How to Use a Flea Comb

Written by Ray Spragley, DVM | Edited by Hunter Rising

Last Updated: August 7, 2024 Fact Checked

If your dog or cat has fleas, a flea comb is a great way to immediately make your furry friend feel better. Fleas get caught in the teeth of the comb, so they’re perfect for getting rid of those itchy pests. If you're wondering how to properly use a flea comb, look no further. Keep reading our helpful guide for everything you need to know about using a flea comb.

This article is based on an interview with our board certified veterinarian, Ray Spragley, founder of Zen Dog Veterinary Care. Check out the full interview here.

Things You Should Know

Comb your pet's entire coat when they're dry. Comb them over a light surface if you want to see the fleas as they fall off of your pet.
Dunk the comb in soapy water every few strokes to kill any fleas on it.
Use a flea comb daily. Do two full passes through your pet's coat for best results.

1

Put your pet in the tub or on a light-colored surface.

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Take your dog or cat into the bathroom and sit with them inside the bathtub. If you don’t have a tub, lay out newspapers or a large white sheet on the floor where you want to comb your dog or cat. On top of making it easier to see fleas, clean-up will go by a lot quicker when you’re finished.^{[1]
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2

Comb your pet when they’re dry.

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Combing through wet hair can cause tangles and snares. Make sure your pet is completely dry before you run the comb through their fur.^{[2]
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3

Comb through your pet’s entire coat.

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Fleas could be anywhere in your dog's or cat’s fur. Start at your dog's or cat’s head and work towards their tail. Gently push the teeth of the comb against your pet’s skin and brush in the same direction that their fur grows.^{[3]
X
Research source} Pay particular attention to the base of their tail, their groin, and the back of their neck since those are the most common problem areas when it comes to fleas.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Ray Spragley, DVM
Veterinarian

Expert Interview}
- Occasionally brush in the opposite direction of your pet’s hair to catch any fleas that tried to run away from the comb.
- If your dog or cat has long hair, use a long-toothed flea comb so you can brush through their entire coat.
- If you have multiple pets, be sure to brush all of them with the flea comb since fleas easily spread from one animal to another.

4

Dunk the flea comb in soapy water every few strokes.

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Soapy water will kill any fleas you comb out of your pet's fur. You’ll easily be able to see the fleas once you pull the comb out of your pet’s fur. They'll look like small moving black specks on the teeth of the comb.^{[5]
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Research source} If you see any fleas, dip the flea comb in a bowl or bucket halfway filled with soapy water.^{[6]
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- Fleas also leave dried blood called “flea dirt” in your pet’s fur, which looks like flecks of black pepper.^{[7]
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  Expert Source
  
  Ray Spragley, DVM
  Veterinarian
  
  Expert Interview}

5

Run the comb through your pet’s fur a second time.

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Even after you’ve brushed through your dog's or cat’s fur once, go back through it one more time to check again. You may find a few that ran away from the comb at first. Dunk the comb in the soapy water every few strokes to kill any fleas that you find.^{[8]
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6

Use the flea comb daily.

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Checking your pets every day helps you control a small infestation. Make time in your daily routine to run the comb through your pet’s fur and see if they still has flea problems. Since new eggs may have hatched, you may find more fleas even if you combed them all out the day before.^{[9]
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- If your cat or dog doesn’t have fleas, still run a flea comb through their fur once a week. That way, you can catch and prevent infestations early on.^{[10]
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  American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
  Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty
  
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7

Treat your home to completely get rid of the fleas.

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There are more fleas in your home than the ones you find on your pet. Fleas jump off your pet and breed, so take preventative measures to kill the flea eggs that could be in your home. Some things you can do to help control the fleas in your home include:^{[11]
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- Vacuuming your house daily to kill fleas in carpets and furniture.
- Cleaning your pet’s bedding at least once a week.
- Setting up flea traps to capture adult fleas.
- Using a flea bomb to kill all of the adult fleas in your home. Just be sure to leave your home with your pets while it's going off to avoid any harmful chemicals.

8

Talk to a vet about preventative flea medication.

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A vet can help out to make sure fleas don’t come back. Your vet will be able to recommend the best thing to do to prevent and kill fleas.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Beatrice Tavakoli
Professional Dog Trainer

Expert Interview} They may give you a spray to put on your pet’s fur or oral medication to help kill any fleas that are on your pet.^{[13]
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- Always follow your vet’s instructions exactly so your pet doesn’t get sick.
- Your vet may recommend a flea collar, but only use it if you have one pet. If another dog or cat bites at the collar, they could get sick from the chemicals.^{[14]
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  Beatrice Tavakoli
  Professional Dog Trainer
  
  Expert Interview}

How Do You Get Rid Of Fleas On Cats?

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Tips

Scratching, hair loss, and inflammation are all ways to determine if your pet has fleas.^{[15]
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Ray Spragley, DVM
Veterinarian

Expert Interview} Pale gums or tapeworms are also a sign that a dog or cat has fleas.^{[16]
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American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty

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Flea combs work great for pets that don’t like to be bathed, or for kittens and puppies that are too young for flea medications.^{[17]
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You can also get an electric flea comb that shocks and kills fleas on contact without hurting your pet.

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Warnings

Only use flea treatments that are meant for your pet. Cats can’t use medications made for small dogs.^{[18]
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Try to catch and stop fleas as soon as you can so your pet doesn’t get any parasites or infections.^{[19]
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