Ok, so your dog has fleas. You may think it's no big deal, it's only a few little bugs.

YOU'RE WRONG!!!
10 ADULT FLEAS PRODUCE 250,000 FLEAS
IN JUST 30 DAYS!

This means you have THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of FLEAS in just ONE MONTH if left untreated! Then there are the TAPEWORMS! Your animal can get TAPEWORMS from ingesting (eating) FLEAS!

Just a little tapeworm information: I really hate to pick these little buggers off the bottoms of the dogs I work with. Yuk! And it's not healthy for the dogs, the family, or me as your groomer!

Tapeworms: Dogs are susceptible to several different types of tapeworm. The most common one is transmitted by infected fleas, which your dog accidentally swallows when doing his or her cleaning routine. This kind of worm is long, flat and made of of rectangular segments that each contain eggs. It can grow up to 32 inches in length. Individual segments are passed into the stool, and you may notice them on the skin and fur around the anus. They look innocent enough, rather like grains of rice.
Taken From: Dogs-The Ultimate Care Guide-Prevention for Pets-Matthew Hoffman-Rodale

Worms: Nearly all puppies and kittens are born with intestinal worms of one sort or another. Apparently the worms become chronic in the mother in an encysted form, like granules within a capsule. During the stress of pregnancy, the cysts break and the worms gain access to the fetus. Among kittens and puppies, the most presenting sign is a potbelly, which develops as the worms consume protein; because protein helps keep fluid in the blood vessels, a protein deficiency caused by worms leads to leakage into the animal's abdomen. Roundworms are visible as white, squiggly, spaghetti-like strings in the feces or vomit. Whip worms and hookworms, on the other hand, are too small to be seen by the unpracticed eye. A fourth kind, tapeworms, are spread by fleas, though dogs in particular can get the other kinds of worms by licking another animal's feces, often from their paws. Tapeworms are usually seen as flat, rice-like granules appearing around the anus.
Taken From: The Nature of Animal Healing-Martin Goldstein, D.V.M.

Tapeworm: Tapeworms are carried to the dog by the flea. The flea larva ingests tapeworm eggs, becomes an adult, and is ingested by the dog; then the eggs hatch, starting the cycle. The adult tapeworm is large and flat and can grow to a length of several feet. It is made up of segments, each containing eggs. These sections are passed in the stool; they are whitish pieces which look like inchworms when first passed and quickly dry to look like grains of rice. They are often found in the hair around the dog's rectum and tail, or in its bedding.
Taken From: A Veterinary Guide for Animal Owners-C. E. Spaulding D.V.M.

Animals acquire tapeworms by eating any of three types of infected materials: 1) prey, offal (discarded animal parts) or uncooked meat, 2) raw, fresh water fish, or 3) infected fleas or biting lice. The common tapeworms (Taenia sp., Dypylidium caninum) are acquired by ingesting prey or infected fleas.

The adult tapeworm consists of a head with hooks and suckers which attaches to the intestinal wall and a body consisting of a series of reproductive segments. It obtains nourishment by absorbing nutrients in the digestive tract directly through the cuticle whichcovers each body segment. Eggs produced by the adult tapeworm pass out with the animal's feces and are eaten by an intermediate host (such as a rabbit, rodent, or flea) where they grow into an ineffective stage commonly called a "bladder worm." When the animal eats an intermediate host, this immature form completes the life cycle by becoming an adult tapeworm in the animal. The life cycle of tapeworms acquired from fish is more complex.

Although heavy tapeworm infestations can cause poor growth or coat changes, variable appetite or gastrointestinal disturbances, in general you will have no reason to suspect infection until you see tapeworm segments clinging to the hair or skin around the anus or in a fresh bowel movement. Fresh tapeworm segments are opaque white or pinkish white, flat and somewhat rectangularly shaped. They often move with a stretching out and shrinking back motion. When dry, the segments become yellow or off-white, translucent and shaped somewhat like grains of rice. Tapeworm segments are not always present with tapeworm infection. When absent, diagnosis may be possibly be made through microscopic fecal examination.

Avoid using anti-tapeworm drugs available in pet stores. Most are ineffective. Some over-the-counter drugs may cause purgation and can be dangerous. They may cause excessive vomiting, severe diarrhea, and sometimes convulsions. After deworming with a product recommended by your veterinarian, make an effort to prevent your animal from re-exposure to sources of tapeworm infection (e.g., flea control is very important).
Taken From: The Well Cat Book and The Well Dog Book-Terri McGinnis D.V.M.

It all comes down to Flea Control! Not only are fleas and tapeworms very unhealthy for your animals, they aren't healthy for people either. Parasites take away needed nutrientsfrom their hosts as well as causing sickness, lethargy, and in severe cases anemia or death.

Take care of your animals! They depend on you to stay healthy and happy!