Why Is My Dog or Cat Scratching So Much? Fleas, Itchy Skin and What Helps

Constant scratching, chewing and licking can keep the whole household up at night. Fleas are the most common external parasites affecting pets, and itching and irritated skin are often the first signs. The tricky part is that fleas can be present even if you have never seen one. At Royal Road Veterinary Hospital in Fredericton, we help itchy dogs and cats get relief and help you clear fleas from your home for good.

Could My Pet Have Fleas Even If I Have Never Seen One?

Yes. Fleas are expert hiders, and only about 5% of a flea infestation is on your pet. The rest is in your home as eggs, larvae and pupae. You may never spot a single flea, even while your pet is scratching.

Indoor pets are not safe from fleas either. Fleas hitchhike into your home on clothing, shoes, visitors, wildlife under the deck, or a quick trip outside to use the bathroom.

Signs Fleas Are Affecting Your Pet

• Itching, scratching and irritated skin
• Flea allergy dermatitis
• Scooting, weight loss, digestive upset or visible worm segments near the stool, which can be signs of tapeworms that pets get by swallowing fleas while grooming
• Anemia in small pets or young animals
• Stress and poor sleep
• Fleas spreading to carpets, bedding and furniture

Why Fleas Are So Hard to Get Rid Of

Fleas go through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Eggs fall off your pet into the environment and hatch into larvae, which feed on flea feces. The larvae then form cocoons that can resist freezing and insecticides and lie dormant for months. Once adult fleas emerge, they look for a host to feed on. The complete cycle can take as little as three weeks, and a single flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day.

Fleas also survive our New Brunswick winters indoors. They only die in consistent temperatures below freezing, and most homes are kept between 18 and 23°C, which is perfect for flea eggs, larvae and adults. Attached garages, basements and sheds can stay warm enough too. Read more in Why Flea Protection Matters, Even in Winter.

How to Get Rid of Fleas: A Step-by-Step Plan

1. Start with a veterinary visit

Our team will look at your pet, talk about their lifestyle and exposure risks, and recommend the most appropriate treatment to prevent and treat fleas.

2. Treat every pet in your home with monthly prevention

We recommend treating all pets with a monthly flea prevention product. We offer various prevention products based on your pet's lifestyle and risk factors, including topical liquids and oral medications, and many also protect against ticks, heartworms and intestinal parasites.

3. Use the right product for the right pet

Cats should not be treated with permethrin-based products, and dogs and cats should never be treated with each other's spot-on products. Some over-the-counter flea products contain ingredients that can cause seizures or skin burns, are dosed incorrectly, or rely on older ingredients that fleas are now commonly resistant to. Prescription-strength and veterinary-approved products are tested for safety, quality and effectiveness.

4. Treat your home, not just your pet

If you see fleas on your pet, they are already in your home. Areas to treat include:

• Carpets
• Pet beds
• Human bedding
• Furniture
• Baseboards and crevices
• Vehicle seats, if your pet rides in the car

Vacuum daily, wash bedding in hot water and use appropriate home treatments. Flea sprays designed for home use can help eliminate fleas and prevent them from reproducing. Ask us which products are safe and how to apply them.

5. Keep prevention going year-round

Stopping prevention in the winter lets fleas rebuild their population unnoticed, so by the time warm weather arrives, your pet and home may already be infested. Year-round prevention stops infestations from starting indoors, prevents tapeworm transmission, protects against allergic reactions and saves the time, money and stress of treating your whole home.

Do Not Forget About Ticks

Ticks are spreading across North America and can carry the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease, Anaplasma and Ehrlichia. Lyme disease is prevalent in the Atlantic provinces. Many tick prevention products also protect against fleas, so one plan can cover both. Learn more in Tick and Heartworm Prevention for Dogs and Cats in New Brunswick.

Easy Refills for Flea Prevention

Contact us to refill your pet's prevention, or log in to your Pet Portal on our Resources page to request medication refills and check vaccination due dates. Learn more about our parasite prevention services.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fleas and Itchy Pets

Can indoor cats get fleas?

Yes. Fleas hitchhike into homes on clothing, shoes, visitors and other pets, so indoor-only pets are still exposed.

Do pets need flea prevention in the winter in New Brunswick?

Yes. Fleas only die in consistent temperatures below freezing. Most homes stay between 18 and 23°C, so fleas can survive and multiply indoors all winter. We recommend year-round prevention.

Are over-the-counter flea treatments safe for cats?

Not always. Cats should never be treated with permethrin-based products or with flea products made for dogs. Some over-the-counter products can cause seizures or skin burns. Ask our team which products are safe for your cat.

Can my pet get worms from fleas?

Yes. Dogs and cats can get tapeworms by swallowing an infected flea while grooming. Signs include weight loss, scooting, digestive upset and visible worm segments near the stool.

Help for Your Itchy Pet

If your dog or cat cannot stop scratching, book an appointment or contact us.

Royal Road Veterinary Hospital
23 Royal Parkway, Fredericton, NB E3G 0J9
Phone: 506-460-8668 | Email: info@royalroadvet.com