Flea allergy, also referred to as flea dermatitis, is the most popular kind of allergy discovered in dogs and is caused by a flea bite. It is the principal cause of itching in dogs, and it only takes the bite of a single flea to create an allergic reaction on the pet’s skin. Flea allergy can leave the pet scratching for somewhere between a few hours to a number of days and may take three to seven days to show up after the initial bite from a flea.
How Do Flea Allergies in Dogs Occur?
Fleas can only be found on an animal when they feed. Just like the mosquito, fleas will bite a dog and suck up blood for nutrition. As a flea does this, they will inject a small quantity of saliva under the dog’s skin which can contain approximately fifteen different allergens. If your pet is sensitive to any of the allergens that are injected by the flea, it will actuate an allergic reaction that results in the dog itching. Virtually one half of all dogs will suffer from flea dermatitis, and even though it is more prevalent in grown canines, puppies can also develop flea dermatitis.
Diagnosis of Flea Dermatitis and Recognition of Its Warning Signs
Dog owners often don’t realize that their pet has fleas because of their really miniscule size and considering how challenging they can be to exterminate. What makes the job of diagnosing flea allergies even more arduous is the fact that it only takes one lone flea to induce a flea allergy and the warning signs might not be noticeable for up to seven days following when the flea bite took place. There doesn’t have to be an infestation of fleas to induce flea allergies in canines. Warning signs of allergies in canines frequently include continual itching or chewing on the skin and fur, inflaming of the skin, hot spots, and skin reddening. As a consequence of the frequent itching and scratching, fur loss all over your pet’s posterior, especially near the area starting in the midway point along the backbone to the start of their tail and in their back legs region, may likewise be a very solid indication of flea allergies. The veterinarian can also detect flea allergies using sophisticated skin and blood screens to find specific allergy inducing substances and to rule out other possibilities including bacterial, fungal and yeast infections.
Flea Treatment Should Start With a Good Flea Eradication Plan
The initial phase to a proposed sort of flea treatment requires canine flea control as well as in the pet’s local surroundings. Even if there is a great flea eradication plan installed, it isn’t out of the ordinary for dog’s to still incur an occasional flea bite. Dogs that spend much of their outside will be a more difficult challenge.
Desensitization and Conventional Medicines as Flea Allergy Treatments
A veterinarian might oftentimes try using desensitization as a method of dog dermatitis treatment. This involves injecting the dog with limited amounts of flea antigen over an extended time period, potentially even the rest of the dog’s lifetime. This type of treatment is generally successful in nearly one half of the patients, but may become rather costly after a while. Antihistamines and conventional medicines, like steroids, are also commonly recommended by the vet to relieve flea allergies. These methods of treatment can often grant relief for flea dermatitis; however, it has been demonstrated that there are harmful side effects linked with taking steroids. In the long run, this sort of treatment can do more harm than good.
All Natural Forms of Treatment for Flea Dermatitis in Canines
Attributable to the side effects related to using steroids, a lot of dog owners are now trying natural treatments in an effort to combat dermatitis. There are numerous natural ingredients used in these holistic remedies that are not only safe for your pet, but effective. German Chamomile has been utilized for centuries to soothe and cleanse the skin. Some other herbs have also been proven to give enhancing overall skin health and give restoration and soothing benefits to the skin, and include Cleavers, Witchhazel and Marigold.
