Flea Questions for Dogs
Getting Rid of Fleas on Your Dog
How do you get rid of fleas on your dog? Protection is the key. Start your dog on a flea control product like NexGard® PLUS (afoxolaner, moxidectin, and pyrantel chewable tablets) or NexGard® (afoxolaner). Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. Stay consistent each month for year-round protection.
If you happen to have an existing flea infestation before starting your dog on a flea control product, additional steps may be needed to help remove developing flea stages (eggs, larvae, and pupae) from your home.
Here are some simple tips to reduce the number of developing flea stages in your dog’s environment.
4 Tips to Help Eliminate Flea Infestations
Here are some simple tips to help remove developing flea eggs, larvae, and pupae from your home.
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Give
Give consistent, monthly flea control medication.
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Vacuum
Vacuum the areas where your dog spends most of their time. Empty the contents of the vacuum into a sealed bag, and quickly dispose of it outside of your house.
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Wash
Wash your pet’s bedding using hot water and then dry at the highest setting.
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Consult
Consult with a professional pest control specialist if problems persist.
How Do I Know if My Dog Has Fleas?
How Do I Know if My Dog Has Fleas?
If your dog has fleas, they might scratch or chew at their skin until it becomes red and inflamed. Adult fleas are small, reddish-brown bugs that rapidly crawl or jump away as you search through your dog’s fur. When you brush or comb your dog, you may notice black flecks that look like ground pepper. These flecks may be “flea dirt” (literally flea feces.) Check by placing these flecks on a wet paper towel: when you wet flea dirt, it becomes red or rust-colored.
Do Indoor Dogs Need Flea Protection?
Do Indoor Dogs Need Flea Protection?
In short, yes—fleas are opportunists. Even if your dog only goes outside to relieve themselves, 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 develop into adult fleas that can infest other animals in your home.
How Does Flea Protection for Dogs Work?
How Does Flea Protection for Dogs Work?
When you give your dog monthly flea protection such as NexGard PLUS or NexGard chews, the active ingredient is absorbed into the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body. As fleas feed, they consume the active ingredient with their blood meal and succumb to its effects. Administering your dog’s flea protection on a constant 30-31 day schedule to keep them protected all year long.
FAQs About Fleas
Why Do Flea Bites Itch?
Why Do Flea Bites Itch?
When fleas feed from a host they inject saliva into the skin. The saliva is irritating and stimulates the itch. In severe cases the flea saliva creates an allergic response which greatly impacts the pet's quality of life.1
How Do Fleas Reproduce?
How Do Fleas Reproduce?
The flea life cycle is broken down into 4 stages – egg, larvae, pupae and adult. Adult female fleas lay eggs on the pet’s skin as they feed. These eggs quickly dry and fall off the pet into the environment. After a few days, the eggs hatch into larvae that resemble tiny maggots. These larvae will eat organic material in their environment over a period of a week or two. They eventually begin to spin a silk cocoon and become pupae. The adult flea develops in the pupae and will emerge within 7-10 days. Under ideal conditions the lifecycle can be completed in 3-4 weeks but can extend out to as much as 6 months depending on environmental conditions. Because a female adult flea can lay as many as 50 eggs per day, it doesn’t take long for a small number of fleas to turn into a large infestation.1
Do Fleas Lay Eggs on Dogs?
Do Fleas Lay Eggs on Dogs?
Yes, flea eggs are typically laid on the pet while the female flea feeds. They are very small (1/2 mm long), white and oval shaped, and they quickly fall off the pet into the environment. Flea eggs can end up in your carpet, in cracks of hardwood floorboards, and in your furniture or bedding. Fleas tend to be concentrated in areas where your pet spends most of their time.1
1. Fleas. CAPC parasite guidelines. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://capcvet.org/guidelines/fleas/
Important Safety Information
NexGard® PLUS (afoxolaner, moxidectin, and pyrantel chewable tablets) is safe for puppies at 8 weeks, weighing 4 pounds or more. The most frequently reported adverse reactions include diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, and itching. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. Dogs should be tested for existing heartworm infection prior to starting a preventive. For more information, click here for full prescribing information.
NexGard® COMBO (esafoxolaner, eprinomectin, and praziquantel topical solution) is for topical use only in cats. Safe for use in cats and kittens 8 weeks of age or older, weighing 1.8 pounds or more. Use with caution in cats with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. The most frequently reported adverse reactions include vomiting, application site reactions, lethargy, and anorexia. If ingested, hypersalivation may occur. Avoid direct contact with application site until visibly dry. For more information, click here for full prescribing information.
NexGard® (afoxolaner) is for use in dogs only. Safe for use in puppies 8 weeks of age or older, weighing 4 pounds or more. The most frequently reported adverse reactions include vomiting, itching, lethargy, diarrhea, and lack of appetite. The safe use of NexGard in pregnant, breeding, or lactating dogs has not been evaluated. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. For more information, click here for full prescribing information.