How to detect fleas on an animal? - briefly
Inspect the coat by parting the fur and examining for tiny, dark moving insects or bite‑induced red spots, and run a fine‑toothed flea comb through the hair to capture any specimens. A brief visual check of the skin for irritation and a gentle scratch test can confirm an infestation.
How to detect fleas on an animal? - in detail
Detecting a flea infestation on a companion animal requires systematic observation and targeted techniques.
Visual inspection of the coat is the primary step. Part the fur in multiple sections, focusing on the neck, base of the tail, abdomen, and inner thighs. Fleas appear as small, dark, mobile insects moving quickly through the hair. Their feces, known as “flea dirt,” resemble tiny black specks. To confirm, moisten a speck with water; a reddish stain indicates digested blood.
Use a fine-toothed flea comb on each body region. The comb captures adult fleas and debris. After each pass, tap the comb onto a white surface to reveal trapped insects.
Observe the animal’s behavior. Excessive scratching, biting, or licking, especially around the tail base and lower back, signals irritation consistent with flea bites.
Examine the skin for characteristic lesions. Small, raised, red papules or clusters of tiny, punctate wounds indicate flea bite sites.
If uncertainty persists, collect a sample of the suspected flea dirt and place it in a drop of distilled water on a microscope slide. Under low magnification, the presence of red blood cells confirms recent feeding.
Veterinary diagnostic tools provide additional confirmation. A skin scraping examined under a microscope can reveal flea larvae or eggs. Some clinics employ adhesive tape tests: press clear tape against the skin, then examine the tape under magnification for trapped fleas or debris.
For indoor environments, set up passive flea traps. Place a white saucer filled with soapy water near the animal’s resting area; fleas attracted to the heat and carbon dioxide will jump into the solution and drown.
Regularly repeat these checks, especially after outdoor exposure or during warm seasons, to ensure early detection and prompt treatment.