Flea Allergy Dermatitis in Dogs

Flea allergy dermatitis is usually a reaction to a severe sensitivity to flea bites on your dog. When this happens, it will make your pet very uncomfortable and unhappy until both the initial problem and the reactionary effect have been treated.

Identification

Dermatitis is an uncommon skin disorder for dogs. Usually it is caused by contact with various irritants. It is rare in dogs because of the fur which covers their skin as protection. Winter is the best time for dermatitis in dogs because their coat is at the thickest. During the summer your dogs fur will feel dried out and his skin will feel grainy to the touch. You may notice that hard petting or rubbing will cause your dog to scratch which is caused by the flea allergy dermatitis in your dog.

Symptoms

While severe scratching or itching is the most common sign, it is not the most serious sign. Loss of hair, pimple-size blisters, and bare red spots are signs of more severe dermatitis. If you notice your dogs rear end is looking bare and red this is a sure sign of a flea allergy dermatitis in your dog. Another symptom is an almost uncontrolled licking of the skin, especially the paws. During the warmer months your dogs skin can overheat because the fur usually helps trap cool air; when there is little fur, the skin remains hot. You can notice this by touching your dog.

Cause

Allergies in dogs are caused by a severe reaction to an uncommon occurrence. A single flea can cause an allergic reaction and dermatitis with one bite. Allergic dogs experience swelling, irritation and itchiness at the infection site. Dogs which don't have much contact with fleas are usually the most prone to flea allergies and dermatitis caused by allergies. Dogs with normally dry skin can also be affected by a heavy flea infection. Dry heat can also cause a problem because this will cause cracks in the skin, which attracts fleas since they have easy access to blood without much trouble.

Treatment

After evaluation by a veterinarian, treatment can include medication, topical treatment, steroids, antibiotics or supplements. Most often a treatment, which prevents infection by killing fleas on contact, will be recommended after the initial infection has been taken care of. Once you have treated your dog initially for flea allergy dermatitis it will become an ongoing treatment plan. Unfortunately, missing one monthly treatment can allow fleas to return and cause a recurrence of the problem.

Prevention

The most recommended prevention for flea allergy dermatitis is to keep the pet clean and healthy. Continuing intervention can also be simply maintaining a clean and healthy environment. If you live in a dry area, try keeping the air inside the house moist by using a humidifier. If you need more immediate help, try wrapping your dogs middle with a warm damp towel for about fifteen minutes. Give your dog a bath twice a week and allow them to air dry. This will help them retain moisture that can eliminate the dry skin. Another solution, which I can say does work from personal experience, is to boil a lemon quarter in water; then let the lemon seep in the water overnight and give your dog a rubdown with a cloth soaked with the lemon water. The best prevention for an outbreak of flea allergy dermatitis in your dog is to keep their skin wet, not soaked, just moist enough to allow them to heal and stay relatively comfortable through the hotter months.