How can you tell if your dog has fleas?

Are parasites causing your dog's itchy skin?

If your dog is itching and scratching, it makes sense to look for parasites. The most common dog parasites are fleas, mites & ticks in summer in wooded areas, all can cause intense itchiness.

Alternatively your dog may be having a reaction to pharmaceutical flea treatments such as Frontline and Advocate. Replacing conventional flea repellants with natural flea treatments can eradicate this problem. Just remember to begin using natural flea repellant approximately 2-3 weeks before your dog’s next treatment is due in order for it to build up in the his or her system for maximum effectiveness.

How can you tell if your dog has fleas?

When a flea bites your dog it’s saliva gets under the skin and causes itching. And if a dog is actually allergic to fleas it may have a severe reaction, even to just one bite. A dog flea allergy can result in the dog itching and scratching constantly.

You may already know that your dog has fleas because you have spotted them in the fur. But if you're not sure, check at the base of your dog's tail -- they tend to hide there because it's a difficult spot for the dog to reach. They may also be visible scuttling across the dog's tummy, where the fur is thinner.

If you can't see any fleas, check for flea poo. Comb your dog with a fine-toothed comb, looking for dark specks like grains of pepper. If these are flea droppings they will contain blood products making them easy to identify -- just drop some of the grains on a wet tissue. Flea poo will dissolve, creating tiny red stains and confirming that your dog has fleas.