"My question is: my dog has these little black things in her fur that look like little spots of black pepper. I took one off him today and it is real hard and cracks when I put it between my fingers. He has many of them on his little body. He went to the groomers last month and she didn't say anything about fleas. Is that what I am dealing with and what should I do?"
To test this, wet a cotton ball or paper towel and add some of the "black pepper" material. If it dissolves into a reddish-brown material, it is very likely flea dirt, and indication of a flea problem for your pet.
Fleas, especially females that are at reproductive age, consume large quantities of blood, relative to their size and weight.
From Novartis Animal Health:
- "During active reproduction, female cat fleas can consume up to 13 ul of blood per day, which is equivalent to 15 times their body weight. 72 female fleas are capable of sucking 1 ml of blood per day."
The flea life cycle is multi-stage and complicated. Giving your pet a flea bath or putting on a flea collar will not solve the problem. Fleas on the pet and in the environment must be addressed in order to control fleas on your pet.
For more information about fleas, their life cycle, and how to get rid of them on your pet, please see the All About Fleas information center.
