How Do I Get Rid of Fleas on My Dog?

If your dog has fleas, they might bite or chew their skin until it becomes red and inflamed. Adult fleas are small, brown bugs that jump away as you search your dog’s fur. When you brush your dog, you may also notice black flecks of flea dirt (literally, flea feces) on their fur. Check by placing those flecks on a wet towel: when you wet flea dirt, it becomes red or rust-colored.

When you give your dog NexGard, the active ingredient protects them by spreading throughout their body, killing fleas no matter where they bite. That active ingredient works for a month, after which your dog is vulnerable to flea infestations again. That’s why it’s important to give your dog their flea protection on a regular schedule.

In short, yes—fleas are opportunists. Even if your dog only goes outside to do their business, they’re at risk of infestations. Fleas can even “hitchhike” into a home on people, and then jump to infest dogs. An infested pet will spread flea eggs throughout the house, which can survive in your carpet or the crannies of your wood floors and then grow to infest other animals in your home.