Free Your Furry Little Friend From All Fleas With the Best Flea Comb for Dogs
Fleas are one of the biggest threats to your dog's well-being and happiness. Luckily, there are plenty of flea prevention and treatment products on the market. However, if you want something chemical-free, look no further than the best flea comb for dogs of 2022.
These combs are designed from the ground up to remove as many fleas as possible in as little time as possible. But with so many options out there, which one do you choose?
Should you go for a metal comb or a plastic comb? What should be the length of the comb teeth? Which handle material is the most comfortable for your hands?
To answer these questions, we rounded up the most popular options on Amazon and checked them all out. After the review process was done, we ended up with five of the best options out there and curated them in a handy list for you.
A Brief Review of The Top Flea Combs for Dogs
Hartz Groomer’s Flea Comb for Dogs
– Best Overall
The Hartz Groomer’s Flea Comb is durable and works like a charm. There are no gimmicks, no weird design elements, and nothing out of the ordinary. It is just a well-designed flea comb that does exactly what it says on the tin.
The metal teeth are densely packed. They’re close enough to catch fleas, their eggs, and any debris but far enough to avoid pulling your dog’s hair. They are also smoothed out at the edges to avoid scratching your pet’s skin. Small touches like this make it one of, if not the best, flea comb for dogs of all sizes and shapes.
- Ergonomic handle with soft grip
- Ideal for grooming and detangling mats
- Works for dogs with all kinds of fur
- Only one row of teeth
Safari Dog Flea Comb
– Runner Up
The Hartz Groomer’s Flea Comb is excellent, but it has one flaw; it only has one row of teeth. While it will work fine for most situations, you might have to comb your dog more than once for the best results. Safari dog flea comb resolves this issue entirely by having two parallel rows of quality metal teeth.
The focus of the Safari comb is completely on its performance. Its teeth are tightly packed together to gather everything in their way. At the same time, the double row design catches anything that manages to slip through the first row. Also, it comes only in an olive-green color with a standard plastic handle. However, if you don’t care about aesthetics, this is the best dog flea comb for you.
- It doesn’t let a single flea slip through
- It catches dried skin as well
- Durable construction
- Does not have a soft handle
PrimePets Flea Comb for Dogs
– Honorable Mention
PrimePets offers a comb for the ultimate flea removal sessions. The densely packed stainless steel teeth ensure that only your dog’s hair passes through them, and everything else is caught, even dirt. Additionally, the handle-less design allows you to easily comb the entirety of your dog without straining your hand. The compact design is also great for storage in tight places and cramped drawers.
One thing to note about this comb is that the teeth are very fine. So, you should detangle your dog’s hair with a regular comb or brush before using this flea removal comb.
- Ergonomic design
- Fine teeth for a thorough cleanup
- Compact enough to store in handbags
- Not ideal for dogs with long and thick hair
Boao Flea Comb Set
– Also Consider
We’ve talked about individual combs that are great for one scenario. What if you have more than one dog or need multiple types of combs? The Boao 6-Piece Set is all you’ll need.
It comes with two sets of a long-handle comb, a handle-less comb, and a double-sided plastic comb with fine and wide teeth. Purchasing this one set will give you all the tools you need to eliminate any fleas threatening the happiness of your beloved puppy.
- Includes multiple types of flea-removal combs
- It is a great value with six combs at a low price
- Comes in a myriad of fun colors
- Material quality is above average, but nothing exceptional.
Gnawrishing Flea Comb Set
– Also Consider
The last item on our list is another set with four unique combs. If you’re looking for a multi-comb set that is built to last without compromising on functionality, then the Gnawrishing flea comb set is for you. Yes, this 4-piece set costs the same as some 6-piece sets, but you get quality in return.
Every comb in this set is a contender for the “best flea comb for dogs” award. On top of all this goodness, the Gnawrishing set also features a comb for every type of dog, whether you have a small dog with long hair, a big dog with thick fur, or anything in between.
- Industry-leading quality
- Combs for almost all types of dogs
- Has an elegant blue color
- A bit pricey for flea comb sets
Best Flea Combs for Dogs: A Complete Buyer’s Guide
Fleas are a menace to your innocent dog's happiness. A flea infection will irritate at best and serious health issues like anemia at its worst.
There are plenty of preventative methods out there, but fleas can slip through the tightest of defenses.
If your dog falls victim to these blood-sucking jumpers, don't worry. You can easily get rid of them within a few hours of your time with the help of a flea comb. The best flea comb for dogs should get rid of most of the fleas after just one session.
So, which one should you buy for your dog? Let’s look at some markers to choose the right flea comb for your dog.
How to Choose the Right Flea Comb?
Pet's care and grooming market are massive, and with this size comes a truckload of options from hundreds of brands. While all this competition is great for consumers, it confuses them more than anything.
If you've found yourself in a similar predicament or just want to be educated for the future, these are the things to consider.
Your dog’s breed
The first thing to consider is your dog's breed. Not all combs are compatible with every dog. Even the combs that claim to be universal have a few dog breeds that they don’t work for.
This compatibility issue mainly comes down to the thickness of your dog's hair, as well as its skin. Some high-performance combs can scratch the skin of particular breeds, while others will be completely fine.
Most manufacturers have a chart of compatibility on their product page. If they don't have this chart, contact them and inquire about your dog's breed before purchasing.
Length of your dog’s hair
Hair length plays a massive part in comb selection. Generally, you want a comb with longer teeth for dogs with longer hair and vice versa. However, there are a few more factors at play here.
Long hair tends to tangle easily. So, a comb with long teeth will get stuck in them. This might even pull out a few hairs along the way, causing unnecessary pain to your loyal friend.
Similarly, dogs with short but thick hair will not get properly cleaned with small-toothed combs. In cases like these, you will need something to dig underneath the fur.
Comfort
Every flea comb has to make a sacrifice between comfort and performance. A comb with sharp teeth will dig out any fleas from your dog but will also scratch your dog.
On the other hand, a comb with soft teeth will not cause any discomfort to your adorable puppy but will also be terrible at removing stubborn fleas.
Ideally, you want a flea comb with the right balance of performance and comfort. Luckily, most of the best flea combs for dogs already possess this near-perfect balance.
Washability
You will most likely need to use your flea comb more than once. So, you should buy something easily washable under just running water.
Unfortunately, there is no way to assess this property from the product description or photos. Your best shot is to look through the reviews and see if someone has mentioned the comb's washability.
Handle
Removing fleas from your dog is not a quick process. You will be making the same combing motion for hours to see any tangible results. So, it is imperative that the comb is designed with ergonomics in mind and does not strain your hand.
You have two main options in comb handles.
Long handle
Long handle combs are shaped like regular combs or brushes with long handles. Some are flat, while a few have groves for your fingers to wrap around.
These kinds of flea combs have excellent grip and make repetitive combing motion much less tiring. However, they do not work as well if you have to reach around to the sides and under your dog.
Handle-less
Handle-less flea combs are designed with flexibility in mind. The lack of a proper handle makes them difficult to hold and might cause strain over longer use. But they are also excellent at thoroughly cleaning your dog from head to tail since you can hold them in many ways, instead of just with the handle.
Features You Should Expect From the Best Flea Comb for Dogs
Removing fleas without scratching your dog's skin is something that every functional flea comb should be able to do, even the bad ones. But that is not where the story ends. You should expect additional features from the best options out there.
The most important of these features are dirt and flea egg removal.
Removing fleas will be useless without removing eggs, as those eggs will soon hatch and restart the flea cycle all over again.
Dirt removal is not necessary for eliminating a flea infestation, but it is an extremely pleasant feature to have. Removing fleas with a comb that can also clean up your dog on a deeper level without requiring any extra effort or time from you is just brilliant.
Purchase a Set
The guide mentioned above should give you a good idea of what to look for when buying a flea comb.
However, if you do not want to spend any time on this purchase and want something that will work, just buy a fully-fledged flea comb set. They contain three or four different types of combs that, altogether, work for every kind of dog and offer every feature you could want.
Flea Comb FAQ
A: This depends squarely on your current situation and the area you live in. If your dog is suffering from a flea attack, then use a flea comb daily for a few hours until you stop seeing any fleas in the comb. On the other hand, if you live in a warmer region or your dog hangs out with other animals, a weekly combing session is necessary.
A: The easiest way to kill fleas is to comb your dog in a bathtub. This way, you can simply wash the fleas away when done. Also, keep a bowl of soapy water nearby. Dipping the comb full of fleas in soapy water will kill them immediately and also remove dirt from the comb. Whatever you do, do not let the fleas get anywhere near your hair or clothes.
A: Yes, they work remarkably well, but they aren't as quick as something like flea shampoo. You would need some patience and a couple of hours for a few days to see tangible results. Comb your dog after washing them with flea-killing shampoo for faster and more reliable results.
