Georgia’s long, hot, humid summers don’t just mean pool days for dogs — they also mean peak season for fleas and ticks. Even dogs on consistent, vet-prescribed prevention can pick up hitchhikers after time in tall grass, wooded trails, or a neighbor’s yard. At Robin’s Groomingdales in Dunwoody, we see the effects of flea and tick season firsthand every summer, and grooming plays a bigger role in catching and preventing problems than most owners realize.

Why Summer Is Peak Season in Dunwoody

Fleas thrive in warm, humid conditions — exactly what Georgia summers provide. Ticks are most active from spring through fall, often hiding in tall grass, brush, and wooded edges common throughout Dunwoody and Sandy Springs neighborhoods. A single walk through the wrong patch of yard is sometimes all it takes.

Even the best prevention products aren’t 100% foolproof, and gaps in dosing schedules — a missed month, a product that’s slightly overdue — create windows of vulnerability. That’s why regular checks, both at home and during grooming appointments, matter as a second layer of defense.

How Professional Grooming Supports Flea & Tick Prevention

1. Close Skin and Coat Checks

Ticks can be difficult to spot, especially on dogs with dense or dark coats. During a professional groom, the coat is parted, brushed, and inspected section by section — which means hidden ticks are far more likely to be caught than during a quick at-home glance. We pay particular attention to the ears, between the toes, the groin, and the base of the tail, where ticks most commonly attach.

2. Flea Combing and Bathing

A fine-toothed flea comb pulls adult fleas and flea eggs out of the coat, and a thorough bath helps remove flea dirt (digested blood, which looks like small dark specks) that indicates an active or recent infestation. Bathing alone won’t eliminate an infestation, but it’s an important part of managing one alongside veterinary treatment.

3. Trimming Reduces Hiding Spots

Long, dense coats — the kind common in Doodles, Spaniels, and double-coated breeds — give fleas and ticks more places to hide and make them harder to spot. Keeping the coat trimmed to an appropriate length for the season makes both prevention and detection easier, without sacrificing the coat’s protective function.

4. Early Detection of Allergic Reactions

Some dogs are highly sensitive to flea saliva and develop flea allergy dermatitis — intense itching, redness, and hair loss at the base of the tail or along the back — from a single bite, even when no fleas are visible. Groomers who see a dog regularly are often the first to notice this pattern and can flag it for the owner to follow up with a vet.

Signs of a Flea or Tick Problem to Watch For

• Small dark specks in the coat or on bedding (flea dirt)
• Excessive scratching, especially at the base of the tail or around the ears
• A small, firm bump on the skin (an attached tick)
• Hair loss or scabbing in a concentrated area
• Restlessness or discomfort after time outdoors in grass or brush

If you find a tick, it should be removed promptly and completely — ideally by a vet or experienced groomer — since improper removal can leave mouthparts embedded in the skin and increase infection risk.

What You Can Do at Home This Summer

• Stay current on prevention. Don’t let a dose lapse, even by a few days, during peak season.
• Check after outdoor time. A quick run of the hands through the coat after walks in grass or wooded areas catches ticks before they attach.
• Keep the yard maintained. Mowed grass and cleared brush reduce tick habitat around the home.
• Brush regularly. Regular brushing between grooming appointments makes it easier to notice anything unusual on the skin.

Robin’s Groomingdales: An Extra Layer of Protection

At Robin’s Groomingdales, every grooming appointment includes a thorough coat and skin check as standard practice — not an upsell. If we find a tick, notice flea dirt, or see signs of an allergic reaction, we’ll let you know at pickup so you can follow up with your vet right away.

This summer, pair your dog’s vet-prescribed flea and tick prevention with regular professional grooming for the best defense against Georgia’s toughest pest season.

📍 Robin’s Groomingdales
2482 Jett Ferry Rd, Dunwoody, GA 30338
📞 (770) 396-8902
🌐 Book online at robinsgroomingdales.us
🕐 Monday–Saturday, 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM