Fleas

Fleas may be tiny, but the itch they bring can make life miserable for your furkid—and ignoring them can allow a small problem to turn into a full infestation.

At NHV Natural Pet, the approach to flea support is gentle and natural. These vet-formulated herbal blends are designed to help naturally discourage fleas while soothing irritated, itchy skin and supporting a dog’s immune system. By helping pets stay comfortable and supporting overall wellness, these remedies may also help reduce the risk of secondary skin issues that can follow persistent scratching.

Because when furkids feel better, everyone does.

About Fleas in Dogs

Fleas are not generally fatal to healthy animals, but they often carry diseases such as tapeworm and can cause serious illness in puppies and immunocompromised animals:

• Many dogs have an allergic reaction to the saliva of fleas, which causes flea allergy dermatitis. Dogs that are allergic will scratch or itch vigorously, may have hair loss, and become restless.
• Dogs with a weak immune system will require additional support, like a natural remedy for dogs with fleas, to help support the body against anemia as a result of blood loss. 

To determine if your dog has fleas, simply part their fur slowly and look for fast-moving creatures or signs of their reddish-brown excrement. It's also important to examine your dog's bedding for eggs, larvae, and excrement.

Signs and Symptoms of Fleas in Dogs

• Intense itching
• Licking
• Rubbing
• Chewing
• Nibbling at their skin
• Hair loss
• Scabs
• Secondary infections

Don’t forget to consult your vet about any adverse reactions to flea bites to get a comprehensive plan and suggestions on remedies for dogs with fleas.

How to Treat Fleas in Dogs

NHV offers natural remedies for dogs with fleas for both internal and external support.

NHV’s Target Spray is vet-formulated with natural ingredients to help discourage fleas from your dog’s coat. Coco Furcare, a gentle everyday spray with a clean, fresh scent helps soothe itchy, irritated skin. To support your furbaby internally, NHV Stimmune supports the body’s natural immune and histamine response, helping pets stay more comfortable during flea challenges. 

“Flea infestations can have significant health consequences, as these parasites transmit pathogens such as Bartonella spp.(cat scratch disease), hemotropic mycoplasmas, and Dipylidium caninum (tapeworms), while also causing allergic skin disease (flea allergy dermatitis) and, in severe cases, anemia. Because fleas can transmit infectious and parasitic diseases—not just cause itching—year-round prevention is an essential part of protecting your pet’s overall health.” - Dr. Barbara

Causes of Fleas in Dogs

Surprisingly, it can take only one flea bite to cause an allergic reaction or any of the symptoms of flea bites. Protecting your furbaby from bites means protecting their environment before or after fleas hatch and incorporating a natural remedy for dogs into their regimen.

Fleas can hatch indoors or outdoors. The four-stage flea lifecycle (egg, larva, pupa, and adult) usually lasts 4-6 weeks, although it can be as short as 12 days or as long as 350 days.

Indoor Environments

Mating behavior: Fleas mate after feeding, and the female lays her eggs within two days of her first blood meal. Just one female can lay as many as 50 eggs per day. 

Where eggs are laid: They are tiny, white, and oval-shaped eggs that infest and later hatch on your dog and in the places they inhabit, including bedding, carpets, and soil. 

When they hatch: Infestations peak during the late summer, so it’s best to kill adult fleas before then with a preventative natural remedy for dogs.

Onset of hatchlings: Flea larvae hatch within six days and immediately begin feeding on organic debris found in the environment and in adult flea droppings. Newly hatched flea larvae can move as far as one meter (three feet) from where they were hatched, but don't like direct light and will actively move deep into carpet fibers, cracks in hardwood floors, unfinished concrete, and unfinished basements. 

Outdoor Environments

Where Fleas live: Outside, fleas gravitate deep into the grass and soil to avoid direct light. The larval stage lasts 5-11 days, but can last as long as three weeks if food is plentiful and the environment is friendly. Naturally, there’s more than one flea remedy for dogs, but attacking them outdoors should be your first step, so they aren’t tracked inside.

Dormancy: Mature larvae produce a silk-like cocoon where they develop and remain until a suitable host arrives. After emerging from the cocoon, a flea can survive up to two weeks before finding a host to feed on. It is these newly emerged hungry fleas that infest dogs and bite people.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fleas in Dogs

How to get rid of fleas on dogs naturally?

You’ll want to take a dual approach of maintaining a clean environment so that adult fleas don’t want to live or lay eggs there. Then, you’ll want to administer a natural remedy for killing fleas on dogs year-round if you can.

What is a natural remedy for fleas on puppies?

Because NHV uses all-natural ingredients to remedy fleas and ticks on dogs, it’s safe for puppies too. Always consult your veterinarian, though, to ensure the supplement will be well-received by your young furbaby’s system.

What happens if I get bitten by my dog’s fleas?

Flea bites on people usually show up as tiny, itchy red spots around the ankles and lower legs because fleas don’t like to travel far. For some, these bites can cause allergic reactions, and scratching your bites often makes things worse. While you shouldn’t take natural remedies designed for dogs with fleas, you can consult with your doctor to treat your symptoms.

Additional Support Tips

Ninety-five percent of the flea population can be found in the form of eggs, larvae, and cocoons wherever your pet spends most of their time. Fleas generally stay on their hosts until forced off.

To rid your dog of fleas, we recommend:

• Providing your dog with natural remedies and keeping up their grooming.
• Inspect and maintain indoor and outdoor environments by regularly vacuuming, washing, and using insecticides. 
• Fleas exposed to temperatures below 37 degrees F, or 3 degrees C, for several days will die.

For personalized guidance on managing your dog’s flea issues or questions on our remedies for dogs with fleas, call the NHV pet expert hotline at 1-877-937-4327.