Flea and tick prevention works best as a short weekly check, not a single product applied once and forgotten. By the time visible fleas appear on a pet's coat, an infestation is usually already established in carpets, bedding, and furniture, which makes early detection far more effective than treatment after the fact. A proper weekly routine involves combing against the direction of hair growth at the base of the tail, behind the ears, and on the belly — the warmest, most hidden spots fleas and ticks favor — and checking for "flea dirt" (small dark specks that turn reddish-brown on a wet paper towel) rather than waiting to spot an actual flea. Flea and tick activity isn't limited to summer in most climates: fleas can survive indoors year-round once established, and ticks stay active whenever temperatures hold above roughly 4°C (39°F), so the check matters through the shoulder seasons too, not just peak summer.
The weekly check, in full
- Comb through the coat against the direction of hair growth, focusing on the base of the tail, behind the ears, and the belly
- Look for flea dirt rather than waiting to see an actual flea
- Check between toes and in skin folds for ticks, which attach and feed slowly and are easy to miss without a deliberate check
Beyond the comb
A fine-toothed flea comb pulls out both live fleas and flea eggs before they mature, and doing this over a light-colored surface makes them easy to spot and dispose of immediately, rather than letting them fall back into carpet or bedding.
Our Electric Pet Lice & Flea Comb adds a gentle vibration that helps loosen debris from the coat during the weekly check, without any chemicals involved.