When Flea Bites On Dogs: How to Identify and Address Dog Flea Allergy
If you notice constant scratching by your dog, it’s likely to be a case of dog flea allergy. In fact, flea bites on dogs commonly cause constant itching, leading to scratching. All it takes for it to happen is one bite. The saliva of fleas contains a compound that triggers an uncontrollable itch when it gets in touch with the victim’s blood. Unfortunately, fleas will bite a dog and then move to another host making elimination difficult at times.
The good news, however, is that some dogs have no dog flea allergy so there’s no toxic response to dog flea biting. If your dog belongs in this category, that’s a major advantage to note as a dog parent. As for pet owners whose dogs lack this resistance, being proactive in dog flea bites protection is the way to go. Dog flea allergy can develop in a dog’s life at any point in time if precautionary measures aren’t put in place. For pet owners living an outdoor life, it’s essential to frequently investigate any persistent body scratching by your dog. If you’re an attentive pet parent, you will notice if the poor animal is scratching excessively.
In this post, we have discussed in detail how to identify and address dog flea bite allergy. There are certain things to look out for when you check, that is, before taking your furry child to the vet. Look out for hair losses, open wounds and scabs, and reddened or bruised areas from scratching. If there are open wounds, secondary infections can easily develop from them if not attended to as soon as possible.
A visit to a vet specialist can resolve flea bite allergy issues in record time. Meet an expert for professional counsel on handling flea allergy issues.
Identifying Flea Bite Allergy in Dogs
Detecting flea bite allergy in dogs is easy if you know what to look for. An obvious sign to note is the excessive itching that most dogs are plagued with after a dog flea biting episode. Hair loss and reddening or bruising on the affected spots is another tell-tale sign to identify flea bite allergy by. Running a test for confirmation after symptoms are observed is usually not important as the symptoms are easy to identify.
Diagnosis of flea bite allergy via clinical testing involves the use of any one of these tests:
- Intradermal Skin Testing
This particular test involves checking your dog’s skin for the presence of flea wastes. These parasites feed on blood, digest it and leave wastes on the dog’s body. Detecting these wastes is a confirmation of flea biting.
- Blood Test
A blood test checking the dog’s blood for flea allergies is a sure sign to diagnose dog flea bites without visibly seeing any fleas. If the test turns positive, then flea allergy is considered the causal factor.
Symptoms of Flea Allergy In Dogs
With the exception of clinical testing to diagnose dog flea allergy, symptoms can help you determine if your dog is experiencing dog flea biting. In our professional experience at Safari Veterinary Care Centers, these are some symptoms you may observe in your furry child if it’s affected:
- Constant, prolonged itching which leads to scratching
- Fur or hair loss along or around the affected spots
- Restlessness
- Whining and heightened anxiety
- Healing wounds or fresh scabs from scratching incessantly
- High body temperature
- Reddening of the affected site due to irritation and scratching
If you notice one or several of these signs and symptoms in addition to endless scratching in your dog, you likely have a case of dog flea allergy in your hands. Visit a veterinarian in your location to take a professional look at your pup. Fortunately, treating flea allergy is not rocket science. With a few steps in the right direction, most dogs will respond positively to treatment and get relieved of their symptoms.
Resolving Flea Allergy in dogs
The first ideal step in battling dog flea allergy is by preventing it from showing up on your property or on your dog. If fleas can be kept at bay completely, then your dog is unlikely to get infested by it. The only exception could be if it’s gotten from another dog or outside your environment.
Preventatives
For prevention, several steps can be taken to make it possible. Here are some preventative steps to avoid flea bites on dogs entirely:
- Keep the environment free of fleas by fumigating periodically with an active anti-flea agent designed for this purpose. Consult with a professional animal hospital in your area on ideal options.
- Clean the environment, especially areas or spots that have crevices or cracks. Such places can easily harbor fleas in them.
- Treat your dog with an anti-flea solution or tag. Some flea products can last a whole year which makes them a good fit to keep your dog flea-free.
It’s important to seek professional counsel from your pet specialist before deciding on a flea preventative treatment. Different preventatives have several levels of potency, advantages and disadvantages.
Allergy Treatment & Flea Removal
For flea allergy treatment, the approach is less preemptive and more active. Flea allergy treatment is essential for relieving your dog from flea allergies, eliminating the fleas and getting your back to full health in no time.
Some dog flea bite treatments to note are as follows:
01. Oral Flea Treatment
When ingested, this treatment will kill fleas within an hour or less. It’s a fast-action product that works magic when used correctly. Itch-relieving solutions can be used to soothe it after treatment and bathing with a flea shampoo. As for secondary infections on the wound caused by dog flea biting, recommended antibiotics or anti-fungal medication are known to be effective.
02. Allergy Shots
Allergy shots designed to tackle dog flea allergy can be administered to your dog to get rid of flea bite allergy. These injection shots are specific to a dog’s unique condition so dosage and composition might vary between dogs.
As often recommended, handling flea biting on dogs is better when undertaken by trained vet professionals who have the knowledge and experience to get results. Safari Veterinary Care Centers offers a top-notch pet healthcare service designed to solve your dog allergy challenges.
