Fleas and Ticks on Dogs: Signs, Checks and Safe Treatment

Updated August 2026

You run your hand through your dog’s coat and feel a small lump. Is it a tick, a scab or simply one of your dog’s nipples? Does a tick bite hurt, and how should you remove it without leaving part of it behind?

Alternatively, your dog may have started scratching even though you cannot see anything moving in their coat. Could fleas still be responsible?

This guide explains how to recognise fleas and ticks on dogs, perform a thorough coat check, remove a tick safely and deal with fleas in your home. It also covers when to speak to your vet and how to use parasite treatments responsibly.

Affiliate disclaimer: This guide contains an Amazon affiliate link. If you buy something through it, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only link to products that are relevant to the advice provided.

Do tick bites hurt dogs?

Many dogs do not appear to notice a tick attaching to their skin. Owners often discover one by chance while stroking, grooming or checking their dog after a walk.

The bite site can later become:

• Red
• Irritated
• Swollen
• Itchy
• Tender
• Infected

A dog may lick or scratch the area, but the absence of discomfort does not mean the tick should be left in place. It is better to remove an attached tick promptly using the correct technique.

If your dog becomes distressed when you examine the area, or you are not confident that the lump is a tick, contact your veterinary practice.

Fleas and ticks are not the same

Both are external parasites, but they behave quite differently.

Fleas

Fleas are small, wingless insects that move quickly through an animal’s coat. Adult fleas feed on blood and can cause intense itching, skin irritation and allergic reactions.

You may not see a live flea. Flea dirt, persistent scratching or irritated skin may be the first clue.

Flea eggs and developing stages can also be present in:

• Carpets
• Rugs
• Upholstered furniture
• Gaps around skirting boards
• Dog and cat bedding
• Cars
• Other places where pets regularly rest

Ticks

Ticks are small arachnids that attach themselves to the skin and feed gradually. They may initially be tiny but become larger and rounder as they feed.

An attached tick usually stays in one place rather than running through the coat. Depending on how long it has been feeding, it may resemble a small seed, a grey lump, or a bean.

Can dogs get fleas and ticks year-round?

Yes. Fleas are not only an autumn or summer problem.

Central heating provides a warm indoor environment in which fleas can continue developing during colder months. A dog that rarely visits woodland can still encounter fleas from another animal or an infested home.

Ticks are commonly associated with spring and autumn, but activity depends on temperature, habitat and local conditions. Dogs can encounter them whenever the weather is mild enough.

Woodland, long grass, heathland, gardens and areas used by wildlife can all present opportunities for tick exposure. Dogs walking around Finchley and North London do not need to visit the countryside to encounter one.

Signs that your dog may have fleas

Possible signs include:

• Scratching more than usual
• Biting or chewing the skin
• Repeated licking
• Red or inflamed skin
• Small scabs
• Hair thinning or loss
• Restlessness
• Flea dirt in the coat
• Live fleas moving through the hair

Some dogs react strongly to a small number of flea bites. Others may have fleas without scratching continuously.

Allergies, mites, infections and other skin conditions can also cause scratching. If the problem continues, your vet may need to examine your dog rather than assume it’s fleas.

The RSPCA’s flea advice explains why both the animal and its environment need attention.

How to check a dog for fleas

Use a fine-toothed flea comb and work through the coat systematically.

Pay particular attention to:

• The base of the tail
• The lower back
• The belly
• The groin
• The armpits
• Around the neck
• Behind the ears

Comb over white paper, kitchen roll or a pale towel. This makes dark specks easier to see.

Flea dirt consists largely of digested blood. If you place suspicious black specks on damp white tissue, flea dirt may dissolve into reddish-brown marks.

Do not rely on this test alone if your dog has sore skin or persistent symptoms. Ask your vet if you are unsure.

What should you do if your dog has fleas?

Speak to your vet about a suitable flea treatment, particularly if:

• Your dog is very young or elderly
• Your dog is pregnant or nursing
• Your dog has an existing medical condition
• Your dog takes other medication
• You have cats, rabbits or other animals at home
• Previous flea treatments have not worked
• Your dog has broken, infected or painful skin

Follow the product instructions carefully. More treatment is not necessarily better, and combining products without professional advice can be dangerous.

Every suitable dog and cat in the household may need treatment. However, they may require different products and doses.

Never assume that a treatment intended for one animal is safe for another.

Why do fleas sometimes return after treatment?

Seeing fleas after applying a treatment does not always mean the product has failed.

Adult fleas represent only one part of the infestation. Eggs, larvae, and pupae may remain in the environment and continue to develop. Newly emerged fleas can then jump onto a treated animal.

This is why flea control may also involve:

• Washing pet bedding according to the manufacturer’s instructions
• Vacuuming carpets, rugs and upholstered furniture thoroughly
• Cleaning beneath furniture
• Vacuuming around skirting boards and floor edges
• Emptying the vacuum cleaner outside
• Treating every suitable pet in the household
• Using an environmental product if your vet recommends one

Read my practical guide to keeping a home clean with dogs for further cleaning advice.

If fleas continue despite appropriate treatment and cleaning, contact your vet. Incorrect application, an unsuitable product or untreated animals and areas may all contribute to the problem.

Avoid unproven homemade flea remedies.

Products described as natural are not automatically safe or effective.

Garlic, essential oils, vinegar and homemade sprays should not replace veterinary advice or an authorised flea treatment. Some substances can irritate the skin, upset your dog, or pose a risk of poisoning.

Do not apply human insect repellents or household pest-control products directly to your dog.

What does a tick look like on a dog?

An unfed tick can be very small and easy to overlook. As it feeds, its body becomes larger and more rounded.

Ticks vary in colour and may appear:

• Brown
• Black
• Grey
• Reddish-brown

Unlike a skin tag, a wart, or a nipple, a tick has legs. These may be difficult to see beneath its body, especially when it is small or surrounded by thick hair.

Before trying to remove anything, part the coat and examine the lump carefully in good light. Remember that dogs have nipples on both sides of the abdomen, including male dogs.

If you cannot confidently identify the lump, have your veterinary practice check it.

Where should you check for ticks?

Ticks can attach almost anywhere, but it is worth paying particular attention to:

• Around and inside the outer ear flap
• Around the eyelids
• Under the collar or harness
• The neck and chest
• The armpits
• Between the front legs
• The groin
• Around the tail
• Between the toes
• Around the paw pads
• Beneath longer facial hair

After woodland, heathland or long-grass walks, run your hands slowly over your dog’s body. A small attached tick can be easier to feel than to see.

My after-walk dog check covers paws, grass seeds, cuts, burrs and other problems worth checking at the same time.

How to remove a tick from a dog safely

Use a purpose-made tick-removal hook or tool. These are designed to fit beneath the tick without squeezing its body.

I recommend keeping a small tool in your walking or first-aid kit. This tick-removal tool set on Amazon is the one currently linked from my walking checklist.

To remove an attached tick:

1. Keep your dog as calm and still as possible.
2. Part the hair so you can see the tick clearly.
3. Slide the correct-sized removal tool beneath the tick, close to the skin.
4. Follow the tool’s instructions. With a tick-twisting hook, lift very slightly and rotate until the tick releases.
5. Do not pull sharply or crush the tick.
6. Check that the tick appears complete.
7. Clean the removal tool and the surrounding skin.
8. Wash your hands thoroughly.
9. Monitor the bite site over the following days.

The PDSA’s tick-removal instructions include a useful demonstration of the correct technique.

If your dog will not remain still, the tick is close to an eye or another sensitive area, or you are uncomfortable removing it, ask your vet to help.

What should you avoid putting on a tick?

Do not try to make a tick release by covering it with:

• Alcohol
• Nail varnish
• Nail varnish remover
• Petroleum jelly
• Oil
• Essential oils
• Heat
• A lit match
• Household chemicals

Do not squeeze the tick’s body or pull at it with your fingers.

A purpose-made removal tool provides much better control and reduces the likelihood of damaging or compressing the tick.

What if part of the tick remains in the skin?

Do not repeatedly dig into your dog’s skin with tweezers or a needle.

If part of the tick appears to remain, contact your veterinary practice for advice. The area may become irritated or infected and may need professional attention.

Seek veterinary advice sooner if the site becomes increasingly:

• Red
• Swollen
• Hot
• Painful
• Wet or weeping
• Surrounded by discharge

When should you contact your vet after a tick bite?

Most dogs do not become ill after every tick bite. However, ticks can transmit infections, including Lyme disease.

Contact your vet if your dog develops unusual symptoms after a tick has been found, including:

• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Swollen or painful joints
• Stiffness
• Lameness that appears to move between legs
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Unexplained discomfort
• A worsening reaction at the bite site

Tell the vet when and where you found the tick. If practical, a clear photograph may also be useful.

If you are concerned that your dog is seriously unwell, do not wait for every possible symptom to appear.

Does every dog need the same parasite treatment?

No. Parasite control should be tailored to the individual animal and its exposure risk.

Factors your vet may consider include:

• Your dog’s age and weight
• General health
• Previous reactions
• Where your dog walks
• Contact with wildlife
• Travel within or outside the UK
• Other pets in the home
• Whether your dog swims regularly
• The local parasite risk
• The product’s environmental impact

The British Veterinary Association’s advice on parasite treatments recommends a risk-based, individual approach rather than automatically treating every animal the same way.

Do not guess your dog’s weight or split a product intended for a larger animal unless your vet or the manufacturer specifically instructs you to do so.

Important warning for homes with cats

Some dog flea and tick treatments contain permethrin. This can be highly toxic to cats.

Never:

• Apply a dog-only product to a cat
• Split a dog treatment between different animals
• Allow a cat to lick a recently treated dog
• Use a product without checking the species instructions
• Assume a natural product is safe for both animals

If a cat is accidentally exposed to a dog flea treatment, contact a vet immediately and take the packaging with you.

Flea and tick treatments and the environment

Some parasite treatments can enter rivers and ponds through swimming, bathing, discarded packaging and household wastewater.

In May 2026, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate issued updated advice for owners using topical flea and tick treatments. Dogs should not swim for at least 4 days after spot-on treatment is applied. Owners should also limit swimming and washing over the coming weeks, follow the product instructions, and place empty pipettes in household waste rather than rinse them.

Read the full Veterinary Medicines Directorate guidance on protecting waterways before using a topical product.

Your vet can help you balance your dog’s parasite risk, health needs and environmental exposure.

A practical routine after North London walks

There is no need to stop your dog enjoying parks, woodland or long grass. A short check after suitable walks is usually more useful than avoiding enriching environments altogether.

After a walk, I recommend:

1. Checking around the face, ears and neck.
2. Running both hands along the body and beneath the chest.
3. Feeling under the front legs and around the groin.
4. Looking between the toes and around the paw pads.
5. Brushing longer coats when necessary.
6. Removing burrs, leaves and seeds before they work deeper into the coat.
7. Investigating any unfamiliar lump rather than waiting for it to become larger.

This can be included in the same routine as drying paws, checking for small injuries and looking for seasonal hazards.

For more seasonal guidance, see my autumn dog-walking tips and seasonal pet-safety guide for Finchley.

Professional dog walking in Finchley.

During my one-to-one walks, I pay attention to the individual dog, the route and the conditions underfoot. This makes it easier to notice limping, discomfort, coat problems or something caught around a paw.

A dog walk is not a veterinary examination, but careful handling and consistent routines can help identify when something needs the owner’s attention.

If your dog would benefit from calm, individual support, read about my one-to-one dog walks in Finchley and North London.

Related guides

Continue with:

• Dog parasites: fleas, ticks, worms and mites
• How to check your dog after a walk
• Dog health and first-aid guides
• Autumn dog-walking tips
• Seasonal pet safety in Finchley

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Frequently asked questions

Do tick bites hurt dogs?

Some dogs show no obvious reaction when a tick attaches. Others may later develop irritation, redness, tenderness or itching around the bite. Do not wait for your dog to appear uncomfortable before removing an attached tick.

How quickly should I remove a tick?

Remove it as soon as you can safely, using a suitable tick-removal tool. Ask your vet for help if you are uncertain or the tick is in a sensitive location.

Can I pull a tick off with my fingers?

This is not recommended. You may squeeze the tick or leave part of it behind. A purpose-made tool gives you better control.

Can indoor dogs get fleas?

Yes. Fleas can be carried indoors by animals, people or belongings. They can also develop in carpets, bedding and furniture.

Why is my dog still scratching after flea treatment?

The skin may remain irritated, new fleas may be emerging in the home, or something other than fleas may be causing the scratching. Speak to your vet if it continues.

Do I need to treat my home for fleas?

If fleas are present, cleaning the home is an important part of the control effort. Vacuum thoroughly, wash suitable bedding and ask your vet whether an environmental treatment is needed.

Should dogs receive flea and tick treatment throughout the year?

This depends on the individual dog, location, lifestyle and product. Ask your vet for a risk-based plan rather than choosing treatment solely by season.

Can I use my dog’s flea treatment on my cat?

No. Products intended for dogs can be extremely dangerous to cats. Only use a product specifically authorised for the species and individual animal.

Can I prevent ticks with garlic or essential oils?

These remedies are not reliable substitutes for an authorised product, and some may harm your dog. Discuss safe, evidence-based options with your vet.

Check, remove and monitor

Fleas and ticks are unpleasant, but finding one does not mean you need to panic or stop enjoying outdoor walks with your dog.

Regular coat checks, prompt tick removal, appropriate veterinary treatment and thorough home cleaning are the practical foundations of parasite control.

Keep a tick-removal tool somewhere accessible, learn how to use it before it is needed and contact your vet whenever you are uncertain.

Veterinary disclaimer: This guide provides general information for UK dog owners and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment. Contact your vet about persistent itching, skin problems, parasite treatments, suspected infection or illness following a tick bite. In an emergency, contact a veterinary practice immediately.