How do I check my dog for fleas and ticks?

Work through the coat in sections, running fingers against the grain of the fur so any small raised bump is easier to feel than to spot visually. Pay particular attention to warm, sheltered areas, the ears, between the toes, the armpits, and the groin, since ticks tend to favor these spots to attach.

A fine toothed flea comb pulled through the coat, especially around the base of the tail and neck, catches both live fleas and flea dirt, small dark specks that look like ground pepper. Combing over a white paper towel or plate makes these specks easier to spot, and a reddish tinge appearing when you wet one confirms it is flea dirt rather than ordinary debris.

A quick check after every walk in tick prone areas, grassy fields, woodland, or long grass, catches most ticks before they have had time to attach fully. A weekly flea comb through, even without a specific concern, helps catch a developing issue early.

If you find dark specks on the comb and are unsure whether it is flea dirt or ordinary debris, placing a few specks on a damp white paper towel is a reliable test: flea dirt, which is largely digested blood, will smear into a small reddish brown mark, while ordinary dirt typically stays dark and does not change color.

Doing this check under good lighting, near a window during the day rather than under dim evening lamps, makes both live fleas and the darker specks of flea dirt considerably easier to spot against your dog's coat.