Pocket VetFleas and ticks on dogs and cats
Fleas and ticks are more than an itch — fleas cause allergic skin disease and anemia, and ticks transmit serious infections. Year-round prevention beats firefighting.
What it is
Fleas are fast brown insects living in the coat (and 95% in your home as eggs/larvae). Ticks attach to feed and can pass Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and more. Both are easiest to handle with regular preventives.
Symptoms
- ●Scratching, biting at the skin, restlessness
- ●'Flea dirt' — black specks that turn red on wet tissue
- ●Hair loss or scabs, especially above the tail (fleas)
- ●A visible attached tick, often around head/neck/ears
🔴 When to act now
- ●Pale gums and weakness in a heavily flea-infested puppy or kitten — anemia, see a vet now
- ●Wobbliness or weakness after tick exposure (tick paralysis in some regions) — urgent
Treatment & management
Use a vet-recommended monthly or long-acting preventive for every pet in the home, year-round. For an active flea problem, treat all pets AND the house (wash bedding, vacuum, environmental spray) — adult fleas are the tip of the iceberg. Remove ticks with a tick hook, twisting slowly; never burn or smother them.
Seeing these signs in your dog?
Get an instant, calm triage on the exact symptoms — home care, vet soon, or emergency.
Check my dog nowFrequently asked
My pet has fleas but stays indoors — how?
Fleas hitchhike in on people, other pets, and through screens; flea eggs survive in carpets for months. Indoor pets need prevention too.
How do I remove a tick safely?
Use a tick remover or fine tweezers, grip close to the skin, and pull steadily without squeezing the body. Clean the site and watch it; see a vet if your pet seems unwell in the following weeks.
More dog conditions
Pocket Vet editorial team
Written and maintained by the Pocket Vet editorial team using authoritative veterinary sources. Reviewed June 9, 2026. This guide is informational only and not a substitute for professional veterinary care — see our editorial & safety policy. When in doubt, contact your vet; in a true emergency, go to an emergency clinic immediately.
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