’re implausibly tough to get rid of . But can fleas kill a dog ? Can these pesky parasites actually lead to a blackguard ’s death ? We enquire a veterinary expert to typeset the record straight person .
Can Fleas Kill a Dog?
“ The short answer is yes , ” says Dr. Tyra Davis Brown , who do at Hammond Animal Hospital and Pet Lodge in Louisiana , “ and I ’ve seen it pass in a patient . ”
What Brown is touch to is a severe condition call flea anemia , which can actually lead to a dog ’s death if left untreated .
In the warm South , where there are seldom hard freezes to kill off outdoor fleas , Brown says they are vulgar year - rotund . At work , she insure a grouping of humble dogs who continued to hail in covered with flea — even after Brown brought it up to the owner multiple times . On one sojourn , she noticed that one of the flea - ridden weenie was feel sick . Brown regulate blood work , which bring out severe anemia . She advised the owner to address the flea issue immediately . When the hound returned a few weeks subsequently , the fleas were still there , and his line work was even bad .
Brown refer him to a specializer , but the dog died shortly afterward . “ It was the flea , ” she aver . “ There was nothing else run low on with him medically , except for the severe flea plague . His genus Anemia was a direct result of that . ”
“ We do n’t see it often , ” Brown aver of flea anemia that ’s severe enough to down a dog , “ however , as in this case , it can and does take place . ”
And genus Anemia is n’t the only concern when it come to flea - borne diseases and dog . Fleas can also cause Bartonella — an infection from bacteria that fleas may carry . While treatable with antibiotics , Bartonella that goes unaddressed can lead to fatal heart inflammation in detent , Brown say , and it can even channelise to humans , too .
A Closer Look at Flea Anemia
In dogs , anemiaoccurs when the physical structure lacks sufficient red blood cell , hemoglobin , or both . It can be induce by any number of diseases , injuries , or conditions — include blood line going due to fleas . That ’s because , as parasites , flea do n’t just burn and cause an itchy notion . Each adult flea actively sucks blood from their host several times every sidereal day . The more fleas there are on a dog , the more blood it ’s lose . And as we all know , sufficient ancestry is crucial to a healthy body .
“ If you have parasites always go down on your blood , your body can compensate for a while , ” Brown read . “ But after that , if you do n’t have enough stemma , things are going to shut down . Your cells will start to die . Your immune system can get out of whack . ”
She says flea anaemia is particularly grave in small dogs . “ A boastful domestic dog could get anemia from flea , but the likelihood of decease is slender compare to a tinier dog , ” she says . The reason is simple — big hound have more blood , so it ’s well-situated for their bodies to survive losing some . minuscule andiron have much less blood to spare .
According to Brown , the symptoms of anaemia to look for in dogs include
If you find any flea on your dog , Brown suggests receive them treat immediately . “ When you see one flea on your pawl , you should have intercourse there are probably a hundred more , ” she say . And if you ca n’t get those flea under control cursorily — or if you spy any symptom of anaemia — wreak them to a veterinarian like a shot .
Other Flea Diseases
While other diseases flea expect or condition they cause may not lead directly to a dog ’s death , they can still make a pup ill or very uncomfortable .
Flea allergy dermatitis is a coarse cause of skin disease in dog-iron . It pass off when the consistence react to the spittle that fleas inject when they bite . “ All it can take is one flea to go down the tegument off , ” Brown pronounce . “ And if that one flea becomes a hundred fleas , or even 10 fleas , the response is going to be worse . ” In some domestic dog , a exclusive flea bite can cause itching for days , and may finally result in hair red down the middle of the back to the groundwork of the tail .
Fleas can also causetapeworms in dogs . This happens when a dog is lap itself and swallows a flea that ’s harboring a cestode . A severe tapeworm infection can cause death in puppies or dogs with other illnesses . If you see any signs of tapeworms in your dog ’s stool , be certain to contact your veterinarian right forth .
Flea Prevention Tips
“ Every fauna should be on some type of [ flea ] preventative 12 month out of the year — especially if you endure in a warmer climate where you do n’t get intemperately freezes a spate , ” Brown says . There are legion alternative out there , from topical treatments to oral medications . Just be sure that whatever you use explicitly submit it will battle fleas .
The CDC suggests limiting how much time your pet pass alfresco , give frequent baths , and on a regular basis checking for fleas [ 2 ] . It also recommends cleanse favorite bedding often with max and water system .
Brown say it ’s vital to vacuum-clean your home at least every other day and straightaway empty the bag . You should also span and mop bare floors , because eggs can blot out in the cracks between plank . you may also try sprinklingdiatomaceous earthin the cracks of your floor . It kill flea by dry them out .
“ We ca n’t make flea vanish whole , ” Brown adds , “ but you’re able to keep them out of your home and off your pet . ”
