Sunday, August 14, 2011

Canine Flea Dermatitis

Canine flea dermatitis, also called flea allergy, is the most common kind of allergy diagnosed in canines and is caused by the bite of a flea. It is the chief reason for itchiness in dogs, and it merely takes the bite of one sole flea to produce an allergic reaction on your pet's skin. Flea dermatitis may leave your dog scratching and itching for somewhere from a couple of hours to a couple of days and could take as long as 3 days to a week to appear after the initial bite from a flea.

The Causes of Canine Flea Dermatitis

Fleas can only be observed on an animal while they're feeding. Just like mosquitoes, the flea will bite an animal and suck in blood for nourishment. As they do this, they inject a small amount of saliva below the dog's skin which may have as many as fifteen individual allergy causing substances. If the dog is allergic to one of the allergens which have been injected by the flea, it will cause an allergic reaction that results in the animal scratching. Just about one half of all dogs will suffer from flea allergies, and even though the allergies are more often seen in older pets, pups could likewise become afflicted with it.

Diagnosis of Canine Flea Dermatitis and Recognition of Its Warning Signs

Dog owners oftentimes aren't aware that their beloved pet has fleas owing to their really minute size and because of how difficult fleas often are to eliminate. Making diagnosis of canine flea dermatitis much more challenging is the fact that it only takes one solitary flea to bring about flea allergies and signs might not be observable for nearly 7 days later than when the bite of the flea took place. It doesn't take an infestation of fleas to bring about allergies in your dog. The warning signs of canine flea allergies frequently include continual itching or biting of the coat and skin, inflaming of the skin, rashes, and reddening of the skin. As a consequence of the endless scratching, loss of hair across the animal's body, particularly in the area starting from the center along the spine to the base of their tail and in their back legs region, can likewise be a pretty solid indicator of flea allergies. A veterinarian can also find flea dermatitis in dogs employing advanced blood and skin testing to look for particular allergy causing substances and to rule out other possibilities like yeast, bacterial and fungal infections.

Flea Treatment Begins With a Good Flea Extermination Program

The initial step of any successful sort of flea treatment takes into consideration getting rid of fleas on dogs both on your dog and in your pet's localized surroundings. Even if you've got an impeccable flea control program setup, it's not out of the ordinary for canine's to still get an occasional flea bite. Pets which are often outside could present an even tougher challenge.

Conventional Remedies and Desensitization as Canine Flea Dermatitis Treatments

A veterinarian may frequently try the use of desensitization as a technique of canine flea dermatitis treatment. This involves giving the animal a shot with limited measures of flea antigen over a prolonged period of time, perhaps even the rest of the animal's lifetime. This form of treatment is usually successful in approximately half of the patients, but could possibly get really costly in the end. Antihistamines and traditional medicines, such as steroids, are also often prescribed by the vet to remedy flea dermatitis in dogs. These types of treatment can often give relief for flea dermatitis; however, it's been verified that there are harmful side effects attached to using corticosteroids. In the end, this kind of treatment may do more harm than good.

Natural Remedies for Canine Flea Dermatitis

Due to the side effects associated with using steroids, an increasing number of dog owners are now using natural treatments for flea allergies in dogs. There are numerous natural ingredients found in these herbal formulas that are not just safe, but effective. German Chamomile has been utilized for many centuries to soothe and cleanse the skin. Other herbs have also been shown to lend themselves to better overall skin health and provide restoration and soothing benefits to the skin, and include Cleavers, Witchhazel and Marigold.

Additional Information Sources