How Your Dog Can Get Fleas 

Fleas are a dog owner’s worst nightmare!  These bloodsucking insects can infest pets and homes without proper prevention and treatment.  Did you know that a female flea can lay 50 eggs per day?  Even a small number of fleas can multiply!  The bad thing is that fleas are so small that it is sometimes too late for you to notice them.  This means that prevention is the most important step.  This article will go into detail of how your dog can get fleas.

Dogs can get fleas from three different sources, including:

• At a doggy daycare or boarding facility
• Contact with outdoor pets and other animals
• When traveling to warmer climates

The number one source of how dogs get fleas is when they encounter outdoor pets.  If you fail to ensure that your dog is protected by a flea preventative, allowing them to interact with outdoor animals will put them at a higher risk of obtaining fleas.  Did you know that even dogs who are completely kept inside may contact fleas from rodent infestations?  That really makes you think, doesn’t it?

Unfortunately, your dog may attract fleas at doggy daycare and boarding facilities.  The best daycare and boarding facilities require dogs to be flea free, but their parasite checks may not always be as thorough as they should be.  Direct contact may not be necessary to get fleas.  Dogs can get them by using shared bedding or toys.  Let’s not forget about warmer climate areas.  Fleas can spend more time off their hosts and in the environment when it is warm.

Once again, prevention is key!  You need to use popular flea treatments as having your dog wear a flea collar is bare minimum.  It will not treat active flea infestations.  To keep your dog and home flea free, be vigilant with any flea prevention method that you choose.