Sunday, August 21, 2011

Canine Flea Allergy

Flea dermatitis, otherwise referred to as canine flea allergy, is the most frequently detected variety of allergy diagnosed in dogs and is caused by the bite of a flea. It's the primary cause of itching in dogs, and it just takes the bite of one lone flea to bring about an allergy on a pet's skin. Flea allergies might leave the dog scratching and itching for somewhere from a couple of hours to a number of days and may take up to 3 days to a week to show up after the initial bite of a flea.

Get Effective Relief for a Canine Flea Allergy!
Click here to go straight to the remedies for canine flea allergies

The Causes of a Canine Flea Allergy

Fleas can only be observed on your pet when they are feeding. Similar to the mosquito, a flea will bite a dog and suck in blood for nutrition. As a flea does this, they will inject a small measure of saliva under the dog's skin that could have up to 15 individual allergy inducing substances. If your pet is sensitive to any one of the allergens that are injected by the flea, it will actuate an allergic response that leads to the canine scratching and itching. Approximately half of all canines will have to endure flea dermatitis, and though it is more often found in grown animals, puppies can likewise develop dermatitis.

Diagnosis of a Canine Flea Allergy and Recognition of Its Warning Signs

Dog owners typically do not know that their dog has fleas due to their relatively miniscule size and because of how difficult they often are to eradicate. Making the job of diagnosing flea allergies a lot more difficult is the fact that it merely takes one solitary flea to bring about flea allergies in dogs and symptoms may not be detectable for nearly 7 days after the bite of the flea occurred. There does not have to be an infestation of fleas to induce flea dermatitis in your pet. The warning signs of flea bites in dogs generally include persistent itching or biting of the coat and skin, inflaming of the skin, hot spots in dogs, and skin reddening. Because of the increased itching and scratching, loss of fur all over the animal's torso, primarily in the area starting from the middle part of the back to the start of their tail and in their hind legs region, may also be a very solid indication of flea dermatitis. The vet can also detect flea allergies in dogs utilizing modern blood and skin screening to find particular allergens and to eliminate other conditions including yeast, fungal and bacterial infections.

Flea Treatment Should Start Out With a Solid Flea Control Program

The initial step to any successful type of flea treatment will necessitate getting rid of fleas both on the dog and in your pet's localized surroundings. Even if you've got a strict flea control program going, it isn't out of the ordinary for canine's to still get an occasional bite from a flea. Dogs which spend a great deal of time outside may be a more arduous challenge.

Steroids and Desensitization as Treatments for a Canine Flea Allergy

A vet might frequently try the use of desensitization as a method of dog allergy treatment. It involves giving the animal a shot with minor measures of flea antigen over a certain amount of time, maybe for the rest of the animal's lifetime. This sort of treatment is normally a success in close to half of the patients, and can get really costly in the long run. Antihistamines and conventional medicines, like corticosteroids, are also generally recommended by veterinarians to alleviate dermatitis. These drugs can ordinarily grant relief for a canine flea allergy; however, it has been evidenced that there are significant side effects that come with using corticosteroids. In the end, this method of treatment might be counterproductive.

Herbal Forms of Treatment for a Canine Flea Allergy

Due to the side effects associated with using steroids, a lot of dog owners are turning to homeopathic remedies for a canine flea allergy. There are a number of all-natural ingredients in these holistic remedies that are not only safe for your dog, but effective. German Chamomile has been utilized for many centuries to soothe and cleanse the skin. Other herbs have also been shown to give enhancing total skin health and contribute restoration and soothing qualities to the skin, and include Cleavers, Marigold and Witchhazel.

More Information About the Canine Flea Allergy