Dog Breeds That Don’t Get Fleas

On WebMD’s Pet Health community, one expert says that flea-resistant pets are non-existent. This implies that there are no dog breeds that don’t get fleas. Fleas love warm places where they can lay eggs, and all dog coats provide that.

However, a closely related but different argument can be made. One can say that fleas are more likely to choose dog breeds with thick, double coats than those with one coat. This is because the more fur there is, the less likely the flea will be detected. What do you think?

Let’s now dig deeper into some details about dog breeds and fleas. In the end, you will know everything there is to know.

The Details

Pet parenthood is like human parenthood – it is exciting and fulfilling, but it comes packed up with a lot of responsibility. Before you even get your pet, you need to research and get a breed that will complement your lifestyle. In terms of care, you will need to be an excellent groomer and ensure that the dog does not get any fleas.

We all hate fleas because of their parasitic type of living. If you go out to the pet store or a reputable breeder, you are likely to ask: Are there any dog breeds that don’t get fleas? The expert or seller involved may giggle a little and give you a cool no.

Dogs And Flea Resistance

Some owners will say that their dogs are flea-resistant, but that can never be the case. While some dogs don’t react to flea bites, it doesn’t mean that fleas cannot choose them as hosts.

The dog which reacts to flea bites is usually allergic. It will scratch the itchy place meticulously and continuously until its owner realizes that there is a problem. The other dogs that do not react to flea bites will leave owners unbothered, which is a wrong impression to get.

To adapt to their parasitic lifestyle, fleas need to be good at hiding. In that case, they choose different areas depending on their needs and the structure of the dog’s body. For example, you are unlikely to find fleas on a dog with pointed ears because of their conspicuousness. I mean, which dog owners won’t look at their dog’s pointed ears? So, because of that structural issue, a flea will choose to hide under a dog with floppy ears.

Also, there is the issue of color. Fleas will be spotted easily if they are on a white coat, and so, they may choose dogs with dark, grey, or brown coats.

FAQs

Are White Dogs More Attractive To Fleas Than The Dark Ones?

Tests verify the validity of that hypothesis say that both dog and cat fleas are attracted to the white coat color least.

Flea Science carried out various experiments which presented the white-black binary to the fleas. All the times, fleas seemed to be attracted to the dark colors. The reason for this is quite apparent – black gives the fleas camouflage and space to feed on the host more.

Do Hypoallergenic Dogs And Furry Dogs Have The Same Fleas?

Fleas do not go after fur; they go after blood. But, the answer to this question is not definite.

However, the one thing you can take home is that hypoallergenic dogs are open to getting ticks even if they survive flea attacks.

Whichever type of dog, you need to take the necessary precautions and ensure that it doesn’t suffer flea bites and flea-related infections.

My Dog Does Not Stay Around Other Dogs. Why Does It Have Fleas?

Well, there are multiple ways of getting fleas. As the dog owner, you could bring in the fleas from outside, carrying them on your clothes and shoes.

If those fleas get on your rugs, the dog could pick them up from there. You could also be carrying some of the flea eggs or larvae and deposit them on the dog’s bed, blankets, beddings, and plush toys.

It doesn’t have to be other dogs; you could be the flea merchant.

Ridding Your Dog And Yourself Off Fleas

Fleas can be problematic. In fact, they are a nuisance. Once they invade your home, there will stop at nothing until they cling onto your dog’s skin and suck its blood.

Since you don’t want to deal with any flea-related issues, here are some three steps you need to master. They will help you address the flea issue, and thus, you will help your dog lead a quality life.

1. Know The Life Cycle Of The Flea

To neutralize the enemy, you need to understand how they operate. Fleas go through a complete metamorphosis which is in four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and finally, adult.

It all starts with an adult flea. First, the adult needs to get a host. When it rests on your dog’s coat, it lays eggs there. Since the flea will be sucking blood, the dog will get irritated and start shaking and scratching. When it does so, the eggs start spreading everywhere.

The eggs then hatch into larvae which then form cocoons when the pup stage is ongoing. After a few days, they hatch into full-blown adults that are ready to get a host.

With that info, you can get the best flea treatment for dogs to address each specific life stage. Since you will be dealing with eggs or adults, you need to choose a flea treatment option that best fits the situation.

2. Get Some Preventative Medication

Since no dog breed doesn’t get fleas and all dogs can get flea-d, you need to prevent the imminent parasitism. You can get tick and flea preventatives that will eliminate fleas once they come into contact with the dog’s coat.

You can use special pills, flea collars, or liquid topical applicants to help prevent a flea infestation. But before you pick any option, you need to talk to your vet. Depending on your dog’s breed, weight, and age, the expert will tell you the best option to go for.

If the fleas have already infested the dog’s skin, the preventative can kill them. However, you may need to be more aggressive. You can use flea pills or flea shampoo for quicker action. Within a few hours, all the fleas on your dog’s skin will be killed.

3. Kick All The Fleas Out

Dealing with the fleas on your dog’s coat is only treating a symptom and not the problem. Since you could be dealing with an infestation, you must learn the best way of getting rid of the fleas. The process will need you to be very patient, and in many cases, it takes up to 3½ months to deal with it. I have tabulated some five steps that will get things taken care of nicely and efficiently:

Dealing With Fleas Permanently
Use soapy, hot water to wash all the dog’s beddings.	Vacuum all linoleum, tiled and hardwood floors, and all carpet.
Get a harmless, environmentally-safe flea control application like methoprene.	Get a pro exterminator to deal with the issue.
Apply a pellet or a spray to your yard.	Get long-term flea medication for your dog.

Final Words

There are no dog breeds that don’t get fleas. However, we have established that fleas are more inclined to darker spaces than lighter ones. So, I can say that a flea – a conscious, discerning one – is more likely to see a Shiba Inu, an Akita Inu, or a Maltese as a host than it would with a Rottweiler or a Belgian Malinois.

If you can’t take care of the fleas, ask for expert help. Most vets are likely to give you the best, safest medication to apply on your pet’s coat. If you like, you can check out Frontline for both cats and dogs.