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I thought I’d take a few seconds to welcome you to my blog! Not only will I be covering some common things we see in everyday practice, but I will also be answering some questions about the behind the scenes of what it is to be a vet. Let’s get into it then…
The Itchy and Scratchy Show Part 1 – Fleas!
Why is my dog always itchy?? The vet said he has allergies… but to what???
An itchy dog is frustrating, not only for the dog itself, who must stop playing or eating to scratch that just out of reach spot, but for the owner who has to watch their dog scratch incessantly, and for the vet, who has to figure out the reason behind all the scratchiness.
Allergies themselves can be grouped into several categories: flea bite allergies (also called flea bite hypersensitivity) , food allergies, and atopy. Each category will be described in three separate articles, to really give an in-depth look into why an itchy dog is not as straight forward as we may think.
Flea bite allergy
Flea bite allergy is fairly self explanatory. It is most prevalent during the early summer months (when fleas are most active), but can be seen year-round due to fleas being able to live indoors . Flea bite hypersensitivity is the most common skin disease of dogs, and is also prevalent in cats as well.
When a flea bites into the skin, they expel saliva, enzymes, and several histamine-like compounds, among other things, that can trigger an allergic response from the body and a visit to the vet.
When an itchy dog shows up at the clinic, it is sometimes difficult for the vet to find fleas during an exam (depending on the degree of the infestation). They do not like the light, and have a knack of scurrying away when the fur is parted.
What we look for are the telltale signs of active fleas; mainly, flea dirt (the politically correct term for flea poo). One of my favourite tricks to diagnose fleas in a dog is to shake some of this flea dirt onto a white paper, pour a few drops of water over, and watch as the black dirt turn into streaks of red. Fleas eat blood, and therefore, the poo is digested blood, which when rehydrated, turns red again. Other signs to look out for are: raw irritated skin, missing fur patches, and thickened skin in the affected areas, but these are fairly general and can be caused by many things.
To control flea allergies, it comes down to removing the source of the problem, the fleas themselves. Many topical or oral treatments available at veterinary clinics can remove fleas from, not only the dog, but from the indoor environment as well. These treatments must be used anywhere from 3 to 6 straight months depending on size and degree of infestation. EVERY animal in the house must be treated at the same time, to ensure all of the fleas are killed. Obviously, it is nearly impossible to remove fleas from the outdoors, therefore monthly topical or oral flea preventatives should be used from May to October in the Northeast (depending on weather) to prevent further flea problems. Your vet may also recommend antibiotics and/or anti-itch/anti-inflammatories to relieve any secondary skin issues.
Although some people swear by using flea collars, I don’t recommend them since they simply do not work. I always say the collar may prevent the flea from hanging out around the collar itself, but unfortunately there is plenty of your pet left unprotected for the flea to live.
Even though it is possible no fleas or flea dirt is seen during examination, your vet may still recommend a flea treatment trial. Some dogs and cats are extremely sensitive to flea bites, and just like in humans, it only takes one flea bite, one peanut or one shrimp to cause a big allergic reaction.
Of course, if you have any questions or concerns about fleas, flea treatments or if you think your pet has fleas, do not hesitate to contact your vet to discuss the next course of action.
We’ll describe food allergies, and atopy in the coming articles, so for now, this is to be continued…
If you have any questions, queries, comments, or just feel like telling me how great this column was, you can send any or all of the above to: AskDrJames@outlook.com. All questions used for blogging purposes will remain 100% anonymous.
