How to Get Rid of Fleas on Dogs: A 3-Month Plan for Indian Homes

Does my dog have fleas? Signs and the paper test

Fleas are tiny, fast and hard to catch, so look for the signs they leave behind:

• Scratching, biting or licking, especially at the lower back, the base of the tail, the belly and the inner thighs.
• Tiny black specks in the fur. This is flea dirt, which is flea droppings.
• Red bumps or thin, broken hair over the lower back.
• Small itchy bites on your own ankles or lower legs.

Do the paper test. Comb your dog over a damp white tissue or paper towel. Flea dirt is digested blood, so the black specks dissolve and leave a reddish ring. Ordinary dirt stays black.

In India, the flea on most dogs is the cat flea, not a "dog flea". A study of fleas from dogs in Mumbai, Delhi and Rajasthan found almost all of them were cat fleas. That is why the same flea moves happily between your dog, your cat and your home.

Why fleas keep coming back: most of them aren't on your dog

An adult female flea can lay up to 40 to 50 eggs a day. The eggs are not sticky, so they fall off your dog within hours and land in the bedding, the sofa and the floor.

A commonly quoted estimate is that adult fleas on the pet are only about 5% of the problem. The other 95% are eggs, larvae and pupae hiding in the home.

• Eggs hatch into larvae that hide in carpets, cracks and bedding.
• Larvae spin a cocoon and become pupae.
• Pupae can wait for months inside the cocoon, then hatch when a pet walks past.

In warm weather, the cycle from egg to adult can take as little as 2 to 3 weeks, but it can stretch over months. That is why a single bath or one dose rarely ends a flea problem.

How to get rid of fleas on dogs: the 3-month plan

This plan breaks the cycle. Skip a step and the fleas usually return.

Step 1: Treat your dog with a product that keeps killing fleas

Pick one long-lasting product and give it on time. A tick and flea chew, such as Furtick, works from the inside for up to 12 weeks. A monthly spot-on, such as Richpet Monthly Tick & Flea Spot-On, is put on the skin once a month. Both keep killing new fleas as they hatch and jump on.

You can compare the options on our tick and flea treatment for dogs page. If you are unsure which suits your dog, see our guide on spot-on or tablet for dogs.

Step 2: Treat every pet in the house

Every dog and cat in the home must be treated at the same time, or the untreated pet keeps the fleas going. Cats need products made for cats. Some dog products, especially those with permethrin, are toxic to cats.

Step 3: Clean your home on the same day

Wash your dog's bedding hot and vacuum the floors and sofa. The full routine is in the next section.

Step 4: Keep going for at least three months

Flea problems in a home take at least three months to clear, even with cleaning, because pupae keep hatching. Don't stop when you stop seeing fleas. Keep the protection going all year.

How to get rid of fleas in the house

1. Wash the bedding hot. Wash your dog's bed, blankets and covers at 60°C or the hottest setting the fabric allows.
2. Vacuum every day for the first few weeks. Go over carpets, rugs, sofas, under beds and along the floor edges.
3. Empty the vacuum outside into a sealed bag.
4. Mop hard floors and clean the gaps where larvae hide.
5. Clean the car and the balcony if your dog spends time there.

If you use a pest control service, tell them you have pets, ask what chemical they will use, and keep pets away until everything is dry. Never use permethrin sprays in a home with cats.

What kills fleas on dogs fast?

Here is what each option really does:

A shampoo or comb clears the fleas on your dog today. A chew or spot-on keeps killing the new ones that hatch from your home over the next weeks. You need both kinds of help.

Home remedies that don't work

If a home remedy really worked, fleas would not still be a problem in so many Indian homes.

Can dog fleas bite people?

Yes. Fleas prefer animals, but they will bite people, especially when new fleas hatch in a home. Bites usually show up as small itchy red bumps on the ankles and lower legs.

Fleas also spread a tapeworm called Dipylidium. A dog gets it by swallowing an infected flea while grooming, and young children can occasionally get it the same way. If you see small, rice-like white segments near your dog's bottom, ask your vet about deworming.

For the same kind of question about ticks, read do dog ticks bite humans.

When to see a vet

Go to the vet if your dog:

• Has red, raw or bald patches from scratching. Some dogs are allergic to flea saliva, and even a few bites can set off strong itching
• Has pale gums or seems weak. Heavy fleas can cause anaemia, especially in puppies and small dogs
• Shows rice-like segments near the tail
• Still has fleas after a full month of steady treatment

Have puppies with fleas? Very young puppies need different care, so see our guide on removing ticks and fleas from puppies.

Fleas keep coming back?
Break the cycle.

Treat your dog, treat every pet, clean the bedding and floors, and stay with it for three months.