How to Use a Flea Comb

Fighting fleas is no fun for humans, so can you imagine how awful our pets feel? Fleas not only make pets itch, they can make them very ill by causing flea dermatitis and allergies. I have had my own battle this year, as has many other pet owners. I have been constantly bathing my dogs, giving them pills to control fleas and I have resorted to the shoulder medication that I hate. They are combed with a flea comb several times a day.

What is a Flea Comb

Flea combs are a great tool to aid in removing fleas from your cat or dog. If you have ever had the chore of removing head lice from a child, a flea comb resembles the nit comb that comes with head lice treatment. The comb has tiny teeth that will pull the fleas from your pet's hair or skin.

Pet flea combs can be purchased at any pet supply store. The one I have came in a grooming kit with toe nail clippers and a file. The kit was less then ten bucks and I have gotten many years of use out of it. The flea comb has really had a work out this year.

The Best Way to Use a Flea comb

The tiny teeth are harder to use on a long haired dog. If your dog has long hair like my Shih Tzus, you will need to comb the hair out first, so there are no tangles. I use a wide tooth comb to do this. I never brush my long haired dogs because it pulls and splits their long hair. The wide tooth comb makes it easier to find and remove tangles.

Before you start using the flea comb, fill a small bowl full of hot water. I have an old plastic bowl I keep in the bathroom cabinet just for this purpose. You will also need to add a flea killer to the water.

I use the most natural stuff possible on my dogs. I have an all natural flea spray that I purchased at the health food store. I spray a small amount of it into the bowl of water. I have also added a few drops of Avon Skin So Soft bath oil to the bowl of water. I would only advise the bath oil if it is close to bath time, as you will be combing this through the pet's hair.

My dogs are little and they are used to standing on the bathroom vanity for their daily combing. It is much easier on the back if you do not have to lean over, so this works out well if your dog is small enough to place on a counter or vanity near a bright light. Make sure you remove the dog or cats collar, because fleas love to hide there.

Start at the Top of the Animal's Head

If you use your bathroom vanity, sit the bowl of water in the sink to avoid much mess. Dip the comb in the water and comb through a small section from front to back. Inspect the comb. If you see fleas stuck in the teeth, dip the comb in the water to remove them. Hold the comb flat against the dog's body and work gently so you do not pull a small tangle or poke the skin with the teeth.

Pay close attention to areas that hide fleas. If the dog has long ears, be sure to comb under the ears and turn the ears over and comb the underside of them. Pay close attention to the underarm area and beneath the tail, especially if the dog carries her tail curled over the back.

Using a flea comb and paying close attention to how many fleas are floating in the bowl of water helps you to see just how bad the flea infestation is. I help my Shih Tzus to stand on their hind legs when I comb down their sides. It will give you a good view of their belly. Fleas have a tendency to crawl around to the bare skin to get away from the wet combing. You can gently comb the belly area to grab any fleas you see there.

How Often Should You Use a Flea Comb?

Figuring out how often to flea comb your pet depends on how bad the infestation is. I make it a habit to use the flea comb on my dogs several times a day during warm weather. According to my vet, our yards have fleas in them, so I comb my dogs after a walk outside or a potty trip. It doesn't take very long and I would rather keep control of them. My dogs actually like the attention and primping they are getting.

I flea comb them right before a bath to see if I need to use a flea control shampoo. If you are finding several fleas in the dish of water, you know you need to work harder at flea control, or change your method. If you only find one or two fleas, you know that what you are using is working.

More by this writer:

Holistic Flea Remedies
Fighting Fleas in Your Home
Your Dog's Itching Could be Chiggers