If you suspect your dog is allergic to fleas, it's important to take quick and effective measures to relieve their symptoms and prevent future infestations. In this #PetTuesday, we offer some steps you can follow to help your furry friend.
First, What are fleas?
Fleas are parasitic insects that negatively affect the health and well-being of furry pets, causing them discomfort, allergies, disease transmission, among others.
Allergies are caused by the reaction of the flea's saliva when they bite. This saliva prevents blood from clotting, through substances in the skin forming antigens, triggering this syndrome characterized mainly by excessive scratching.
Are all dogs allergic?
No. Just like in people, not everyone has the same reaction to a bite. You might notice a dog with many fleas that scratches very little, and also one with few fleas that scratches constantly, leading to bald spots.
What will determine if they are allergic or not is their genetic predisposition that you will only notice when the furry friend encounters these fleas.
What symptoms can they present?
The first and most visible sign is that the dog is scratching more than usual, causing hives and lesions with scabs in certain areas such as the abdomen and back. If you notice this happening, assume that secondary infections caused by these scratching wounds will follow, such as skin inflammation, fungi, hair loss, and even skin thickening.
How to know if they have a flea allergy or if the itching is due to another reason?
When examining them and finding fleas, you might notice black dots which are the flea's fecal matter. This means it has been on their body for some time, allowing it to bite them easily. Another option is to perform an intradermal hypersensitivity test with parasite extracts. For this, take them to a veterinarian.
What is the treatment for this allergy?
Since fleas spend more time of their life cycle in the environment and not on the pet, it is essential to clean, vacuum, and disinfect the place where the furry friend is. Even fumigating every few months will be key to helping them with these allergies.
Take them to the vet so they can promptly start treatment to relieve the dermatitis caused by the allergy. Additionally, they will prescribe the use of long-lasting pipettes or anti-flea collars to prevent contagion, as well as shampoo or creams.
On our website, you will find a variety of pipettes and anti-flea collars on sale throughout January.
Remember that, in addition, we have veterinary advice in the branches of: Bellavista, Las Heras, Pedro Montt, Av Argentina, Limache sales room, Limache centro, Maipu and Ñuñoa