HEALTH
How to Check Your Dog for Fleas and Ticks: Vet-Approved Techniques!
Worried about ticks & fleas on your dog? Dr Tanaya shares expert tips on where and how to find them with key hotspots you cannot miss.
Dr. Tanaya Pai
Senior Veterinarian
Table of contents
Ticks and fleas are tiny, pesky insects that love to make their home in our dogs’ fur. They feast on their blood and can transmit life-threatening diseases in the process. These pests multiply quickly, making it challenging to eradicate an infestation once it takes hold. Therefore, prevention is the most effective way to keep ticks and fleas from bothering our dogs and infesting our homes.
How Do You Identify Ticks and Fleas on Your Dog’s Fur?
The first step in getting rid of ticks and fleas on your dog is identifying them accurately. Ticks and fleas are both parasitic pests but look different from each other. Male ticks usually resemble tiny, brownish-black spiders while the females can grow larger when engorged with blood.
Fleas, in contrast, are tiny black insects. Known for their rapid movement and jumping abilities, they can be harder to spot or catch. Understanding these differences aids in effective identification and control of these pests.
Tick and flea checks should be done daily if your dog is frequenting outdoor areas or interacting with other animals. The easiest way is to incorporate it into your grooming routine whether that’s while brushing your dog or bathing.
Fleas, in contrast, are tiny black insects. Known for their rapid movement and jumping abilities, they can be harder to spot or catch. Understanding these differences aids in effective identification and control of these pests.
Tick and flea checks should be done daily if your dog is frequenting outdoor areas or interacting with other animals. The easiest way is to incorporate it into your grooming routine whether that’s while brushing your dog or bathing.
How to Find Ticks on Dogs!
Now that you know what ticks can look like, here is how you can carry out an effective tick check for your dog:
- Run your fingers through your dog’s fur and feel for irregular bumps. Flip the fur backwards to expose and examine the skin better. For dogs with darker coats, spotting a tick in the fur might be tough, you may need to rely more on feeling.
- Inspect your dog’s body while moving systematically from the nose to the tip of the tail. While it is important to check the whole body thoroughly, here are some hotspots:
- Around the eyes
- In and around the ears
- In the fur around the neck, especially under the collar
- Armpits of both the front & back limbs
- In between the toes (especially adult ticks)
- The base area of the tail
- Tick larvae can be found on the back and rump
- On finding a tick, use a tweezer or tick remover to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. We should gently pull upwards to remove the tick and its mouthpart.
- Once we detach the tick from the body, we must not squish it. Drop it in a bowl filled with water and antiseptic (Dettol, Savlon) and dispose it properly, ideally down the drain or toilet.
How To Find Fleas on A Dog!
Fleas can be more challenging to spot in a dog’s fur due to their tiny size and speed. Here is how you can be thorough while searching for them.
- A flea comb is more efficient than relying on your hands or eyes. Run your flea comb throughout your dog’s body while focusing on the following hotspots:
- In the fur around the neck, especially under the collar
- Armpits of both the front & back limbs
- The base area of the tail
- Adult fleas can be found on the back and rump
- Flea dirt can be found in the armpits, lower belly and back, rump & base of the tail
- Flea larvae can also be found on your dog’s bedding, carpets, cracks, and crevices in your home
- Be cautious as fleas are quick and can jump back on your dog. On the rare occasion that you catch one (great job!), squash them with a tissue or newspaper and dispose of them. Since it's tough to catch them all, consider using preventative measures and treatments.
Ticks and fleas can not only cause discomfort but also pose serious health risks to our dogs. Diligent & thorough checking is crucial to prevent ticks and fleas on dogs, especially after outdoor excursions and during monsoon season. By incorporating regular preventative measures and thorough inspections, we can ensure our furry companions remain happy, healthy, and free from these troublesome pests.
Want to learn effective ways to prevent and control ticks and fleas on your dog? Check out this article: How to Prevent and Get Rid of Fleas and Ticks on Dogs!
Happy Pet Parenting!
Want to learn effective ways to prevent and control ticks and fleas on your dog? Check out this article: How to Prevent and Get Rid of Fleas and Ticks on Dogs!
Happy Pet Parenting!
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About the author
Dr. Tanaya Pai
Senior Veterinarian, 7 yrs exp
Dr. Tanaya is a veterinary surgeon based in Mumbai. Parent to two indie dogs herself, she understands the challenges pet parents face everyday and writes proficiently to educate parents and help them ensure a better quality of lives for their dogs.
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