What Are Fleas?
Fleas are the most common external parasite found on dogs. Flea infestations can cause itchy, painful skin conditions on your dog. Fleas feed on your dog’s blood to reproduce. Once they have infested a host, fleas begin feeding almost immediately. The female fleas begin laying eggs (starting about 24 hours after feeding began). These eggs will fall off and land in the infested dog’s environment. The eggs eventually become adult fleas that are ready to find a new host and begin the life cycle all over again.
When are Fleas Most Active?
Some people may think you don’t need to worry about fleas in the wintertime. However, this isn’t the case. While the risk of flea infestations may be lower during the winter, they can occur at any point throughout the year, regardless of the weather. Outdoors, fleas can survive in microenvironments that maintain the right conditions, and they can survive indoors year-round.
It Only Takes a Few Fleas to Cause an Infestation
Flea families grow fast. A single female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day, and it doesn’t take long for a few fleas to become a full-blown infestation.2 Our chews kill adult fleas before they get the chance to lay eggs, preventing an infestation.
Looking for Flea Dirt
You can also examine your dog’s skin for “flea dirt,” or flea feces.3 To know if what you’re seeing is flea dirt and not just actual dirt, you can perform a flea dirt test. Pick up some of the black flecks with a flea comb. When smeared on a damp paper towel, flea dirt will turn red.
How to Prevent a Flea Infestation
Flea infestations can be costly, frustrating, and time-consuming to treat. Adult fleas can lay up to 50 eggs per day.2 As a result, it doesn’t take long for one tiny flea to turn into a huge problem. However, you can prevent infestation if all the pets in your home are treated with flea protection. It means that, even if a flea finds its way to your dog, the flea will die before it has the chance to lay eggs.
Ending infestations is a long and difficult process, but preventing them can be easily done in one delicious, beef-flavored dose. One chew a month will kill adult fleas before they have a chance to reproduce.
Telltale signs of fleas in your home include:
Make Monthly Flea and Tick Protection Delicious
Get Protection From Your Vet
Ask your vet about NexGard chews— they’re vet-recommended flea and tick protection.
Give Your Dog Their Chew
NexGard chews are bite-sized doses of beef-flavored deliciousness, and dogs love them.1
Enjoy Protection
Each dose of NexGard chews lasts for a full month of adventure, and you’ll love how easy it is to protect your pet.
The Fleas on Your Dog Are a Fraction of the Total Population
