Flea Allergies

By Jennifer Herne, LVT

Fleas, flea infestation and flea allergy. The tiny flea can cause huge problems. They can wreak havoc in your home and on your pets. We are in the peak of flea season right now and if you don't have fleas you are fortunate, and most likely use preventative on your pets. It is recommended to start flea preventative on your pets in March or April, before flea season starts. So, do pets have allergies? Yes, they do. One type of allergy that pets develop is the allergy to flea saliva. Most animals are bitten by fleas and don't suffer adverse reactions, but if they do have an allergy to flea saliva, then this allergy can cause many problems and can lead to the condition called flea allergy dermatitis. The animal will show signs of severe itching, scratching to the point where the pet may cause himself to bleed. Your pet may even suffer from hair loss, usually around the tail area. The extreme scratching can lead to a skin infection and must be seen by a veterinarian for antibiotics.

It is imperative to treat your pet for fleas and also very important to treat your house. The flea has most likely infested your home with larva, eggs, and pupae. Flea allergy dermatitis will not go away on its own so you must ensure your pet sees a veterinarian for confirmation of the condition and treatment. Fleas can also transmit tapeworm to your pet. So, it is much easier to prevent fleas! For more information on fleas and flea treatments visit your local veterinarian.