Knowra Dog flea Dog flea The dog flea, Ctenocephalides canis, is a blood-feeding ectoparasite that infests dogs and other mammals. It is one of several flea species that commonly infest domestic animals.
Flea life cycle : The stages of development through which fleas pass: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Dog fleas develop through these four stages, with most immature stages off the host.
Ctenocephalides felis : The cat flea, a widespread flea species that infests cats, dogs, and other mammals. It is more common on dogs in many regions and is easily mistaken for the dog flea.
Flea allergy dermatitis : An itchy inflammatory skin disease caused by hypersensitivity to proteins in flea saliva. Bites from dog fleas can trigger severe itching in sensitized dogs.
Siphonaptera : The insect order comprising fleas, which are wingless, laterally compressed, blood-feeding external parasites. This order contains the dog flea and all other flea species.
Flea : A wingless, blood-feeding insect in the order Siphonaptera, adapted for life on animal hosts. The dog flea is one species within this broader insect group.
Flea comb : A fine-toothed comb used to remove fleas and flea dirt from an animal's coat. Combing can reveal adult fleas or their fecal traces during an infestation check.
Pruritus : An unpleasant sensation that provokes scratching, rubbing, or licking. Flea feeding can produce intense pruritus even when few fleas are present.
Ctenocephalides : A genus of fleas that includes the dog flea and cat flea. The dog flea belongs to this genus of mammal-associated fleas.
Flea egg : The first life stage of a flea, laid by an adult female and usually dropped into the host's surroundings. Eggs fall from infested dogs and seed the surrounding environment.
Flea dirt : Flea feces composed largely of digested blood, often found as dark specks in an animal's coat. Its presence can support a diagnosis when adult dog fleas are difficult to find.
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