fleas and ticks

Question
my dog has fleas. i was trying to get rid of them when i notice little red bugs on him. do you know what they are and do i need to be very concern.

Answer
Tasha,

For the fleas I recommend putting your dog on Frontline right away.  You can get that from your vet.  Also I would get a heartworm test and start a heartworm preventative such as Sentinel or Heartguard.  As far as the red bugs, I'm really not sure what that is.  Fleas excrete feces and those feces are made of blood which have a red color.  If they are mobile little creatures and not just tiny dirt like material, I would go to the vet.  Not knowing what part of the country you are in, I really can't say what they might be.  Ticks, in California at least, tend to be brown or gray and shaped like little ovals.  Depending on what part of the county you are in, there are different species of ticks.
I suggest that you go see your vet and get some preventatives (frontline/sentinel) and be sure you have an up to date heartworm test.

Laura