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Flea Allergies in DogsFlea allergies in dogs (aka flea allergy dermatitis, or fleabite hypersensitivity) is a common type of dog skin allergies. It is caused by
flea saliva. Symptoms include intense itching and skin lesions.
As mentioned in our page on Common Dog Allergies, flea allergies in dogs, or flea allergy
dermatitis, used to be one of the most common dog allergies. However, with more flea control products available to dog parents, the incidence of flea allergy dermatitis
has decreased substantially.
Flea allergy dermatitis is caused by flea saliva, which contains a number of chemicals that can induce an allergic reaction in pets.
In dogs, there are two types of reactions to flea saliva. The first one is an immediate Type-I hypersensitivity which causes itchiness immediately after the flea bites. The
second one is a delayed-type hypersensitivity that can occur several days after the bites and long after the dog has sought out and killed the fleas by chewing at them.
That is why many dog parents cannot find any fleas on their dogs despite their dogs have severe and persistent itching.
It is important to remember that a high percentage of dogs with atopy also have flea allergy dermatitis.
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Symptoms of Flea Allergies in DogsDogs with flea allergy dermatitis usually have intense and severe itching. Very often, they chew the back half of their bodies often almost hairless. Suspect flea allergies if you see lesions that are mostly confined to the lower back, back and the inside of the thighs, stomach, and flank areas. The lesions are usually small red bumps (papules) that may be crusted. As mentioned above, dogs with flea allergy dermatitis also tend to have atopic dermatitis. Therefore, they may also show other symptoms associated with atopy. TopDiagnosis of Flea Allergies in DogsDogs with flea allergy dermatitis may or may not have fleas on their bodies. However, flea excrement or flea "dirt" may be found on the dog's body upon careful examination. If you suspect your dog has flea allergy dermatitis, therefore, do not wash your dog for 3 to 7 days prior to a visit to the veterinarian for a diagnosis. If you do, you may wash away all the flea "dirt", making diagnosis a bit more difficult. Flea excrement resembles flecks of black pepper on the dog's skin. To test whether the flecks are flea excrement or just dirt, the flecks are placed on a white paper towel and a drop of water is put on each fleck. If the flecks are flea excrement, they will turn red in about 60 seconds. Ordinary dirt will not. Flea excrement contains dried blood and will be rehydrated by water. If flea excrement is not found on the dog's body, an intradermal skin test can be done. The veterinarian will inject a small amount of flea allergen into your dog's skin to see if there is a positive response. TopTreatment of Flea Allergies in DogsPlease refer to these pages: How to Treat Dog AllergiesNatural Flea Control Related Topics Common Dog Allergies Canine Atopic Dermatitis Dog Food Allergies How to Treat Dog Allergies Prednisone for Dogs Antihistamines for Dogs Allergy Shots for Dogs Natural Allergy Relief for Dogs References Messonnier, S., The Allergy Solution for Dogs (Three Rivers Press, 2000). Pitcairn and Pitcairn, Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats (Rodale, 2005). TOP of Flea Allergies in Dogs |
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