Ticks & Fleas: When They Thrive and What To Do

Ticks and fleas typically start hatching when temperatures start rising and their presence increases dramatically with warmer temperatures. Ticks and fleas are a dog’s most common enemies and may cause serious diseases for both dogs and humans.

What Are Fleas?

Fleas are small, parasitic insects that feed by sucking blood from mammals and birds.  Fleas:

• have flat bodies and no wings
• are dark brown or reddish brown
• are .04 to .16 inches (1 to 4 mm) in length

Fleas and ticks pose a threat to pets all year-round, but become most active during the warmer months, starting as early as March in some areas.

Why Are Fleas Problematic?

Fleas are more than just a nuisance. They can spread nasty diseases to both pets and humans.

In animals, fleas can cause:

• hair loss from frequent scratching and nibbling
• anemia (not enough red blood cells in the blood) in extreme cases

Fleas can transmit:

• parasites like tapeworms
• diseases like typhus

What Does A Flea Bite Look Like?

A flea bite creates a small, hard, red and itchy spot. The spot:

• is slightly raised and swollen
• has 1 puncture point in the middle

Flea bites often appear in clusters or lines. They can be itchy and inflamed for up to several weeks.

What Are Ticks?

Ticks are tiny parasites that feed on blood.  Ticks:

• can be difficult to see
• look like tiny spiders with a whitish, egg-shaped body
• are around .05 mm (.001 inches) in size (can be mistaken for a speck of dirt, about the size of a poppy seed) or they can be up to around 3 mm (.118 inches), (similar in size to a sesame seed)
• are flat until they have fed – then they become engorged to many times their original size

 Why Are Ticks Problematic?

Ticks can transmit a number of diseases including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, depending on the type of tick. Talk to your veterinarian about how concerned you need to be about your dog picking up a tick-borne illness.

Tick-borne pathogens can be passed to humans by the bite of infected ticks. Ticks can be infected with bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Some of the most common tick-borne diseases include: