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Can Fleas Cause Anemia in Dogs? Vet-Reviewed Signs & Prevention

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Flea Anemia in Canines
Signs
Treatment
Prevention

When your dog has fleas, it’s a complete nuisance for both it and you. These tiny things cause immense discomfort and itchiness (sometimes for you as well as your pup!) and can quickly get out of control and infest your home from top to bottom. But as annoying as fleas can be, there’s not much they do to your pet other than make it scratch like crazy, right?

Wrong! A good majority of the time, fleas will only be itchy and frustrating for your household, but they can actually also harm your dog. In fact, for some pups, flea infestations may lead to developing anemia. How do they do that, and how will you know if it’s happened to your favorite canine? Keep reading to find out!

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What Is Flea Anemia in Canines?

You’re probably familiar with anemia, as it’s an issue that affects people, not just animals. Anemia happens when a canine’s body does not have enough red blood cells. These cells carry oxygen to the muscles and tissue, so they’re essential. But how do fleas relate?

Well, fleas suck blood. So, if your dog gets covered in fleas that aren’t being treated, that’s a lot of blood being lost. Too many fleas can rapidly decrease a dog’s blood supply and red blood cells.

The result? Your pet gets weaker and more fatigued until, eventually, it can no longer stand. Flea anemia can be fatal, particularly in puppies, as they have tiny bodies with less blood volume and don’t have fully developed immune systems, so you want to avoid it at all costs!

a dachshund dog looks sick lying on its owner
Image Credit: Leka Sergeeva, Shutterstock

Signs of Flea Anemia in Dogs

How will you know if your dog is suffering from flea anemia? When a canine has anemia due to fleas, you’ll see several signs, including:

  • Weakness

  • Fatigue

  • Pale gums

  • Bruising of the skin

  • Less tolerance for exercise and activity

  • Loss of appetite

  • Rapid, shallow panting

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How Is Flea Anemia Treated?

How flea anemia is treated depends on how bad the situation has gotten. In the worst-case scenario, your dog will require a blood transfusion. However, if the anemia is less dire, your vet may treat your pet with a combination of options, including:

  • Medication

  • Intravenous fluids

  • Supplements

  • Flea control

If you see any signs of flea anemia in your dog, you’ll want to get it to the vet immediately before things become worse. But treating the anemia won’t just happen at the vet; you’ll have to do serious cleaning of your home to get rid of all the fleas so the situation with your pup doesn’t repeat itself.

sick dog examine by vet
Image Credit: IgorAleks, Shutterstock

Flea Prevention and Treatments

The simplest and best way to avoid flea anemia from happening in the first place is to prevent fleas from getting on your pup (or controlling them if they already have them). There are several ways to prevent or treat fleas these days, both for your dog and your home. You can:

  • Apply topical treatments to the back of your dog’s neck to both prevent and treat fleas

  • Give your canine oral flea medication

  • Utilize flea shampoos or flea powders

  • Control fleas in your home with aerosol sprays

  • Get rid of fleas in the home via regular vacuuming

  • Call a pest control company to rid your home of fleas

As your vet will recommend, the best way to prevent fleas from hopping onto your dog is to use flea medication, whether topical or given via oral route. There are many of these available, so be sure to talk with your vet about which one is right for your pup!

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Conclusion

Fleas aren’t just an annoyance; they can be downright deadly to your dog. When fleas overrun your pup, you run the risk of your pet becoming anemic (particularly if your pet is a puppy, older, or has an underlying medical issue). If your pup develops anemia because of fleas, you need to get it to the vet as soon as possible for treatment. Waiting too long to take care of the problem can be fatal! However, the best way to prevent flea anemia is to prevent fleas with flea medication (or by treating them the moment you notice they are there).

Sources

Featured Image Credit: Alexander Hagseth, Shutterstock

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