Question: Years ago when I rescued my dog he had a severe case
of flea allergy dermatitis and was constantly chewing and scratching himself.
Secondary bacterial and yeast infections are common in chronic
cases of flea allergy dermatitis and you may notice an unpleasant odor coming from your dog because of this.
If your dog exhibits any
signs of flea allergy dermatitis or flea anemia, visit your veterinarian so they can be treated along with treating the fleas.
Successful
treatment of any flea allergy requires getting rid of the fleas that are currently feeding on your dog or cat and keeping additional fleas away from your pet.
Most dogs with flea allergies have few noticeable fleas on their body, so that's not a good
indicator of flea allergy dermatitis.
However, with more flea control products available to dog parents, the
incidence of flea allergy dermatitis has decreased substantially.
Common
symptoms of flea allergy dermatitis include biting or scratching at the base of the tail, intense itching, hair loss or thinning at the base of the tail, scabs on the skin, and flea dirt on the body or in the dog's bedding.
Fleas cause discomfort to the pet, are the
cause of flea allergies and flea anemia, and can transmit Dipetalonema reconditum (heartworm look - a-like microfilaria), Hemobartonella, and tapeworms, as well as other diseases.
Fleas are the
source of flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), a common veterinary skin condition in which secondary infections can also develop.
It's very important to be sure that all animals in the house and environment are flea free, as it does not take more than a few bites for a severe flare
up of flea allergies.»
There is also a skin test that your veterinarian can use to test for flea allergy and fleas.Treatment of Flea Allergy
The
prevalence of flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) depends on geographic location and ranges from one of the most commonly diagnosed allergic dermatoses seen in both dogs and cats or not occurring at all in areas that do not have fleas.1 Commonly pets with FAD will have concurrent atopic dermatitis (AD) and / or cutaneous adverse food reaction (CAFR).
The product can be used as part of a treatment strategy for the
control of Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) as a direct result of eliminating flea infestations.
When the skin is inflamed and vulnerable
because of flea allergy dermatitis, an opportunistic infection may set in.
Diagnosis of flea allergy dermatitis in cats is generally achieved through analyzing the cat's history of clinical signs, finding fleas on the pet, and noting a serious skin condition in association with them.
One of the main effects fleas can have on your cat (the itching) is the
result of flea allergy dermatitis, which is very common in cats and the most common skin disease reported in pets.
In
cases of flea allergy dermatitis, your dog may require treatment with antihistamines or steroids to treat the reaction to the bites.
Clinical
signs of flea allergy dermatitis in dogs include moderate to severe itchiness, papules (small red bumps), overall redness, self - trauma from biting and scratching, hair loss, scratched or wounded skin, increase in skin pigmentation, and dandruff.
These are all common symptoms of a flea infestation but the symptoms
of flea allergy dermatitis, or flea bite hypersensitivity, may be a little different.
Even in the case
of a flea allergy, if just one flea bites your dog, he may react as though he has 100 fleas biting him and itch madly all over his body.
Dogs with a prior diagnosis
of flea allergy dermatitis were included in the study provided they had concurrent atopic dermatitis and were using flea control / prevention.
Dogs with signs
of flea allergy dermatitis showed improvement in erythema, papules, scaling, alopecia, dermatitis / pyodermatitis and pruritus (itching) as a direct result of eliminating the fleas.
Cat excessive grooming — If your cat seems to be excessively grooming itself, this could be a sign
of a flea allergy, skin problems, or other cat health issues.
If your pet does have fleas, medicated baths, antihistamine medications and prescription drugs can help control and eliminate the symptoms
of flea allergy.
However, if your cat is suffering the uncomfortable symptoms
of flea allergies and bites, you can use natural allergy solutions to give your kitty relief until you can get the situation under control.
Treatment
of flea allergy dermatitis hinges on ridding the cat's environment of fleas and preventing their reintroduction.
Your cat may need antibiotics and antifungal drugs to treat any secondary infections of the skin that have occurred as a result
of flea allergy dermatitis.
Shampoos and rinses containing oatmeal and antiseptic ingredients may also be used to provide temporary relief from the symptoms
of flea allergy dermatitis.
Tail biting can also be a result
of flea allergies or impacted anal glands.
The powerful protection afforded by BRAVECTO works against a broad - spectrum of flea and tick species, and it was observed in studies that clinical signs
of flea allergy dermatitis were substantially reduced as a direct result of flea elimination.1, 3
Some cases
of flea allergies may result in bacterial folliculitis.
For some dogs with a serious case
of flea allergy dermatitis, I prescribe an oral drug called Comfortis.
Most preventatives need only to be applied or given once a month to be effective albeit they may need to be used more often for severe infestations and in cases
of flea allergies.
Constant itching creates an uncomfortable state for your dog that could be relieved with simple treatment in the case
of flea allergy dermatitis.