I’m dog sitting for a friend, should I tell her her dog has fleas?

[Isheabastard]

My friend has a lot on her plate at the mo and had the chance to go away for 4 days. I offered to look after her lovely small dog. It’s really easy for me to do and I want to help her out as she’s having a really shitty time.

Hes really sweet, but I’ve realised he has fleas. I’ve given him a really good comb and by the second day the amount of flea dirt and no of fleas found has drastically reduced (2 fleas).

Now I know that means there are more fleas and eggs. I am using blankets for him to sleep on and hoovering up. I’ve had cats and dogs all my life (don’t have any now) so I’m not panicking or shocked. I will get some stuff to spray in my house asap.

But do I tell her? And if so how? My ex always said I have no social tact and could be very (too) blunt. So if you were the dog owner would you wish to know?

Her dog spends a lot of time with her son and dil, they have four dogs so it’s likely her dog has picked them up from them.

Id hate her to think he’d picked them up at mine, but on the other hand I don’t want her to feel embarrassed and think she can’t ask me again to dog sit.

What’s your opinion/advice ?

Some people dont react to flea bites so dont notice them. I do. I would be spraying the dog and house, swallowing antihistamines and cursing your friend. Yes of course tell her. If she objects to what you've done, leave her to it. I'd shrivel with shame if someone got flea bites in my house.

I’d tell her. For the dog’s sake more than anything. It needs treating.

”Just to let you know, I spotted a flea on (petname) so combed him through a few times & he definitely has a couple. They’re always bad this time of year! Thought you’d want to know so you can get some treatment from vets.”

I don’t think I’d mind getting that message at all?

i highly recommend Advocate (vet prescribes it) it’s brilliant and kills the flea larvae as well as the fleas themselves.

Yes of course! She doesn’t want a flea infestation on top of everything else. Just message her and say, dog seems to have picked up fleas from somewhere - would you like me to get a flea treatment for him whilst you’re away? Get some Indorex for yourself so you don’t end up with an infestation when he’s gone.

Thanks for replies. I haven’t got bitten (yet). The dog doesn’t seem to have a flea allergy.

I’ll definitely use the wording as suggested. I’ll certainly be keeping on top of things once hes gone, I don’t want end up with an infestation in my house.

Thank again.

If it were my dog, I'd want to know so I could treat her and properly clean the house ie carpets, bedding etc so they don't keep coming back

Of course you tell her! Its not a crime or a bad thing to have fleas but the owner needs to know to treat their house and dogs bedding. Just a welfare issue

It may be that she has used an over the counter flea treatment but they don't work.

Yes I would

Yes. We didn’t notice we had a problem until the vet picked it up! Nobody had been bitten and we’d been treating the animals with vet prescribed treatment. Yet they still got them. They do sometimes.

Id want to know to start dealing with it immediately. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. It will happen to most pet people at some time.