Caring For My Pets

4 Things You Might Not Know That Fleas Can Do To Your Pets

Posted on: 7 January 2016

The vast majority of pet owners undoubtedly know that fleas are nasty little pests that make your pet itch, and that they can even cause anemia by draining too much blood. However, there are some additional negative problems that fleas can cause for pets. Here are four things you might not have known that fleas could potentially do to your pets.

Spread Parasites

As if fleas themselves weren't bad enough, they can also share another disgusting pest with your pet: tapeworms. Tapeworms are a disgusting parasite that live in the animal's digestive system, and lay their eggs in your pet's body. Tapeworms can potentially grow up to 8 inches in length, and they may cause problems for cats or dogs, like irritation in the anus, or a loss of appetite.

Fleas spread tapeworms by carrying the tapeworm larvae in their bodies. When dogs or cats clean themselves or bite themselves, they can ingest the larvae, causing a full-fledged tapeworm infestation in their own body.

Cause Blood Diseases

Fleas can cause anemia just by taking too much blood, but they can also cause blood diseases that cause the red blood cells to break down. This disease is called haemobartonellosis, and it's carried by fleas and ticks. Dogs and cats are both susceptible to it, and medical treatment is necessary to beat the disease. Without treatment, fever, loss of appetite, and severe anemia can take place, which can potentially kill a pet.

Kill Infant Pets

While all cats and dogs can suffer from anemia due to flea bites, infant animals are especially at risk from these nasty pests. Young puppies and kittens can actually die if they're bitten by fleas too many times, even if the fleas aren't carrying parasites or diseases. Kittens and puppies simply don't have the blood volume that cats and dogs do, respectively, so draining even a small amount of blood can potentially put their lives at risk. It's absolutely critical to keep fleas away from any young or infant animals.

Allergic Reactions

Flea bites itch, but they can also go beyond simply itching; pets can have an allergic response to flea bites. Pets who are allergic to fleas may break out in red bumps, lose their fur, and become wildly obsessed with scratching the affected area(s). In addition, it's possible for pets to get secondary infections once the area is irritated or the skin breaks open, which can put your pet's overall health at risk.

Fleas are more than a nuisance; they can put your pet into a state of chronic irritation, make them very sick, or even kill them. If you're struggling to keep fleas away from your pets, talk to a veterinarian about the best possible way to kill fleas once and for all. Click here for more info about vets.

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