Do you think your dog has flea allergies?
The dangers of flea allergies to dogs |
Flea allergy dermatitis
Flea life-cycle - Flea infestation prevention |
Treating your pet for allergies to fleas
Treating your home and garden
The dangers of flea allergies to dogs
A flea infestation can do far more harm than cause an annoying itch or scratch to your pet - it can put your pet and your family at risk to a number of serious conditions and Diseases.
Pet owners should always be on alert for the warning signs of dog allergies fleas and flea infestations inside and outside, particularly during the warm months of spring and summer.
It is essential for owners to be observant and to take particular notice when grooming their dog that it is free of flea dirt - the tell tale sign of the presence of fleas.
If you see flea dirt, act immediately to nip fleas in the bud, because the rate at which fleas breed and multiply is tantamount to the speed of lightening.
Horrific as it may sound, one pregnant flea, given ideal conditions can be responsible for infesting your home, Furniture and surrounds, with up to three million fleas in just two months - and that is some flea infestation!
Even more horrifying, is the fact that one "blood-sucking flea" can bite up to 400 times each and every day! That could be a member of your family or your dog, because a hungry flea isn't fussy about who or what it bites
Worse still, if your dog is allergic to the protein in flea saliva, it can develop flea allergy dermatitis, causing constant scratching, skin rashes/infections, hot spots and even permanent hair loss.
Flea allergy dermatitis
Flea allergy dermatitis is a reaction to flea bites.
When fleas bite dogs they inject saliva into the wound. Protein in flea saliva is the main allergen that causes allergies in dogs.
There are other components in flea saliva which also causes allergic reactions; and some dogs can suffer from more than one allergy.
If a dog is hypersensitive (suffers from allergies to fleas) to flea bites, it only takes one bite to trigger off an allergic reaction.
Flea life-cycle - Flea infestation prevention
Fleas are holometabolous insects, going through the four life cycle stages of eggs, larvae, pupa in cocoons, and adults (imago).
Newly formed adult fleas can remain dormant in their protective cocoons for 6 months or more just waiting for the right host.
When something warm passes by, they are stimulated to open their cocoons and jump on the unsuspecting victim be it human or animal, fleas are not fussy.
To avoid the dangers of allergies to fleas on your pet, the minute you spot the presence of flea dirt - either on either on your dog or in its bedding - "time is of the the essence" to get started on an immediate flea control and protection plan.
We prefer and recommend using Allergy Free Products and advise a 3 pronged attack:
- First off, treat your pet
- Then treat everything inside your home, e.g. Carpets, Curtains, Furniture and
- Everything outside, e.g. Lawns and Gardens, sheds, outdoor furniture etc.
Treating your pet for allergies to fleas
A dog suffering from allergies to fleas needs to be bathed immediately with a shampoo and conditioner that is especially formulated for repelling fleas. In order to kill all the fleas and their off-spring in their various stages of the flea cycle, you must keep your pooch lathered up for a minimum of 5 minutes.
Dogs get the same relief from a bath as humans do and while you have him soaped up it's an ideal time to give him a gentle massage around all his sore spots were the fleas have been biting at him.
For any herbal or medicated shampoo to be effective, you must leave the lather on your dog for at least 5 minutes. When bath time is finished you need to decide on a permanent flea control and prevention treatment for your dog.
We specialise in offering only natural products to keep your pet's free from allergies to fleas, and your home protected from flea infestations. In total we offer 65 different Flea Control and Prevention Products some of which can be viewed and bought by clicking on the links below
- Combs
- Collars
- Powder
- Pendants
- Squeeze-on
- Pet Sprays
- Wipes
- Flea and Tick Tag
- Shampoos
- Conditioners
- Yeast tablets
- Indoor Sprays
- Outdoor Sprays
Treating your home and garden
As with pets which have allergies to fleas, we like to recommend natural products for treating inside and outside of homes. We have devote an entire segment on Home Flea Remedies.
We also have a segment which deals in great depth for getting rid of fleas in Carpets, Curtains, Beds, Furniture and Lawns and Gardens.
The shortened version of all of the links above is to:
- Wash your dog’s bedding and yours if he happens to sleep with you, in very hot water and rinse twice.
- Wash any and all places your pet likes to sleep and hang out, both inside and outside.
- Use flea sprays and powder after you have cleaned and washed inside and outside.
- Vacuum, vacuum and vacuum, vacuum until you get tired of it!
This article and information forms part of the Carole's Doggie World Holistic Library and is presented for informational purposes only.The information is not intended to be a substitute for visits to your local vet. Instead, the content offers the reader information researched and written by Carole Curtis for www.carolesdoggieworld.com