How to Check Your Dog for Fleas and Ticks
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Catching fleas and ticks early saves your dog a lot of misery. Here's exactly how to check — and how to keep them away.
Know the signs first
Before you go looking, know what you're hunting for. Fleas cause intense scratching, biting, and restlessness, and leave 'flea dirt' — tiny black specks that turn reddish-brown on a wet paper towel. Ticks are small, dark, and attach to feed, growing as they engorge with blood. You may spot flea allergy hair loss around the tail base, or feel a tick as a small bump. Regular checks are worth building into your routine, since early detection means easier treatment and lower disease risk.
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How to check for fleas
Fleas love warm, hidden spots. Sit your dog somewhere well-lit and part the fur down to the skin around the base of the tail, belly, groin, armpits, and behind the ears. Look for fast-moving specks or the telltale flea dirt. A fine-toothed flea comb drawn slowly through the coat traps fleas and debris — dab what you collect onto damp white paper, and if it smears rusty-red, that's digested blood confirming fleas. Check even indoor dogs, which aren't immune.
How to check for ticks
After walks in grass or woods, run your hands slowly over your dog's whole body, feeling for small bumps. Pay special attention to the head, ears, neck, armpits, groin, and between the toes, where ticks like to hide. Part the fur to look at the skin in any suspicious spot. If you find an attached tick, remove it promptly and correctly with fine tweezers or a tick tool, grasping close to the skin and pulling straight out — see our guide to [flea and tick collars for dogs](/guides/best-flea-and-tick-collars-for-dogs) for ongoing protection.
Prevent, don't just find
Checking catches problems, but prevention stops them. Year-round parasite control is the real protection — options like the [Seresto Flea & Tick Collar for Dogs](/products/seresto-flea-tick-collar-for-dogs) or a monthly topical such as [Frontline Plus Flea & Tick for Dogs](/products/frontline-plus-flea-tick-for-dogs) keep fleas and ticks off in the first place. Ticks can transmit serious diseases, so if your dog develops a rash, lethargy, lameness, or fever after a bite, see your vet. Combine consistent prevention with regular checks for the best defense.
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Frequently asked
- How can I tell if my dog has fleas?
- Look for intense scratching and 'flea dirt' — tiny black specks that smear reddish-brown on damp white paper. Part the fur around the tail base, belly, and groin, or use a flea comb. Fast-moving specks confirm live fleas.
- Where do ticks hide on dogs?
- Ticks favor the head, ears, neck, armpits, groin, and between the toes. After walks in grass or woods, feel over your dog's whole body for small bumps and part the fur to check the skin. Remove any attached tick promptly and correctly.
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