Make Grooming a Full Body Health Check
Grooming is the perfect moment to run your hands over every part of your dog, because you already have their attention and they are relaxed. Work methodically from nose to tail, using flat palms and fingertips to feel the skin beneath the coat.
Cover the whole body: down the legs, between the toes, under the belly and tail, around the neck and inside the ears. Get to know what is normal for your dog so that anything new stands out immediately at the next check.
Doing this weekly means you catch parasites, wounds and lumps early, when they are easiest to deal with. Build it into your regular routine rather than treating it as a separate chore.
Warm, quiet moments such as evening cuddles are ideal for lump checks. Your dog stays still and you can concentrate on what you are feeling.
Spot the Signs of Fleas
Fleas are fast and hard to see, so look for evidence rather than the insects themselves. Comb through the coat with a fine flea comb, paying attention to the base of the tail, the belly and behind the ears, where fleas gather.
The classic clue is flea dirt, tiny black specks of digested blood. Tap the comb contents onto damp white paper: if the specks smear rusty red, that is flea dirt and confirms an infestation. Other signs include intense scratching, nibbling at the base of the tail and small scabs.
If you find fleas, treat every pet in the home and the environment, as most of the flea life cycle lives in carpets and bedding, not on the dog. A thorough groom with the right kit, such as a grooming vacuum, helps lift loose coat and debris while you check.
Treating only the dog rarely clears fleas. Wash bedding hot and vacuum thoroughly, because eggs and larvae in the home cause repeat infestations.
Find and Remove Ticks Safely
Ticks attach and feed, swelling from a tiny speck to a pea-sized grey lump. Check carefully after walks in long grass or woodland, especially around the head, neck, ears, armpits and between the toes.
Remove a tick promptly but correctly, because squeezing or burning it can force infected fluids back into your dog and raise the risk of disease. Use a proper tick-removal hook:
- Slide the hook under the tick, close to the skin.
- Twist steadily and gently until the tick lets go, without pulling straight up.
- Check the whole tick, including mouthparts, has come away.
- Drop it into a sealed pot in case your vet wants to identify it.
Watch the bite site over the following weeks and see your vet if your dog becomes lethargic, feverish or lame.
Never apply petroleum jelly, alcohol or a flame to a tick. It makes the tick regurgitate into the wound, increasing the risk of Lyme disease and other infections.
Tell Everyday Lumps From Worrying Ones
Not every lump is sinister, but none should be guessed at. As you feel over the body, note the size, shape, texture and location of anything unusual. Soft, movable lumps under the skin are often fatty growths, while warts and skin tags are common in older dogs.
Some findings need prompt attention: a lump that grows quickly, feels hard or fixed, is ulcerated, weeps or bleeds, or one that appears alongside weight loss or low energy. Never adopt a wait-and-see approach with a changing lump.
Keep a simple record. Photograph and measure any lump so you can track changes, and read skin conditions to watch for to help tell a harmless bump from something that needs investigating.
Any new lump that is growing, changing, hard, fixed in place or bothering your dog should be checked by a vet promptly rather than monitored at home.
Know When to Involve Your Vet
Home checks are for early detection, not diagnosis. A vet can identify parasites you might miss, prescribe effective, safe flea and tick prevention, and sample a lump with a quick needle test to tell you what it is.
Book an appointment if you cannot fully remove a tick, if flea treatment is not clearing an infestation, or if you find any lump that meets the warning signs above. When in doubt, the safe choice is always to have it looked at, as covered in when to choose the vet over home grooming.
Ask your vet about year-round parasite prevention suited to your area. Prevention is far simpler than treating an established flea or tick problem.
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Frequently Asked
Comb the coat and tap the debris onto damp white paper. Tiny black specks that smear rusty red are flea dirt, confirming fleas. Intense scratching, nibbling at the tail base and small scabs are also common signs, even if you never see a live flea.
Use a tick-removal hook slid under the tick close to the skin, then twist gently until it releases. Never pull straight up, squeeze the body, or apply alcohol or a flame, as these can push infected fluids into your dog. Check the mouthparts came away too.
See your vet promptly for any lump that grows quickly, feels hard or fixed, is ulcerated or bleeding, or appears with weight loss or low energy. A vet can test it with a simple needle sample, so never just wait and see with a changing lump.
No. Many are harmless fatty lumps, warts or skin tags, especially in older dogs. The problem is that you cannot tell type by feel alone, so any new or changing lump should be checked so you know exactly what you are dealing with.