Welcome to Dr.Walker's advice page! Here you will find current articles filled with tips and advice for keeping your pets happy and healthy all year long. There will be a new article posted every month, so check back often.

Previous Articles: Protecting Your Pets During Winter, Xylitol Poisoning

How Can You Tell If Your Dog Has Fleas?

You may actually see the dark fleas, about the size of sesame seeds, scurrying about on the skin. Their favorite spots include the base of the ears and the rump. Look closely to sparsely haired places like the groin for telltale signs. A more accurate way to diagnose fleas, however, when live ones aren't observed, is to part the fur in several places and look for tiny black specks about the size of poppy seeds. These specks are flea feces, composed of digested blood. If you're not sure whether you're looking at "flea dirt" or just plain dirt, place it on a damp piece of white tissue. After a minute or so, a small red spot or halo will become apparent if it's flea feces, since the blood re-hydrates and diffuses into the tissue.  The next step is to begin treating immediately.

As with all flea products, if both adults and immature stages of fleas are present, control of an infestation may take two weeks to three months depending upon the degree of infestation.  This means treating EVERY pet in the household or in the yard, as well as treating the house and the yard.  If your pet travels with you frequently, your vehicle may need to be treated as well.  Otherwise, your pet will be re-infested with fleas every time he goes for a ride with you. 

If you are experiencing a flea infestation, or notice fleas and want to avoid a flea infestation, please call our office (936-931-2244) for more information about recommended treatment specific to your pets and household.