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how to check your pets for fleas
How to use a flea comb — and what those reddish or dark brown specks mean.
Get ready to check your dog or cat for fleas at home, plus important next steps if you find signs of flea dirt or live fleas on your pet.
What are fleas?
- Small parasites
- Feed on blood
- Bite people and pets
- Can spread disease
What you need to look for fleas on pets
- A flea comb
- A damp white paper towel
- A friend to help (if possible)
- Your pet
Signs of a flea infestation
- Seeing live fleas
- Flea dirt (flea feces) on skin or in hair
- Unusual itchiness
- Sores from scratching
Where to look for fleas on your pet
Even if your pet has an active infestation, it can still be difficult to spot fleas with your naked eye. Here are two areas where it may be easier to find visual proof:Ears and rears: Fleas often settle down to feed in furry areas like necks, ears, and hindquarters.
Nooks and crannies: Fleas enjoy hiding in the armpits and groin, at the base of the tail, and inside folds of skin.
Use a flea comb and a damp paper towel to find fleas
Get settled with your pet someplace where you can sit safely and comfortably together. It can help to have a friend nearby to help hold or distract your pet.
- Use your flea comb to gently comb your pet’s hair from back to front. Try to get a good look at their skin.
As you comb their hair, look for small, red-brown bugs (living or dead) and small black flecks of flea dirt (a fancy word for flea poop).
Also keep an eye out for areas of red, irritated, or broken skin from scratching. (Sore skin can need veterinary help even if you don’t find fleas!)
- If you find little black specks, you may not be sure if they’re flea dirt or just plain dirt. The test is to put them on your damp paper towel. Because flea dirt is digested blood, it will turn reddish brown when wet. (Yuck!)
- When you’re done, consider giving your very good pet a little treat for their cooperation. And make sure to wash your hands thoroughly!
See fleas, flea dirt, or raw or sore skin? Reach out to your veterinary team about solutions, like year-round flea and tick prevention for your pet or ways to help their overall itchiness.
If you see a flea or flea dirt, assume your pet has fleas
A female flea can lay up to 50 eggs a day. So even if you only found a few dead fleas, or a few bits of flea dirt, it’s pretty likely your pet still has active fleas — and that other pets in the house do, too.In addition to treating your pets, you’re probably going to need to treat your house as well. Fleas can hide in your home where pets hang out even during the winter months.
Mentioned in this article
How to treat your pet’s skin and coat problems
Sometimes pet symptoms are more than skin deep.
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Parasites on the prowl
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How Banfield can help with pet skin and coat care
We’re here to help your pet’s skin and coat be happy and healthy. From external parasites to skin problems to skin allergies and bumps or wounds, our vets can help with informed diagnoses and action plans to help your pet.
Get veterinary care for external parasites like fleas, ticks, and mites. From flea infestations to tick bites to ear mites and more, our vets can check out skin and coat cooties and recommend appropriate treatment. We’re happy to walk you through your options for year-round parasite control to help your pet!
Is your pet always itchy? Do you think your pet has a skin allergy? Causes for cat or dog itching and scratching can go more than skin deep. We can help figure out what’s causing your pet’s discomfort and suggest medications and treatments that can help your pet be more comfortable in their own skin.
See us for help with bald spots, shedding, greasy skin, and dandruff. Many pet health issues can affect your pet’s beautiful skin and coat. Whether it’s a flea allergy, dermatitis, seborrhea, allergies, anxiety-based issues, or other health concerns, our vets here to help with diagnosis and treatment.
Does your best furry friend have a cut or wound? Do you think they may have a tumor? Give us a call! Our vets can evaluate strange lumps and bumps and let you know if you can stop worrying. We can also help with wounds or direct you to the best resource to immediately help your pet.
