Updated July 2026
Fleas and ticks are both parasites, but they affect dogs in different ways and require different approaches.
Fleas can live on pets and in the home. Ticks are usually picked up outside when a dog brushes against grass, woodland or other vegetation.
Both can irritate. Fleas may lead to persistent itching, damaged skin and flea-allergy dermatitis. Ticks attach to the skin to feed and can sometimes transmit infections, including Lyme disease.
This guide explains how to check your dog, recognise possible warning signs, deal with fleas in your home and remove a tick safely. It also explains why flea and tick products should be chosen carefully with advice from your veterinary practice.
Key Takeaways
- Fleas and ticks are parasites affecting dogs differently; fleas live in homes, while ticks attach outdoors.
- Signs of fleas include itching, red skin, and flea dirt, while ticks can transmit infections like Lyme disease.
- Choose flea and tick products carefully with veterinary guidance; never use dog treatments on cats or other species.
- Regular checks after walks and practical home cleaning can prevent and manage infestations effectively.
- Avoid homemade remedies, as they can be ineffective or harmful; opt for veterinary-approved treatments instead.
What is the difference between fleas and ticks
Fleas are tiny insects that move quickly through an animal’s coat. Adult fleas feed on blood, but much of an established flea problem can be found within the home.
Flea eggs and immature stages may be present around:
- dog beds
- carpets and rugs
- sofas and armchairs
- floor edges
- skirting boards
- cracks and gaps
- spaces beneath furniture
- places where pets regularly sleep
Ticks are small parasites related to spiders. They attach themselves to the skin and feed on blood.
A newly attached tick may be extremely small. As it feeds, it usually becomes larger, rounder and easier to feel.
Ticks do not jump or fly. They wait on vegetation and attach when a person or animal brushes past.
Can dogs get fleas and ticks year-round?
Fleas are often associated with warmer months, but heated homes can allow flea problems to continue during autumn and winter.
Ticks are generally more active during warmer periods and are commonly found in long grass, woodland and places visited by wildlife. However, owners should not assume that every cool day is free from ticks.
Your dog’s individual risk may depend on:
- where they walk
- time spent in woodland or long grass
- contact with other animals
- whether other pets live in the home
- previous flea infestations
- travel within the UK or abroad
- age and general health
- the local environment
The British Veterinary Association supports an individual, risk-based approach to parasite treatment. This takes account of the pet’s lifestyle, health, household and local risks, as well as possible effects on the wider environment.
Speak to your vet about the most appropriate plan for your dog rather than starting, stopping or combining products based only on the season.
Signs that your dog may have fleas
Possible signs include:
- frequent scratching
- nibbling around the back or base of the tail
- red or irritated skin
- small scabs
- bald or thinning patches
- broken skin
- changes in the coat
- dark specks within the fur
- live fleas moving through the coat
Some dogs develop a strong reaction to flea saliva and may become intensely itchy after only a few bites.
Other conditions can produce similar symptoms. Allergies, mites, infections and several other skin problems can also cause itching or hair loss.
Contact your vet if your dog is persistently uncomfortable, has damaged skin or the cause is unclear.
What is flea dirt?
Flea dirt is flea waste containing digested blood.
It may look like tiny black or dark-brown grains within your dog’s coat. It is often noticed around the lower back and base of the tail.
You can use a fine-toothed flea comb to check more closely.
Comb your dog over a white surface or place any dark specks onto damp white tissue. Flea dirt may dissolve and leave a reddish-brown mark.
Finding flea dirt strongly suggests that fleas are present or have recently been present, even when you cannot see a live flea. A flea comb can help you detect a problem, but it is not an effective treatment by itself.
How to check your dog for fleas
Choose a well-lit and comfortable area.
Gently separate the coat and pay particular attention to:
- the lower back
- the base of the tail
- the belly
- the groin
- beneath the front legs
- around the neck
- underneath the collar or harness
Use a flea comb slowly and check one small area at a time.
Do not repeatedly comb sore or damaged skin. Stop if your dog becomes frightened, distressed or uncomfortable.
A painful or inflamed skin condition should be examined by a vet rather than repeatedly investigated at home.
What should you do if you find fleas?
Contact your veterinary practice for advice about an appropriate treatment.
The correct product may depend on:
- your dog’s species
- weight
- age
- medical history
- current medication
- previous reactions
- whether your dog swims regularly
- other pets in the household
- the parasite being treated
Use only an authorised product intended for your dog’s species, age and weight.
Read the instructions carefully and use the correct quantity. Do not apply extra product, repeat a dose early or combine treatments unless a veterinary professional has specifically advised you to do so.
Contact your vet if your dog develops an unexpected reaction after a treatment.
Every pet needs a species-appropriate product
A flea problem may affect several animals within the same household.
Your vet may advise treating all susceptible pets at the same time. However, this does not mean applying the same product to every animal.
A treatment suitable for a dog may be dangerous to:
- cats
- rabbits
- puppies
- pregnant animals
- older animals
- pets with particular medical conditions
Some dog flea treatments contain high levels of permethrin, which can be extremely poisonous to cats. Poisoning can also occur if a cat licks treatment from a recently treated dog or has close contact with the dog before the product has dried.
Never use a dog flea treatment on a cat.
Make sure your veterinary practice knows about every animal living in your home before recommending parasite control.
How to deal with fleas in your home
Treating the dog alone may not resolve an established flea infestation.
Flea eggs and immature fleas may remain in bedding, carpets, furniture and areas where pets spend time.
Practical steps include:
- Vacuum carpets and rugs thoroughly.
- Vacuum beneath furniture.
- Clean along floor edges and skirting boards.
- Vacuum sofas and chairs used by your pets.
- Empty the vacuum or dispose of the bag promptly.
- Wash pet bedding according to its care label.
- Wash removable blankets, throws and furniture covers.
- Continue cleaning regularly.
- Ask your vet whether a licensed household treatment is needed.
The RSPCA recommends treating pets appropriately while also vacuuming furniture, floors and skirting boards and cleaning pet bedding.
Keep animals and children away from household flea treatments for the period stated on the label.
Never spray a household insecticide directly onto your dog unless the product is specifically authorised and labelled for that use.
Why might fleas still appear after treatment?
An established flea problem may take time to resolve.
Immature flea stages can remain within the environment and develop later. You may therefore continue seeing newly emerged fleas for a period after the dog has been treated.
This does not automatically mean that the product has failed.
Continue:
- using treatment as instructed
- vacuuming regularly
- washing bedding
- checking every pet
- following your veterinary practice’s advice
Do not apply additional treatment early without professional advice.
Contact your vet if fleas continue despite using the product correctly or if you are unsure whether it was applied properly.
For broader advice about dog hair, bedding, muddy paws and pet-safe cleaning, read Clean Home with Dogs: Practical Advice for Pet Owners.
Avoid homemade flea remedies.
Do not attempt to treat fleas using:
- garlic
- tea tree oil
- eucalyptus oil
- lavender oil
- citrus oil
- vinegar sprays
- homemade essential-oil collars
- salt spread across carpets
- undiluted household chemicals
- products intended for another species
Natural does not automatically mean safe or effective.
Garlic is toxic to dogs and should not be given as a flea remedy. PDSA states that there is no evidence that garlic treats fleas and advises using veterinary-approved flea products.
Herbal preparations and essential oils have not necessarily undergone the same safety and effectiveness checks as authorised veterinary medicines. Some may cause irritation or poisoning. Blue Cross specifically warns that herbal flea remedies are ineffective and that substances such as tea tree oil can be toxic to pets.
A strong smell may temporarily cover another odour, but it will not remove an established flea infestation.
What does a tick look like on a dog?
Ticks vary in colour and size.
They may be:
- grey
- brown
- reddish-brown
- extremely small before feeding
- larger and rounder after feeding
An attached tick may feel like a small bump on the skin.
Check carefully before trying to remove it. Nipples, scabs, skin tags and small growths can sometimes be mistaken for ticks.
Do not pull at something unless you are confident that it is a tick.
Where should you check your dog for ticks?
Check your dog after walks through woodland, long grass, dense vegetation and areas with wildlife.
Run your hands gently over the coat and look carefully around:
- the head
- the ears
- the neck
- beneath the collar
- under the front legs
- the groin
- the belly
- between the toes
- around the paws
- beneath the tail
Ticks are commonly found around the head, neck, ears, feet, armpits, groin and belly.
Long-haired dogs may need their coat parted carefully so that you can see the skin.
How to remove a tick from your dog safely
Use a proper tick-removal tool suitable for the tick’s size.
Do not use ordinary household tweezers unless a vet has shown you an appropriate method. It is easy to squeeze or break the tick.
Keep your dog still
Ask another adult to help when necessary.
Do not attempt removal while your dog is twisting, snapping or extremely frightened. Contact your veterinary practice if you cannot safely examine or handle the area.
Position the tick-removal tool
Part your dog’s fur so that you can see the tick clearly.
Slide the tool beneath the tick, close to the skin. Avoid squeezing the tick’s body.
Rotate the tool steadily
Follow the instructions supplied with your particular tick-removal tool.
Rotate steadily until the tick releases. Do not suddenly pull it directly upwards.
Check the skin
Make sure the complete tick appears to have been removed.
Wash your hands afterwards and dispose of the tick safely. Do not crush it between your fingers.
Monitor the area
Check the site over the following days for:
- increasing redness
- heat
- swelling
- discharge
- pain
- signs of infection
Contact your vet if you believe part of the tick remains or the area becomes increasingly sore or swollen.
Blue Cross and PDSA recommend removing ticks promptly with a suitable twisting tool while avoiding squeezing the tick’s body.
What should you not put on a tick?
Do not try to make the tick release by applying:
- petroleum jelly
- alcohol
- nail varnish
- disinfectant
- essential oils
- heat
- a lit match
Do not squeeze, burn or crush the tick.
These methods may injure your dog and can make safe removal more difficult.
Ask your vet for help if you do not have the correct tool or are not confident removing the tick.
When should you contact your vet after finding a tick?
Contact your vet if:
- you cannot remove the tick
- you think part of the tick remains
- the site becomes red, hot or swollen
- the area produces discharge
- your dog seems painful
- your dog becomes unusually tired
- their appetite changes
- they develop a fever
- they become lame
- their joints appear painful or swollen
- they seem unwell after a tick has been found
Ticks can transmit infections, including Lyme disease. Possible signs can include reduced energy, loss of appetite, fever, lameness and painful or swollen joints, although these symptoms can also have many other causes.
Do not try to diagnose or treat a tick-borne infection at home.
You can also read Is Your Dog in Need of Medical Care? for wider signs that should not be ignored.
Choosing flea and tick treatment responsibly
There is no single parasite product that is right for every dog.
The most appropriate plan may depend on:
- lifestyle
- local parasite risks
- walking locations
- previous flea or tick problems
- travel
- other animals in the household
- health conditions
- age
- weight
- medication
- possible environmental effects
The British Veterinary Association, the British Small Animal Veterinary Association, and the British Veterinary Zoological Society support the use of a considered, risk-based approach. The aim is to protect animal and human health while avoiding unnecessary or inappropriate use.
Speak to your vet rather than:
- copying another owner’s treatment routine
- selecting a product by brand recognition alone
- estimating your dog’s weight
- using several treatments together
- applying a product more frequently than instructed
- using a dog treatment on a cat
- assuming the same plan suits every pet
Protecting rivers and wildlife
Some flea and tick treatments can enter waterways through washing, bathing and treated dogs swimming.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate launched updated UK guidance in May 2026 encouraging owners to use spot-on products carefully.
For spot-on treatments covered by that guidance:
- wash your pet before applying the medicine rather than afterwards
- apply the product to the skin as directed
- avoid allowing the treated dog to swim for at least four days
- place used pipettes in the bin
- do not rinse or recycle empty pipettes
Always follow the exact instructions supplied with your dog’s specific product, as application and waiting times may differ.
This is especially relevant around local streams, ponds and woodland waterways.
Flea and tick checks after North London walks
Ticks are not limited to countryside holidays.
Dogs may encounter them in woodland, longer grass, overgrown paths and areas visited by wildlife.
Around Finchley and neighbouring areas, this can include parts of:
- Coldfall Wood
- Highgate Wood
- Cherry Tree Wood
- Parkland Walk
- grassy verges
- overgrown footpaths
- private gardens
I do not stop dogs sniffing and exploring simply because parasites exist.
Instead, I stay aware of the route and encourage owners to check their dogs after walks through longer vegetation.
The same post-walk check may also reveal:
- grass seeds
- thorns
- burrs
- small cuts
- damaged nails
- stinging-nettle irritation
Read Environmental Risks for Dogs on Walks for more information about hazards hidden in grass and vegetation.
Frequently asked questions
Can indoor dogs get fleas?
Yes. Fleas may be brought into the home by another animal or picked up from an infested environment. A dog does not need to spend all day outside to develop a flea problem.
Can fleas live in carpets?
Flea eggs and immature stages can develop in carpets, bedding, furniture, cracks and areas where pets rest. This is why an established problem may require both the pet and the home to be treated.
Do fleas only appear during summer?
No. Fleas may be more noticeable during warmer weather, but centrally heated homes can allow problems to continue during autumn and winter.
Should I use garlic to prevent fleas?
No. Garlic is toxic to dogs, and there is no evidence that it treats or prevents fleas.
Can I use my dog’s flea treatment on my cat?
No. Some dog flea products contain ingredients that are extremely poisonous to cats. Use only products intended for the correct species and speak to your vet when you share your home with both dogs and cats.
Should I remove a tick with my fingers?
No. Use a suitable tick-removal tool and avoid squeezing or crushing the tick. Ask your veterinary practice for help if you are uncertain.
Does every tick carry Lyme disease?
No. However, some ticks can transmit Lyme disease and other infections. Remove attached ticks promptly and contact your vet if your dog becomes unwell afterwards.
Should dogs receive flea and tick treatment throughout the year?
This depends on the individual dog, household and local risks. Ask your veterinary practice for a suitable risk-based parasite plan rather than changing treatment without advice.
How quickly should I remove a tick?
Remove the attached tick as soon as you can safely and correctly. Contact your vet if you do not have the right tool or are worried about attempting removal.
Regular checks are part of everyday dog care.
Fleas and ticks should not stop your dog enjoying walks, gardens and normal daily life.
A few practical habits can make problems easier to identify:
- check the coat regularly
- check after woodland and longer-grass walks
- notice changes in scratching
- wash bedding routinely
- vacuum areas where pets rest
- keep a tick-removal tool available
- seek veterinary advice about treatment
- avoid unsupported homemade remedies
- follow product instructions carefully
The earlier you notice a problem, the easier it is to protect your dog and prevent an infestation from becoming established in your home.
For broader year-round guidance, read Seasonal Pet Safety in Finchley.
This article provides general information and does not replace advice from your veterinary practice. Contact your vet whenever your dog has persistent itching, damaged skin, an unexpected treatment reaction or becomes unwell following a tick bite.
