Pets are highly susceptible to fleas, and the bloodthirsty parasites can transmit serious diseases to them and to you and your family. Our Central Kentucky Veterinary Center team knows how problematic fleas can be, and we provide information about the parasites and tips to safeguard your four-legged friend.

Flea anemia in pets

Fleas are voracious bloodsuckers and can consume 15 times their weight in blood. This can lead to anemia, most commonly when a pet is heavily infested or lives in a heavily infested environment. Details include:

  • Susceptible pets — Pets most susceptible to flea anemia include:
  • Kittens and puppies — Kittens and puppies are small, and they don’t have blood to spare. In addition, they are too young to groom themselves effectively and remove fleas. 
  • Elderly cats — Elderly cats are commonly debilitated from other health issues, such as arthritis, diabetes, and kidney disease, and they can’t tolerate blood loss. In addition, they may not be able to groom themselves efficiently.
  • Signs — Clinical signs include lethargy, pale mucous membranes, decreased appetite, and rapid, shallow breathing. Affected pets have an extremely low tolerance for stress and may die suddenly. 
  • Treatment — Treatment involves removing the fleas from the pet and their environment, and treating the anemia with a blood transfusion or iron therapy.

Flea allergy dermatitis in pets

Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) is one of the most common dermatologic diseases in pets, and the condition seems to be becoming more prevalent. When a flea takes a blood meal from your pet, it injects saliva into the skin. The saliva contains compounds that trigger an inflammatory reaction in hypersensitive pets. Only one flea bite is needed to cause an allergic reaction. Details include:

  • Signs — Affected pets scratch, bite, lick, chew, and rub constantly to help relieve the itching. Hair loss commonly occurs, especially at the base of the tail. The constant scratching often leads to open abrasions, and bite marks may be seen on the pet’s abdomen and groin area.
  • Diagnosis — In many cases, owners can’t find a flea on their pet because the pet excessively grooms, removing the parasites. Our veterinary team uses a flea comb to check for flea dirt (i.e., flea excrement). If flea evidence is found, treatment is started to rid your pet of fleas.
  • Treatment — Treatment involves removing the fleas from your pet and their environment, using medications to address the itching, and addressing secondary skin infections.

Bartonellosis in pets

Bartonellosis is a bacterial infection caused by Bartonella sp. The cat flea is a common vector for the disease in pets, and the organism can live in flea dirt for more than nine days. The disease is zoonotic, which means humans can catch it from their pet, most commonly by being scratched by an infected cat. Details include:

  • Signs — Affected cats are typically asymptomatic, but when signs are present, they  include fever, lethargy, vomiting, and swollen lymph nodes. In dogs, the disease tends to be more severe, and signs include fever, heart inflammation, heart arrhythmias, enlarged lymph nodes, rhinitis, and epistaxis. The most common signs in humans include fever, enlarged lymph nodes, and a scabby pustule at the scratch site. 
  • Diagnosis — Bartonellosis is diagnosed by culturing the organism from blood or tissue or by performing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to detect Bartonella-specific DNA.
  • Treatment — Treatment typically involves antibiotic therapy for four to six weeks.=

Removing fleas from your pet

Removing fleas from your pet and their environment can be difficult because the parasites have a long life cycle. Steps include:

  • Cleaning the area — Thoroughly clean areas where your pet rests. This includes washing bedding, including yours and your pet’s, sweeping floors, especially along the wall edges, and vacuuming upholstery and carpeted areas.
  • Treating your pet — Every pet in your home must be treated for effective flea removal. Bathe your pet using soap and water, and use a flea comb to remove the fleas. Ask our veterinary team what flea control product is best for your pet, and ensure you administer the product as directed year-round.
  • Treating your home — Home treatment should start when you treat your pet. Spray insecticides throughout your home and in your yard. A licensed commercial pest control company may be needed for heavy infestations. 
  • Following up — Fleas have a complex life cycle, and they are resistant to insecticides at certain stages. To remove fleas in all life stages, two or more follow-up treatments within five to 10 days of the first treatment are necessary. In addition, vacuuming and cleaning should continue through this time to remove all eggs and juvenile fleas.

Flea prevention in pets

Fleas are difficult to eradicate, and the best option is to prevent fleas from targeting your pet. Tips include:

  • Year-round flea prevention — The best way to prevent fleas is to administer flea prevention medication year-round to kill adult fleas and prevent new ones from hatching.
  • Grooming — Brush and bathe your pet regularly and check for evidence of fleas.
  • Monitoring — Limit your pet’s time outdoors, and ensure they don’t contact wild and stray animals.

Year-round flea prevention is important to protect your pet from these bloodthirsty parasites. Contact our American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)-accredited team at Central Kentucky Veterinary Center to discuss what flea prevention product is best for your pet.