These long, flat parasites can cause weight loss and diarrhea, and can be contagious to you and your family. These are tapeworm segments, and they also can be found on your pet's bedding. If you see them, take your pet to your veterinarian right away to get rid of these pests. As fleas eat, they inject saliva under your pet's skin, an irritation that can lead to miserable scratching, hair loss, and infection. If your pet scratches or licks excessively, see your veterinarian for help.
Pets suffering from flea bites can develop dermatitis, or inflammation of the skin.
Antibiotics and shampoo therapy can rid your pet of this problem, but if left untreated, the infection will spread and your pet will become more uncomfortable. Fleas get their nutrition by ingesting animals' blood, and they can consume so much that a puppy, kitten, or a small pet can die as a result of blood loss. It's especially important to keep young and old pets flea-free. Fleas are picked up by being in contact with other flea-infested animals, or from an infested environment. The cat flea is the most commonly encountered flea.