Fleas are small, wingless, brown, fast-moving insects that live in your pet’s fur. If ingested while your pet is grooming themselves, fleas can transmit an intestinal parasite called tapeworm. Fleas are not only an annoyance but as they feed on blood, in kittens or puppies or cats and dogs with a large flea infestation, anemia can develop quite quickly resulting in weakness and even death. Some animals also develop an allergy to flea saliva, which will cause them to scratch excessively which can create infections and severe discomfort.
Signs that your pet may have fleas:
- Scratching Hair loss, sore patches
- Very small dark spots in the fur (flea dirt)
- Redness and irritation