Common Disease Name:
Flea Allergy
Medical Term for Disease:
Flea bite dermatitis, Flea bite hypersensitivity Flea allergy
Species Affected by Disease:
Dogs and cats
Age Animal Usually Affected:
Any; symptoms can worsen over time with repeated exposure to flea saliva.
Commonly Affected Breeds:
Any; some purebreds are genetically predisposed to hypersensitivity
Sex Usually Affected:
Both
Disease Symptoms:
Common findings in a dog that is allergic to fleas include increased scratching or itchiness, loss of hair, hairs that appear broken, crusts and erosions of the skin, and pimple-like bumps. Thickened skin with darkened areas and odor can be seen in severe cases. Fleas or flea feces, which can be difficult to detect, indicate the presence of fleas. Dogs with flea allergies inflict the worst damage to their skin with chewing and scratching. When a dog scratches its flea bites excessively, hair loss, skin abrasions and hot spots can develop. These sores are usually circular, red, oozing, and very painful, often requiring medical attention.
Method(s) of Diagnosis:
A veterinarian first will attempt to rule out allergies to food and inhalants, internal parasites, drug reactions, hair follicle inflammation, fungal infection, and other topical parasites. Often it is beneficial for dogs with suspected flea allergies to be tested for all allergens causing itching.
Disease Causes:
Reaction of the dog's immune system to the saliva of fleas
Treatment:
The goals of treatment are to alleviate the dog's allergic reaction to fleas by preventing the flea from biting the animal and eliminating the fleas from the environment. Use topical and oral flea treatments, medicated shampoo, steroids, antihistamines, antibiotics, and fatty acid supplements for skin. Veterinary dermatologists may try allergy shots or hypo sensitization.
Prognosis:
Good if excellent flea control is established. Unfavorable if dog continues to be bitten by fleas.
Complications:
Skin infections from chewing and scratching, hot spots, hair loss, thickened and darkened skin, body odor from secondary seborrhea, increasing severity of symptoms, tapeworms from ingesting fleas
Prevention:
Prevent fleas. Early intervention can stop the problem before the symptoms become severe. It is very important that owners completely remove the fleas and their eggs from the animal's environment. This involves the treatment of all household animals for fleas. Treatment of the indoors and outdoors to include an adulticide and a growth regular to prevent re-hatching.
Medicines Used for Treatment of Disease:
Corticosteroids, antibiotics, antihistamines
Helpful Products:
Topical and oral flea treatments, collars, flea shampoos, flea combs to identify infestations, medicated shampoos for inflamed or infected skin, indoor and outdoor premise treatments for fleas. Use tapeworm medicine, skin supplements or special skin diets to improve skin barrier.
