Flea allergy, also referred to as flea dermatitis, is the most frequently detected variety of allergy observed in canines and is brought on by the bite of a flea. It is the leading cause of scratching in dogs, and it only takes the bite of one sole flea to produce an allergy on your dog’s skin. Flea allergy can leave your pet itching for somewhere from a couple of hours to a couple of days and could take three days to a week to surface after the first bite from a flea.

How Do Flea Allergies in Dogs Occur?

Fleas are only found on your pet while they feed. Just like the mosquito, fleas will bite the canine and suck up blood for nourishment. While a flea does this, they will inject a modest measure of saliva into the dog’s skin which can consist of as many as fifteen separate allergy causing substances. If your pet is sensitive to one of the allergens that were injected by the flea, it will set off an allergic response that causes the animal itching and scratching. Nearly one half of all canines will have to tolerate flea allergies, and although the allergies are more often seen in grown animals, puppies could also suffer from dermatitis.

Diagnosis of Flea Dermatitis in Canines and Recognition of Its Symptoms

Dog owners usually do not know that their dog has fleas owing to their very miniscule size and considering how hard they can be to get rid of. Making diagnosis of flea dermatitis particularly challenging is the fact that it only takes a single flea to induce flea dermatitis and symptoms might not be detectable for close to a week later than when the flea bite happened. There doesn’t have to be an infestation of fleas to induce flea dermatitis in dogs. Signs of flea bites in canines can include continual itching and scratching or chewing on the fur and skin, inflammation of the skin, skin rashes, and skin reddening. As a result of the ceaseless itching, fur loss all over the animal’s entire body, especially in the area commencing form the middle section along the backbone to the stem of the tail and in the hind legs area, is also a pretty good indicator of flea allergies. A veterinarian can also detect flea allergies using modern skin and blood tests to detect particular allergens and to rule out other possibilities like fungal, bacterial and yeast infections.

Flea Treatment Starts With a Good Flea Eradication Plan

The initial step to a productive kind of flea treatment deals with getting rid of dog fleas and in your pet’s local environment. Even if you’ve got a strict flea control plan laid out, it’s not unusual for canine’s to still get an occasional bite from a flea. Canines that spend a lot of time outdoors will pose a more grueling challenge.

Desensitization and Traditional Remedies as Dermatitis Treatments

A veterinarian might advise the use of desensitization as a type of dog allergy treatment. It requires giving the dog a shot with small amounts of flea antigen over a certain time period, maybe even the rest of the animal’s lifetime. This form of treatment is generally a success in nearly 50% of the patients, and could possibly become really expensive over the long term. Antihistamines and conventional medication, like cortisone, are also normally suggested by the veterinarian to alleviate flea allergies in dogs. These forms of treatment can usually offer relief for flea allergies; with that said, it has been found that there are negative side effects when taking corticosteroids. As an end result, this variety of treatment can do more harm than good.

All Natural Relief for Flea Allergies in Dogs

Taking into consideration the side effects found with steroid use, a growing number of dog owners are now trying holistic treatments when trying to combat dermatitis. There are many natural ingredients utilized in these holistic treatments that are both safe and effective. German Chamomile has been utilized to cleanse and soothe the skin for many centuries. Some other herbs have also been found to help promote improving overall skin health and give restoration and soothing qualities to the skin, and include Witchhazel, Marigold and Cleavers.