Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Flea Allergies in Canines

Flea allergies in canines, commonly referred to as flea dermatitis, is the most common variety of allergy discovered in dogs and is brought on by the bite of a flea. It is the principal cause of itching in dogs, and it just takes the bite of one sole flea to induce an allergic reaction on a pet's skin. Flea allergies may cause itchiness in your dog for anywhere between a few hours to a couple of days and might take 3 to 7 days to appear after the first flea bite.

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The Causes of Flea Allergies in Canines

Fleas are only seen on an animal while they feed. Similar to a mosquito, fleas will bite a dog and suck in blood for nourishment. As the flea does this, they will inject a modest amount of saliva under your pet's skin that might be comprised of nearly fifteen different allergens. If the dog is sensitive to one of the allergens that were injected by the flea, it will incite an allergic response that results in the dog itching. Just about half of all canines will develop flea allergies, and while it's more often found in grown dogs, puppies can also suffer from flea dermatitis.

Diagnosing Flea Allergies in Canines and Recognition of Its Warning Signs

Dog owners usually aren't aware that their pet has fleas owing to their very minute size and considering how hard fleas can be to eliminate. What makes diagnosis of a dog flea bite allergy especially challenging is the fact that it just takes one solitary flea to induce a flea allergy and the warning signs may not be noticeable for nearly one week later than when the flea bite happened. It doesn't take an infestation to bring on dermatitis. The warning signs of flea dermatitis commonly include intense scratching and itching or biting of the coat and skin, inflammation of the skin, skin rashes, and reddening of the skin. As a consequence of the ceaseless itching and scratching, hair loss all over the animal's posterior, primarily near the area commencing in the middle along the spine to the base of the tail and in their rear legs region, is also a pretty solid indication of flea allergies in canines. The vet can also detect flea allergies in your pet employing advanced skin and blood screens to look for specific allergy causing substances and to eliminate other possibilities including bacterial, yeast and fungal infections.

Flea Treatment Should Start Out With An Effective Flea Eradication Program

The first stage to a projected sort of flea treatment will necessitate flea control both on the dog as well as in your dog's nearby surroundings. Even if there's an impeccable flea control plan instituted, it is not out of the ordinary for dog's to still receive an occasional flea bite. Dogs which spend much of their outside will be a more arduous challenge.

Desensitization and Conventional Treatments for Flea Allergies in Canines

A vet may oftentimes try the use of desensitization as a method of flea dermatitis treatment. It necessitates injecting the dog with small measures of flea antigen over a prolonged amount of time, possibly even the rest of the animal's life. This type of treatment has been found to be successful in close to one half of the patients, but might become very expensive after a while. Antihistamines and traditional medicines, like corticosteroids, are also generally prescribed by the veterinarian to remedy flea allergies in canines. These drugs can usually provide relief for flea allergies; but, it has been shown that there are significant side effects when using corticosteroids. Ultimately, this form of treatment may be counterproductive.

Natural Treatments for Flea Allergies in Canines

Due to the side effects related to taking steroids, an expanding number of dog owners are turning to holistic remedies for flea allergies in canines. There are a number of natural ingredients utilized in these herbal formulas that are both effective and safe for your pet. German Chamomile has been utilized to clean and soothe the skin for many centuries. A few other herbs have also been found to aid in improving total skin health and provide soothing and restoration benefits to the skin, and include Marigold, Witchhazel and Cleavers.

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