Feline acne and flea dirt have one thing in common: they both present as small, black specks. However, they are symptoms of two very different conditions. Although the reasons for feline acne can vary between cats, it's a skin condition that affects many cats, often in response to: Environmental allergens and irritants.
People often mistake “flea dirt,” or flea feces, for flea eggs—though both are signs of a flea infestation. Unlike flea eggs, flea dirt is dark and crumbly. You can identify flea dirt by putting a few of the specks on a white piece of paper and adding a couple drops of water.
So even if you only find flea dirt on your pet but no fleas themselves, it could mean you've just caught the infestation early. You should still treat your pet immediately for fleas since flea dirt is an obvious sign of flea activity as the digested blood from the parasites feed on your pet.
sometimes you have flea dirt without any presence of fleas. How is this possible? The fleas were present at one time but have since jumped off or have been destroyed by licking and grooming. To tackle flea dirt you first need to give your pet a bath.
These specks are called 'flea dirt' and are actually the faeces of the fleas after they feed on the cat's blood.
It could be feline acne, a common skin condition in cats. What looks like a dirty chin could be a mild to moderate case of cat acne. Those black specks are actually blackheads, similar to blackheads in humans. In more severe cases, a cat can develop red sores and lesions on the chin area.
Many pet parents wonder whether it's possible for a pet to have flea dirt but not fleas. Sorry, but no. When you find flea dirt on cats or dogs, you can't assume your pet was merely a pest pit stop. “A flea that is dropping waste on the animal has had enough time to feed on that animal,” Dr.
A. The active ingredient in FRONTLINE (fipronil) kills fleas by affecting their nervous system, making them hyperactive before dying. These dying fleas often rise to the top of your pet's haircoat, so the presence of visible fleas after treating your pet, is a sign that the product is working.
"Flea dirt should be washed off the pet with a thorough bath and for severely affected pets, two or three rounds of shampooing may be necessary," Hall says. "A flea comb (a small fine-toothed comb) can also be used to tease the dirt and live fleas out of the hair."
First, if flea dirt is present on your dog or cat, it's a strong indication that your pet is hosting one or more live fleas that have laid eggs. One of the primary functions of flea dirt is to feed flea larvae, so they can develop into adult fleas that will reproduce and continue the life cycle.
Testing for Flea Dirt
Since blood is the primary ingredient, you can use a flea comb to find suspected areas of flea dirt. Lift some of the dark specks off the skin and place them on a moist paper towel. If it is really flea dirt, it will turn into reddish or brown spots when it hydrates on the wet towel.
What to do when flea dirt won't come off. Flea dirt is very tiny and gets stuck to your pet's hair, so you need a fine toothed comb to remove it. Grooming your pet on a daily basis is the best way to eliminate and prevent flea dirt.
Signs of fleas in your bedding include tiny black specks that are sometimes called "flea dirt." These are flea excrement; if you sprinkle them with a little water, they'll turn a dark-reddish brown. Another sign that fleas have invaded your bed are flea bites on your body.
Within 5 minutes of jumping onto a pet, the flea will take a blood meal and pass stool (poop). Flea poop is visible on pets' fur as flea “dirt,” little black specks that look like pepper, that turn red or brown when exposed to water.
It looks like specks of black pepper on your furniture, carpets, and clothing. If you suspect fleas, the easiest way to check is to take a damp white cloth or piece of paper and brush the infected area. If flea dirt is present, the little black fleck-like pieces will stain the cloth or paper in red.
Many people describe their appearance as being similar to small specks of grime. If you're familiar with the effects of a flea infestation, bed bug feces appear highly similar to “flea dirt.” If you observe large concentrations of feces, a congregation of bed bugs is likely to be hiding nearby.
Flea symptoms include round, red bumps on the skin, hot spots, scabs, and hair loss. In some cases, you may be able to see fleas on your pet's coat. Flea “dirt” is another telltale sign of an infestation. The dirt, which looks like black or brown flecks in the fur, are flea feces.
Flea Dirt
It often has a reddish hue due to the digested blood. To distinguish flea dirt from normal household dirt or dust, collect some onto a white paper towel. Spray with water. If you begin to see red or brown hues, it likely is flea dirt.
Where do you put fleas after combing? It is best to have a dish of warm soapy water nearby and dip the flea comb after a few strokes in order to drown the adult fleas trapped in the comb. If you are combing your cat in the bathtub, you may want to dip the flea comb in the water and wash the dying fleas down the drain.
If you do see fleas and they are moving slow enough to catch – success – they are busy dying!
As eggs hatch and develop, you might find fleas reappearing 10-14 days after treatment - this is quite normal and provided the insecticide remains in place it will kill them. This is why it is important not to carry out cleaning which might remove insecticide.
Feces Amount
8-10 droplets of feces are excreted at each feeding. The average adult flea expels 0.645-0.770 mg of feces per day. Both genders excrete protein-rich flea dirt,824 but females produce a greater volume. They expel around 17 times as much feces as males (0.8546 vs 0.0503 mg daily).
What Is Flea Dirt? "Flea dirt is actually the feces of adult fleas," Hall says. "If you find flea dirt on your pet, it means that your pet has fleas, and they only produce flea dirt after they've been on your pet long enough to consume a blood meal (via biting) and digest that meal."
How do fleas reach your indoor cat? Almost any living creature or inanimate object can bring a flea into your home. Other pets such as dogs are obvious culprits, but fleas can also jump onto your clothes, shoes and bags and be inadvertently carried indoors that way.
Often even after treating with a suitable flea treatment you will still see flea's on your animal. However, this does not mean that the treatment has not worked or that the fleas are immune – the reasons are fairly simple: Fleas are hatching in your home and re-infecting your pet.