What do fleas on dogs feed on? - briefly
Fleas living on canines ingest the animal’s blood, piercing the skin to draw a small amount each time they feed. Their diet consists exclusively of this host‑derived blood, which provides the nutrients required for growth and reproduction.
What do fleas on dogs feed on? - in detail
Fleas that inhabit dogs are obligate blood‑feeders. Adult insects attach to the host’s skin, pierce the epidermis with a serrated mouthpart, and draw fluid directly from the circulatory system. The ingested material consists primarily of plasma and erythrocytes, providing a concentrated source of nutrients.
Key components obtained from the host’s blood include:
- Proteins: hemoglobin and plasma proteins supply amino acids required for tissue growth and egg production.
- Lipids: serum lipids furnish energy and structural elements for cell membranes.
- Carbohydrates: glucose and other simple sugars serve as immediate metabolic fuel.
- Vitamins and minerals: trace elements such as iron, zinc, and B‑vitamins support enzymatic functions.
Adult fleas feed repeatedly, often every 2–3 hours, ingesting volumes up to 15 times their body weight. This frequent intake sustains their rapid metabolism and enables the female to lay thousands of eggs during a single life cycle.
While the adult stage extracts nutrients exclusively from the dog’s bloodstream, the immature stages develop on environmental debris. Larvae consume organic matter such as shed skin, hair, and feces containing partially digested blood, but they do not feed directly on the host.
Through blood ingestion, fleas acquire not only nourishment but also potential pathogens, which they can transmit to the canine host during subsequent feedings.