Flea Allergy

[Barbara Korber]

Hi, I think Gus has very sensitive skin and has developed a flea allergy to where he's constantly scratching, licking and chewing himself when I'm finding only a few fleas on him.  I've been trying to use a combination of natural flea products as well as some Advantage II, but it's not controlling 100% of the fleas.  I hate the chemicals - both the ones they ingest and the topicals, but as I said, I have been using "some" Advantage and I suppose I'm going to have to resort to more chemicals.  Does anyone have any thoughts on this?  Would there be a better forum to discuss this issue?  Thanks.  Barbara

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Flea allergy is the most common form of allergy in dogs, and is agonizingly itchy. 

We have had many discussions here about flea preventatives. If you do a search (use the box in the upper right hand corner of the page, in the orange border) you will find many debates and discussions about it. Nobody in the world "likes" to use chemicals on their dogs. However, like anything else, it's the lesser of two evils. There is no proven reliable "natural" flea preventative, no matter how many anecdotal stories you read on-line. If it's a choice between using a chemical preventative or letting my dog suffer, to me it's a no-brainer. 

It's also possible that some of your dog's scratching, biting, and licking is due to seasonal allergies, as many many dogs (and people) are suffering with ragweed allergies right now. However, if you have actually seen fleas on him, I'd say it's due to the fleas, or possibly both. 

[Barbara Korber]

Thank you so much, Karen, for all the info.  You sound very knowledgeable on the subject.  Would you mind sharing what type of flea control you use, if any?    

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I use Frontline Plus topical. My guy has some health issues and is under the care of several specialists, one of them a dermatologist. She has warned me that it would be very dangerous for him to get fleas, as he has other types of allergies, and recommended Frontline as being one of the safest products, partly due to the length of time it's been in wide usage. He has never had any kind of adverse reaction to Frontline.

With my last dog, I never used any kind of flea preventative, and she never got fleas...until she got the mother of all flea infestations at 14 years old. It was a nightmare, and I learned my lesson. Until you've dealt with it, you can't imagine how awful it is. Whatever minor risks there are from the topicals cannot compare, IMO. I will never take a chance again. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here's some good information about flea allergies in dogs: http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/education/Curriculum/VM8054/HISTO%20CASEBO...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

And more good info on all aspects of flea allergies, treatments and preventatives: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/the_flea_control_center.html

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

Karen is the expert, and I can't give better advice than her.

I didn't like Frontline because it is a topical. 

I switched to Comfortis. My dermatology vet prefers it. He said it zaps the fleas right away where as Frontline may take a few bites to get the flea. His words not mine. I liked it because it's a chewable pill rather than a topical and I don't have to worry about me hugging her and getting it on me, or other dogs playing with her. I give it to her every 3 weeks instead of once a month on the advice of my vet.

I, like you, am very concerned about chemicals. But her misery and overall health is so affected by fleas that it is the lesser of 2 evils. And my next door neighbor is a feral cat /wild animal feeder so my ideas about creating a flea free environment would be futile. (that story would be a much longer post)

[BG and Gavin]

What Karen said!  I had Gavin on Revolution preventative and he still got fleas though.  Make sure you also bomb your house to get rid of any fleas lingering there and clean meticulously.

[Barbara Korber]

What would be a good flea bomb for the house?

[BG and Gavin]

I used Zodiac Premise Plus Flea Spray.  I sprayed all the carpet, furniture, flooring and left it for a prescribed amount of time to allow for the fleas to ingest it before vacuuming.  I think I waited a It was a week maybe.  Wash all dog beds, toys and your bedding. Good luck.