Pet First Aid UK
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.

Dog

In the next 60 seconds

  1. Vet-recommended flea treatment for all pets in the household (dogs and cats).
  2. Treat the home: vacuum thoroughly (including under furniture and along skirting), wash all bedding hot, household flea spray on carpets.
  3. Continue treatment monthly year-round.

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

  1. Vet-recommended flea treatment for all pets in the household (dogs and cats).
  2. Treat the home: vacuum thoroughly (including under furniture and along skirting), wash all bedding hot, household flea spray on carpets.
  3. 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.

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