How to Spot & Treat Dog Bug Bites

Tiny bugs can carry big risks for your pup, from mild itchiness to serious illnesses. Read on for a guide to noticing, treating and preventing some common bug bites on dogs.

Fleas

What you'll see: If your dog has fleas, you'll see him scratching and licking himself. Look for fleas or black specks in areas like his head, neck and groin. Dogs with sensitive skin can suffer from flea allergy dermatitis — an allergic reaction to proteins in flea saliva. Fleas can also carry tapeworms that are transmitted to your pet.

Prevention: Preventive flea medications are extremely effective. Ask your veterinarian about finding an effective chewable treat, pill, topical solution or flea collar.

How to get rid of fleas: Treating your dog will go a long way to solving the issue. If you weren't able to stop these bugs from jumping aboard, bathe your dog with a medicated flea-killing soap. Vacuum and wash areas your dog frequents and, if needed, consider either a flea spray or pest control treatment for your home. Prevention (medications and collars) are always the best way to get rid of fleas! They are extremely difficult to eradicate once they are in the home.

Ticks

What you'll see: Ticks can live nearly anywhere and be found in all seasons, but they are most commonly stirred up in tall grass and bushes in the warmer months. Look for small brown specks or swollen black dots on your dog's face, head, ears, groin, paws, sides and limbs. Checking after every walk or trip outside can prevent ticks from latching on and biting or climbing onto other (human and furry) members of your household.

Ticks can transmit serious diseases to dogs and humans. The signs of an illness, such as Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, bartonella or Rocky Mountain spotted fever, can be hard to diagnose and will often not arise from weeks to even months after your dog was bitten, says the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation. Prevention is key to keeping your dog healthy.

Prevention: Many of the same medications that prevent fleas will also keep ticks away. To prevent tick-borne diseases, check your dog nose-to-tail after every walk and report any unusual behaviors, like irritability or lethargy, to your vet.

How to get rid of a tick: If your dog does have a tick, remove the entire head and body with tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the dog's skin as possible and pull gently without squeezing the body of the tick. (Those suckers can pop!) Save the tick in a piece of clear tape or a small jar of rubbing alcohol in case your vet needs to test it for disease. It is also good to note that many Vets are happy to assist in removing the pet pests.

Mites

What you'll see: Mites are microscopic and burrow deep into a dog's skin, so you likely won't see them. You will see the effects, however, including inflammation, hair loss and skin lesions. Mites usually cause intense itching, so if a usually calm dog can't stop scratching and biting himself, it's time to call the vet.

Prevention: Unfortunately, there's no preventive medication for a mite infestation, also called mange or scabies. Mites are contagious and spread by contact with other dogs and animals like foxes, so keep an eye out for scratching if your dog has recently stayed in a kennel or sniffs around areas where local wildlife might live.

How to treat for mites: The Animal Clinic of Woodruff says the most effective treatment is to cut the dog's hair short and give him medicinal baths once a week for a month. "Unfortunately," the vet's office notes, "the dip has a very foul smell and can be toxic to humans and vulnerable dogs, so great care is needed in dipping dogs (and in treating their facial areas)." The dog's bedding and other areas he frequents should also be treated with an insecticide, the clinic advises.