How to Kill Bugs in Dog Hair

A dog's hair is a great place for bugs such as fleas and ticks to reside. Dog hair is warm, and it provides plenty of food and hiding places for blood sucking bugs. For the dog, bugs can cause allergic reactions, rashes and itching. For the owner, bugs in dog hair can be troublesome and time-consuming to remove. Using the correct methods and tools, killing bugs in dog hair does not have to be such an ordeal, and your dog's hair can quickly become bug free.

Things You'll Need

  • Paper towels
  • Comb
  • Brush
  • Tweezers
  • Flea shampoo
  • Spray bottle
  • Hot water
  • Lavender oil
  • Cedar wood oil
  • Antiseptic cream
  • Aloe lotion
  • Flea comb
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine the type of bug living in your dog's hair. The most common bug is the flea. Fleas look like black specks that can jump. Hold a paper towel underneath your dog and comb his hair. If a black powdery substance falls onto the paper towel and then turns red, it is flea dirt.

      The second most common bug is the tick. Ticks are larger and slower than fleas, and dogs pick them up easily. Ticks embed themselves in a dog's skin and can transmit deadly diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease.

    • 2

      Brush your dog to remove the bug residue from his fur. Discard any dirt that comes out of his fur immediately. Use tweezers to remove any ticks from your dog's skin and submerge them in alcohol to kill them.

    • 3

      Treat your dog with a specialized bug killing shampoo or spray. Alternatively, you can make a natural flea killing spray by combining 600 milliliters of hot water, two drops of lavender oil and two drops of cedar wood oil in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture over your dog's hair to kill bugs, and comb out his fur to remove dead bugs.

    • 4

      Treat any rashes or sores caused by the bugs in your dog's hair. Use antiseptic cream on any sores to prevent infection, and a soothing lotion containing aloe on any rashes. Check with your vet before using any medicine or ointments intended for human use on your dog's skin.

    • 5

      Check your dog's hair for remaining bugs. Use a flea comb, found in pet stores, to remove leftover bugs. Repeat the procedure if you find any remaining bugs.