Why do dog owners sometimes deny that their pets have fleas (if they do)?

Question

I'm not a dog owner, so I don't understand this. Do they think their animals are perfect? Are they ashamed? What's the reason?

Answer 1

Let me tell you, I work at a Vet clinic and telling some folks their pet has fleas has gotten me screamed at more times than I can count. I show them live, squirming fleas and they still deny it. I even have them say that they got fleas from the clinic and they are never coming back! Good riddance.
It's a mystery to me too. I don't understand, if it bothers them so much, why not just treat for fleas?
Odd balls!
Then there are the people who are embarrassed by it. Like I just told them their underwear were showing or something. It's fleas! It's not your fault! It's completely normal! Sheesh, get a life.

Answer 2

Lots of cat and dog owners deny their pets have fleas. I think they know that they should make sure their pets are kept flea free so are ashamed to be seem as a neglectful or stupid owner for not knowing how to get rid of them. Or they don't WANT to know because it will mean that they have to make an effort and spend some money getting rid of them. My bag of a mother (spit) would argue strongly that her cat never had fleas even when I stood there with a flea comb full of flea dirt and live fleas after combing it.
I have no idea why people do it. There is no shame in a pet getting fleas, but there IS shame in the pet keeping them. Owners should use the appropriate products to get rid of them if they find them.
P.S.David H. Did you notice everyone else calling them 'fleas' and not 'flees' (which means runs away). Have you noticed that there is a spell checker just above the reply box for illiterate people.

Answer 3

Its nothing to be ashamed of, I think some people see dogs with fleas as dirty or filthy beasts but there not, fleas like very clean dogs, its the flea season at the moment so the best thing to do is to get your dogs treated to prevent an infestation on the poor things, my dog got them 6 years ago and ended up with a flea allergy and that must have been awful for her, now I give her one garlic capsule each day to help as fleas can't stand garlic and I use programme too, a monthly tablet so no sprays or liquids, quick and very good at doing the job of keeping fleas at bay.

Answer 4

because by admitting they have fleas reflects on the owner not properly taking care of their pets. Their are such great flea products on the market today that their is no excuse for having a flea infested pooch. I think i have found maybe 2 fleas on my bichon frise and i have had him for 15 mths.. sometimes you cant help it fleas are fleas. But if they start laying eggs, watch out I think they can lay up to 1000 eggs at a time. I had a friend a long time ago that had fleas in her apartment, you would walk in and get bit, she had a baby and the fleas bit the baby and the baby turned enemic that was so sad.. the baby had flea bites all over his little legs.. that is why it is soooo important to maintain fleas..hope this gives you some insight on why people are so afraid to admit they might have fleas.. have a great day..

Answer 5

do no longer hardship - you will no longer get fleas from patting a canines. they have an inclination to stay on the backside of the fur, and have not have been given any reason to bounce off, if the extra effective source of foodstuff is already closest to them. besides, fleas truly desire canines besides - except you have a canines sound asleep with you, the probabilities of having fleas from them is tremendously much nil - or perhaps then, you may in line with risk get some bites that could be itchy for an afternoon, and the fleas does no longer survive you. The previous asserting is going, "Lie down with canines, arise with fleas", yet thankfully, you in easy terms do no longer flavor as good as a canines.

Answer 6

Sometimes it's shame, like saying your child has lice. There is the unspoken assumption that your dog is dirty and not cared for.
Which is silly, because it is so easy for dogs to get fleas.

And sometimes it is ignorance. Maybe they don't know the dog has fleas. Just because a dog scratches doesn't mean it has fleas, and sometimes the little buggers are really hard to see!

Answer 7

I think that some owners feel that if their dog has fleas it implies that they don't care about their pet, or that their pet is 'dirty'- fleas are bugs, and many people have issues about bugs... and maybe they are ashamed.

Fleas certainly aren't 'personal' fleas are simply nasty little blood sucking survivors that reproduce like mad.... and all cat and dog owners have to be smart about them.

Answer 8

people are ashamed and go into denial lots of dogs get fleas its nothing to be ashamed of if your dog gets fleas just treat them or as they say prevention is better than cure

Answer 9

my dogs and cats get fleas, i just treat them. i think some people get embarrassed about it because it sounds like they don't look after there pets properly but I'm afraid it's normal for it to happen, a bit like parents when there children get head lice, oh deary me, did i say head lice. shock horror

Answer 10

Maybe they just can't see them, so think they haven't got them, all dogs have fleas at sometime or another!!