Dogs get fleas primarily through contact with other animals or infested environments. Fleas are small, jumping insects that feed on the blood of mammals like dogs. Here are the main ways dogs typically get fleas:
- Contact with other animals: Fleas easily transfer between dogs, cats, and other pets through close contact. If one pet in a household has fleas, others are likely to get them too. Dogs can also catch fleas from wildlife such as raccoons, foxes, and coyotes, or from stray animals they encounter
- Environment: Fleas live in grassy, wooded, or sandy areas where they lay eggs and develop. Dogs can pick up fleas by playing, lounging, or walking through these flea-infested outdoor environments. Flea eggs and larvae often reside in yards, parks, or other outdoor spaces
- People: Fleas can hitch a ride on people’s clothing or shoes and then jump onto dogs once inside the home
- Exposure to new places and travel: Traveling to warm or humid areas or visiting new locations with your dog increases the risk of flea exposure
- Lapse in flea prevention: Missing regular flea prevention treatments leaves dogs vulnerable to infestations
Fleas use their strong hind legs to jump onto hosts from the environment or other animals, then bite and feed on the dog's blood, causing itching and discomfort
. In summary, dogs get fleas mainly by coming into contact with infested animals or environments where fleas live, and fleas can also be brought into the home by people. Maintaining consistent flea prevention and minimizing exposure to flea-prone areas helps protect dogs from infestation
