Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Flea Dermatitis in Canines

Flea dermatitis, otherwise referred to as flea allergy, is the most popular kind of allergy observed in dogs and is caused by the bite of a flea. It is the principal reason for itchiness in dogs, and it only takes the bite of one sole flea to induce an allergic reaction on the pet's skin. Flea allergies can cause the dog to scratch for anywhere between a few hours to a few days and could take up to 3 to 7 days to surface after the initial bite of a flea.

How Flea Dermatitis in Canines Can Occur

Fleas can only be noticed on your pet while they feed. Similar to a mosquito, the flea will bite a canine and draw blood for nourishment. When fleas do this, they inject a trace measure of saliva below your pet's skin which can consist of around 15 different allergens. If your dog is allergic to any of the allergens which are injected by the flea, it will prompt an allergic response which causes the canine scratching and itching. Just about one half of all dogs will suffer through canine flea allergies, and even though it is more frequently found in older animals, pups can likewise develop it.

Diagnosing Flea Dermatitis in Canines and Recognizing Its Symptoms

Dog owners normally don't realize that their dog has fleas due to their very small size and considering how difficult they often are to eliminate. Making the job of diagnosing flea allergies particularly arduous is the fact that it merely takes one individual flea to induce a flea allergy and signs may not be seen for close to one week after the flea bite happened. There doesn't have to be an infestation of fleas to cause flea dermatitis in canines. The signs of allergies in canines ordinarily include endless scratching and itching or biting of the skin and coat, inflaming of the skin, roseolas, and skin reddening. As a result of the constant itching, hair loss over your pet's body, particularly near the region starting in the midpoint of the back to the stem of their tail and also in their hind legs area, may also be a pretty good indicator of a flea allergy. A vet can also detect dog flea bite allergies employing sophisticated blood and skin testing to look for particular allergy causing substances and to eliminate other possibilities like fungal, yeast and bacterial infections.

Flea Treatment Starts With a Solid Flea Extermination Program

The first phase of a productive sort of flea treatment will involve flea control both on the dog and in your dog's local surroundings. Even if you've got an impeccable flea eradication program in place, it's not uncommon for dog's to still incur an occasional bite from a flea. Animals that spend a good deal of time outside will pose a more arduous challenge.

Traditional Drugs and Desensitization as Flea Allergy Treatments

A veterinarian might propose the use of desensitization as a technique of treatment for flea allergies in dogs. This involves injecting the dog with limited amounts of flea antigen over an extended period of time, possibly even the remainder of the animal's life. This type of treatment has been found to be a success in almost half of the patients, and could possibly get rather costly in the long run. Antihistamines and conventional medicines, such as steroids, are also commonly suggested by veterinarians to treat flea dermatitis in dogs. These medicines can normally give relief for flea dermatitis; but, it has been verified that there are substantial side effects attached to using steroids. As an end result, this form of treatment could be more harmful than beneficial.

Herbal Treatments for Flea Dermatitis in Canines

Attributable to the side effects linked to the use of steroids, more of dog owners are now trying natural treatments for flea allergies in dogs. There are a number of all natural ingredients in these herbal remedies that are both effective and safe for your dog. German Chamomile has been utilized to clean and soothe the skin for many centuries. Other herbs have also proven to provide improving overall skin health and give soothing and restoration benefits to the skin, and include Marigold, Cleavers and Witchhazel.

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