My dog has black specks near her mouth. Are they fleas? What to do?

It could be fleas. If Hailey isn't up to date on her flea treatments, I can give you one for her. First, I would give her Capstar. It's a one time pill that starts killing fleas within 30 minutes. Then follow up with a spot on treatment, such as Advantage or Revolution. This is a treatment that has to be used once a month. You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash her bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home. Best of luck.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is hard to see the skin in your pictures but it looks like a rash or comedones. If the reddish black things on her skin flakes off or are loose, wet them on a white tissue. If they melt away to a red streak that is flea poop. Flea dips and shampoos are NOT preventatives for fleas and the fleas that hatch on the carpet will jump right back on the pet. Fleas do not lay eggs on the pet but on the carpet. Bed bugs do not live on animals. I recommend a flea preventative like oral Nexgard, Simparica, Bravecto or topical Advantix ii or the Seresto collar. If there are no live fleas or flea dirt then she likely has a secondary skin infection or rash from an allergic reaction the the fleas. I would have her seen by your Vet so she can be provided relief. Also it looks like she has a paw infection which could be from environmental or food allergies. Good luck!

It looks like Izzy has something called comodones - basically tiny black heads or pimples. A shampoo with benzoyl peroxide will help flush out the hair follicles and can remove these black specs. If Izzy is otherwise totally normal (eating well, good energy, not hair loss or weight changes), you can buy an over the counter shampoo with benzoyl peroxide and bathe her twice a week for 2 weeks. During her bathes lather her up and then let her sit for 10 minutes (or as close as you can get, not all dogs tolerate this!) and then rinse. If Izzy starts getting itchy or having any other problems, I would recommend a trip to the veterinarian clinic for further evaluation. Good luck! Let me know if this was helpful information or request a consultation if you'd like to know more.

Place an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent further chewing. Have her physically examined by your veterinarian to diagnose the underlying cause. If she has a skin infection systemic and/or topical antibiotics may be necessary. Continue to treat for fleas with a monthly oral or topical preventative. Do this for at least 3 consecutive months, preferably year round. If you have multiple pets, ALL the pets should be treated. You will need to treat the environment as well. This includes vacuuming everywhere then disposing of the bag or emptying the canister outdoors immediately afterwards. Wash all bedding in the hottest water allowable by fabric then dry in a dryer. Use an area treatment, such as Indorex or Knockout ES, to prevent re-infestation.

It's hard to see anything with the photos, however if the skin is flaking a few things could be happening: skin flaking can sometimes happen with parasites, so ruling out fleas or ticks is a good first step. Dry skin can also occur from over grooming (bathing too often which strips the coat of its natural oils), or from possible allergies/issues with diet. Using an aloe or oatmeal shampoo when bathing, adding some vitamin E or fish oil to the diet may help, however if the flaking continues, worsens, or you see irritation on the skin itself, having it checked by a vet is best.

YEs, this sounds like fleas. You need to treat all the dogs and cats in the household with flea prevention. And you need to treat the house and the outside yard. 1. I would first give all the pets PetArmor Fast Caps. This will kill all the adult fleas on the pets within one hour. However, it only works for 24 hours so after this you will need to apply a topical long-term flea prevention. Be sure to buy the correct product for their weight. https://www.target.com/p/petarmor-fastcaps-for-dogs-25lbs-and-up-6ct/-/A-15211237#lnk=sametab 2. I would recommend using the Pet Armor topical prevention. DO NOT use cheaper products like Hartz. They don't work and are often toxic. You need to apply this topical product EVERY month. Be sure to buy the correct product for their weight. https://www.target.com/p/petarmor-plus-f-t-squeeze-on-23-to-44lbs-3ct/-/A-16931100#lnk=sametab 3. Wait 24 hours after applying the Pet Armour and then bathe with a medicated shampoo. If you bathe too soon after applying the product or bathe before using the product you will wash it off or it won't absorb properly. https://www.amazon.com/SynergyLabs-Veterinary-Formula-Clinical-Medicated/dp/B0037Z6VLC/ref=sr_1_3?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1500935032&sr=1-3&keywords=synergylabs You can buy the shampoo online or often times Walmart carries it. Use it as directed. You can bathe every 3 days or so as needed to help soothe the skin. 4. Next you have to treat the environment - the inside of the house and the yard. http://www.allivet.com/p-1389-knockout-es-area-treatment.aspx http://www.allivet.com/p-1391-virbac-yard-spray-concentrate-16-oz.aspx I hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Florida has a terrible flea problem and there are many pets that need multiple kinds of flea preventions a month. Plain Frontline may not be strong enough for Bella. If you are seeing fleas and she is scratching, it is likely from the fleas, but I cannot guarantee she didn't pick up something else. I would discuss with a veterinarian there what preventions they recommend for that area. She may need a topical and an oral prevention which you can purchase from a veterinary office. Just as a reminder, flea baths and flea collars do not work, so don't waste your money. Good luck and kisses to Bella!