The most important step towards getting rid of a flea infestation is to identify the problem. The first thing I do if I suspect that my poor dogs have fleas is to run a flea comb through their fur. I would even recommend doing this regularly, as your dog will look nice and at the same time you prevent flea infestations. And I’m all about flea prevention instead of flea annihilation. It’s just easier and it will save you a lot of trouble. The flea comb is a safe way to remove fleas and eggs from the fur of your pets and it’s a cheap investment. What makes a flea comb unique is the space between the teeth. It’s very small, allowing you to catch everything with it. Don’t overlook this excellent flea control product; it will help you get rid of fleas quickly and painlessly.
How I use the flea comb
First, I fill a bucket with water and soap. I use this to rinse my flea comb, at the same time killing the fleas if I find any. I recommend doing this outside, so the fleas that drop off won’t land on your floor and get away, causing them to spread and ultimately turning into a full blown flea infestation in your home. There is no point in taking the risk.
My dog has long fur, so I have to use a normal comb first to even out the fur. After doing this, I take the flea comb and start combing around my dogs head. I then move down to the chest and the sides, ending up with the legs and tail. As you slowly make your way through the fur, regularly clean the flea comb in the bucket of water. Pay close attention to the area you are combing, as the fleas will try to get away from the comb. You can repeat this process a couple of times to make sure all the fleas are gone.
Afterwards I pour out the water and give my dog a treat to associate the combing with something good. If you insist on combing your dog or cat indoors, you can put some plastic or a paper on the floor to catch the falling fleas. Remember that fleas jump and they will try to get away if they get the chance. If you choose to do this indoors, only fill half the bucket with water to prevent them from jumping out.
Take action against fleas as soon as possible
If you get fleas inside your home, you need to take control of the situation immediately. The longer you wait, the more fleas you will have to deal with. The battle can last for weeks, even months, depending on how much time the fleas have had to reproduce and spread throughout your home.
5 reasons why you should use flea combs
- Flea combs can be used on all breeds of dogs and cats.
- Effectively removes flea debris as well as dandruff flakes and keeps your pet well groomed.
- Reduces stray pet hair around your home and on your furniture. Ideal for use after shampooing or for daily use.
- Helps detect fleas in their early stages and reduces the possibility of larger infestations.
- Reduces knots, shedding and matting in pets with long fur.
Can you use a flea comb for ticks?
Flea combs have fine teeth which can catch lice, fleas and other small parasites. Ticks are much bigger than fleas, so there is no reason why a flea comb should not be able to catch ticks as well.
Whether you have a pet with small or large hair, it is best practice to go for a daily grooming session using a flea comb. Run the comb through the fur and you might see reddish debris. This indicates that your pet has fleas. Ticks are larger and easier to spot, and they also swell up after drinking blood.
Removing a huge swollen tick can be grotesque and potentially dangerous, so protect your hands with gloves and immediately bag or drown the tick. Always disinfect the flea comb after every grooming session.
Flea combs vs. lice combs – What is the difference?
Flea and lice combs are more or less similar. The comb you use for removing fleas from pets can also be effectively used to remove lice. Lice and flea combs usually have a plastic or metal body with closely packed teeth. You can also buy fully plastic or metallic made combs. Both types have closely spaced teeth which capture tiny critters like lice, nits (lice eggs), fleas, as well as dandruff flakes from the hair. Lice combs also catch nits, which prevents re-infestation. However, you must also use a good shampoo to get rid of lice and prevent eggs from hatching.
Electronic flea combs
Recently, some people have also started using electronic lice and flea combs for cats and dogs. These combs contain closely spaced teeth and below there is an ‘insect inhalation chamber’. The device operates at 110V and has a switch for conveniently turning it on/off. It is a safe and non-toxic, completely chemical free method of removing lice, fleas and nits from pet hair.
Epilady electronic flea comb is an example of a popular flea comb that has received good reviews. You simply run the comb through pet hair and the device zaps the fleas, ticks and lice. They literally burn to a crisp and your pet remains unharmed. However, you need to be careful to hold the comb at a proper angle. Note: do not use the product on wet or damp fur.
Pros:
- Kills lice, fleas, ticks and other parasites on pets. It also eliminates flea dirt.
- As an added advantage, it also removes dead hair and gives your pets a healthy, shiny coat. This also means fewer pet hairs on your clothes and furniture.
Cons:
- Emits a high pitched sound which can irritate pets.
- Batteries run out quite fast, so you need to keep replacing them.
If you want to start finding and removing fleas on your dog or cat, you can get a flea comb here. I use mine all the time with great results, and I am sure you will find it useful too.
