Why some dogs are more attractive to fleas than others

Is your dog a flea magnet?There is at least one other creature in this world that loves your dog as much as you do: the flea. Indeed. Fleas will do almost anything to spend time with dogs; they love to slide their shiny little bodies through your dog’s fur, cling to and nibble on your dog’s skin, and feed on your dog’s blood for as long as they can.

If given the chance, fleas lay up to 50 eggs a day, knowing that they can raise their family or raise their young in your home.

Although all dogs are at risk of contracting fleas 365 days a year, some dogs seem to be a stronger flea magnet than others. It turns out that fleas’ love for dogs can be quite conditional, meaning that under certain conditions fleas are more likely to survive.

For starters, fleas love a warm, moist environment – ​​inside, outside, like on your dog. Fleas are not seasonal pests, as long as the environment meets optimal conditions of 21-30°C (70-85°F) and a humidity level above 50%, they can be active.

This means that if you live in areas where the climate is warm and humid year-round, fleas will be active both indoors and outdoors, but if you live in a region with four seasons, fleas may be more active indoors than outdoors in some seasons.

While every dog ​​provides the warmth fleas love, not all dogs provide the same level of humidity. For example, dogs only sweat through glands on their limbs. Their skin feels clammy when they lick or scratch it excessively, which some dogs are prone to, especially if bitten by a flea.

Flea bites are small, hard, and very itchy compared to those from a fly. Many dogs are allergic to the saliva that the flea transmits every time it bites. Dogs allergic to flea bites tend to lick, scratch and bite themselves more than other dogs.

When a dog tries to relieve the itching caused by a flea bite, it creates the perfect conditions for feeding more fleas.

Adult fleas prefer to hide in dark places on your dog, while flea larvae prefer to hide in dark areas of your home.

Small, black fleas are easier to spot on a dog with white or silver fur than on one with dark brown or black fur. Fleas tend to jump on the dog and immediately burrow into the fur, up to the skin, where they will feed and lay eggs.

Longer-haired dogs provide the perfect protection for fleas to roam on the dog’s skin, under the fur and make themselves at home. However, it is important to remember that fleas will feed on any dog. Fleas prefer the area under the paws, neck, ears and tail, where light does not reach.

Think of a dog with long, droopy ears or one with a long tail curled over its back. These dogs offer more hiding places than those with short, upturned ears or short tails.

In conclusion, some fleas prefer some dogs more than others. It’s true: Just as some people tend to attract mosquitoes more than others, some dogs tend to attract more fleas than others.

You can probably admit that there’s a reason why you fell in love with your dog – maybe it’s the way he jumped into your arms the first time you met, or the way he wagged his tail the first time you greeted him – it was probably love at first sight, right?

Well, fleas are undoubtedly attracted to three things: heat, carbon dioxide and vibrations. They will jump on a dog in a split second. When it comes to protecting your dog from giving fleas the perfect conditions, make sure you choose flea protection that lasts long enough to eliminate the juvenile stages of fleas from your carpets and furniture.

It may take up to three months of effective, continuous treatment to completely eliminate fleas from your home. Your veterinarian can help you create a plan that is easy to follow year-round.