What does my dog have?

Question

I have noticed very small black bugs crawling on my dog. When I say small, I mean about the size of a pen point. I don't know what they are. I have small children and want to make sure they wont harm my kids or my dog. I have an appointment to take him into the vet but they can't see him for 3 days and I want to make sure that these bugs wont harm us or him. Also, should I keeo him outside to keep the bugs from coming into the house? What can I do to get rid of them?

Answer 1

It can be a lot of reasons. Your dog could have ticks or fleas roaming around on his body. It's a good idea that you are taking him to the veterinarian. Just in case of a tick or flea disaster, give him a bath. You should buy flea and tick shampoo for your dog and make sure you do this the way it's directed on the back with 'directions.' You can also buy flea and tick spray to keep him away from all other bites that can harm your buddy. To make sure he's fine before he visits the veterinarian, check him out for a couple of days. Look around inside his fur to see if there's still small black bugs crawling around on him. They can harm your dog at times, but at others, they can't. No, you shouldn't keep him outside. There can be lots of other harmful bugs that can be attracted from the bugs that are living on your dog, and that won't be good. Keep him inside for a while, or put him in the crate with treats, so he knows it's not a punishment.

I hope everything works out!

Answer 2

If they jump... They are Fleas..... So, you might want to keep the dog outside and get to the vets and buy some Flea drops.. If you pet the dog and see red dirt... That's blood and flea dropping.. You also may want to start treating your house. I used baking soda/iodized salt on the carpets ...This smothers the fleas larve and punctures the fleas eggs which will hatch about every two weeks.. It also freshen the carpet and picks up loose dirt and is cheap. If you have a bag vacuum, get extra bags and vacuum as much as possible- *put a flea coller in the bag and dispose of after you vacuum up the baking soda/salt... If you have a bagless vacuum put the collar in the canister to kill fleas and dispose of fleas outside.. If you want to see if you house is "infested" at night leave a light on the floor and a white container with some water/dishsoap just a few drops.. In the morning you may find some dead fleas... You can wash your dog with dish soap and leave it on for 10 minutes this will kill any live fleas until you can get to the vet.. Just be careful of his eyes and ears... Good luck....

Answer 3

It sounds like fleas. If you start treating your dog with Frontline (or other topical flea preventative) they should go away pretty quickly. Fleas really won't harm you or your family. You shouldn't keep the dog outside at this point because chances are that the fleas will already be in your furniture and rugs. If you kick the dog out the fleas will be more likely to jump on you and bite you. If you treat with Frontline, the fleas in your home will die off pretty quikly, too.

Answer 4

Maybe they are mites? Or lice? Or smaller ticks?

I'd consider going to another vet who you can see sooner. You might call your normal vet office, explain that you feel you are unable to wait for 3 days, and politely ask for a referral to another vet. Sometimes rather than refer, they'll try to squeeze you in during a cancellation :)

Not to be a downer, but if you've seen the bugs on your dog, changes are there are already some in your home.

Good luck

Answer 5

Kinda sounds like fleas. You need to treat the dog with a product such as Frontline, and wash ALL of your clothes, drapes, anything fabric he's been close to etc in HOT water (I recommend going to the laundromat, but thats just me..); vacuum the carpets, if any, and then immediately walk the bag out to the trash. Fleas may bite you or your children, but they are not fond of human blood, so they wont stay by people long.

Answer 6

They sounds like fleas but could be lice. Try bathing him in dawn dishwashing liquid, let it soak a few minutes, and rinse CLEAN. This should kill whatever bugs are on him until you can get to the vet to get a flea prevention. Also, if you dont think they are fleas, bottle one up and take it with you! Vets appreciate all the help they can get with "mysteries" they cant see!

Answer 7

Are they fleas? Yes they can get on your children and bite them. Putting him outside won't really help if he has been in the house, they are probably already in the house. Put K-9 Advantix on him, but if you also have cats don't put this on him. There are ingredients in it that will kill a cat. Use Advantage. Also bomb your house for fleas. They aren't going to kill you or your family, but you will want to get rid of them

Answer 8

sure sounds like fleas to me. is the dog scratching alot? and do you or members of the family have really itchy bites around the ankles? fleas bite humans, too.
my groomer recommends a flea shampoo called "Zodiac". she prefers it to those topical aplications, because they can burn the skin of the dog. "Zodiac" not only kills live fleas, on the dog, or in the house (and if your dog has fleas, they are in the house, too), but it prevents any eggs from hatching. you use it once a month.

Answer 9

If sounds like he has ticks. You need to bathe him to get rid of the ticks and then when you go to the vet buy some of their flea and tick treatment. Good luck.

Answer 10

It might be ear mights, which are very dangerous to your dog! He could loss his hearing! In any case take him to the VET. You might want to start using Advantage or Frontline on you dog once a month. That's some great stuff! Remember to talk to you VET.