Monitor — routine vet appointment
Dog with fleas
Treat the dog AND the home — fleas spend most of life in carpets and bedding; vet-recommended product on every pet, plus thorough environmental treatment.
Recognise the signs
- Scratching, chewing, especially tail base, belly, neck
- Visible fleas (fast-moving, brown, ~2mm)
- Flea dirt — black specks turning red on damp paper
- Hot spots, hair loss, secondary infection in flea-allergic dogs
First aid steps
- Vet-recommended flea treatment for all pets in the household (dogs and cats).
- Treat the home: vacuum thoroughly (including under furniture and along skirting), wash all bedding hot, household flea spray on carpets.
- Continue treatment monthly year-round.
Do NOT
- Do not use dog products on cats — permethrin kills cats.
- Do not skip the home environment — 95% of the flea population is not on the pet.
- Do not use cheap supermarket products without vet check — many less effective and some unsafe.
When to phone the vet immediately
- Severe self-trauma, hot spots, flea allergy dermatitis
- Pale gums in puppies — anaemia from flea infestation
- Secondary skin infection
Common causes
- Year-round in heated UK homes
- Outdoor exposure, contact with other animals
- Lapsed prevention
What the vet will need to know
- Current and recent flea products
- All pets in household and treatment status
- Severity of infestation
Aftercare
- Continue monthly prevention.
- Address flea allergy dermatitis if applicable.
- Treat tapeworm — fleas transmit tapeworm.
Prevention
- Year-round vet-recommended flea control on all pets.
- Annual environmental check.
- Treat any new pet before introduction.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I have fleas if my dog is treated?
Untreated other pets, recent lapse, or environmental population yet to clear. Treat all, treat home, and persist for 3 months for full eradication.
Are fleas worse in summer?
Peaks in summer and autumn, but in heated UK homes year-round protection is essential.
Can humans get fleas from dogs?
Fleas can bite humans causing irritation, but they don't sustain on people. Dog and cat fleas prefer pets.