Why late summer is the hard part of the season here
New England does not really get a tick free season anymore. Adult deer ticks come back strong in the fall, and nymphs stay active through the warm months. Fleas follow warmth and humidity, so August in the Merrimack Valley is close to ideal for them: warm nights, damp yards and plenty of wildlife moving through backyards in Lowell, Dracut and Tewksbury.
What a groomer can actually do
- Find what you cannot see. Under a thick coat, a tick behind the ear or between the toes is easy to miss at home. On the table, with the coat parted and blown out, it is not.
- Remove flea dirt and eggs. A proper bath plus a fine comb strips a large share of eggs and flea dirt from the coat.
- Open the coat. Mats and dense undercoat are where parasites hide and where skin infections start. De-matting and de-shedding remove that shelter.
- Spot the skin damage early. Flea allergy dermatitis usually shows first at the base of the tail and along the back legs.
What grooming cannot do is protect your pet between visits. Only a vet prescribed preventive does that. Think of grooming as detection and cleanup, and the preventive as the shield.
The five minute check to do after every walk
- Run your hands slowly over the whole body, feeling for small bumps.
- Check the four hot spots: inside and behind the ears, under the collar, the armpits and groin, and between the toes.
- Part the fur at the base of the tail and look for black specks. Flea dirt turns rust red on a damp paper towel.
- Look at the belly, where the coat is thinner and ticks are easier to see.
- Wipe the paws. It removes pollen and hitchhiking fleas before they reach the couch.
If you find a tick
Use fine tipped tweezers, grip as close to the skin as possible, and pull straight out with steady pressure. Do not twist, burn or smother it with petroleum jelly. Clean the area, wash your hands, and save the tick in a sealed bag with the date in case symptoms appear later. Call your vet if you see a rash, limping, lethargy or fever in the following weeks.
Cats need the same attention
Indoor cats get fleas too, usually carried in by a dog or on clothing. Long haired cats hide flea dirt very well. Our cat grooming includes a comb-out and skin check that catches it early, and we do it in a calm, low stress way. See our cat grooming guide for what to expect.
Book with CatDog Grooming Salon
Dog and cat grooming in Lowell, MA, rated 5.0 on Google. See our services or book an appointment. We serve you in English and Portuguese.
Book an appointmentKeep reading
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- How often should you groom your dog?
Frequently asked questions
Does a bath kill fleas?
A bath removes many adult fleas, eggs and flea dirt, and it gives immediate relief, but it does not break the life cycle in your home. You still need a vet recommended preventive and to treat bedding and carpets.
Can you groom a dog that currently has fleas?
Yes. Tell us when you book so we can schedule appropriately and protect other pets in the salon. We will bathe, comb out and let you know what we found.
How often should I have my dog checked during tick season in Massachusetts?
Check at home after every walk in grass or woods, and book a professional bath and coat check every two to four weeks from spring through late fall.