What causes flea allergy dermatitis in dogs? When fleas feed, they inject saliva into the host animal on which they are living. Many dogs and cats are allergic to flea saliva. Even non-allergic animals will scratch and get annoyed by flea bites. Allergic dogs however, will have a more serious reaction. They itch intensely in some or all areas of the body. They become restless and uncomfortable, spending a lot of time scratching, licking, rubbing, chewing, and even biting their skin. This most often leads to hair loss, scabbing, and secondary infections. In heavy infestations and sometimes in young puppies, anemia can develop due to the loss of blood.
Flea allergy dermatitis is the number one cause of itching in dogs. Most cases of flea allergy dermatitis occur in the late summer, at the time when fleas are at their peak population. Fortunately dogs less than 1 year old do not usually get flea allergy dermatitis. Usually, you can diagnose flea allergy dermatitis by visual observation. Prevention using a good flea control product like K9 Advantix or Frontline Plus is recommended so that flea allergies never have a chance to take hold.
How To Identify Dog Flea Allergy Dermatitis
Usually diagnosis starts by visual observation. You don’t need to be an expert to identify flea allergy dermatitis; you just need to know what to look for.
Slowly parting the hair of your dog may reveal flea excrement or rapidly moving fleas. Flea excrement is reddish-black, cylindrical in shape, or pellet, or comma-shaped. If placed in water, this excrement dissolves and produces a reddish-brown color in the water. Examine your dog’s bedding for eggs, larvae and excrement. If you see all of these signs it does not necessarily mean your dog has flea allergy dermatitis. There could also be another disease at least partially responsible for your dog’s itching and skin condition.
Symptoms of Flea Allergy Dermatitis
- Severe itching, scratching, or chewing
- Hair loss (from the middle of the back, down to the tail’s base and sometimes on the legs)
- Flaky skin
- Pink and inflamed areas on the affected parts of the skin
Diagnosis – The IgE Allergy Test
To be completely sure about your dog’s condition, take him to the veterinarian for skin testing. The veterinarian should do an IgE allergy test, which is a blood test that will reveal specifically which allergens your pet may be reacting to.
The test will help eliminate other possible causes for the itching and confirm a diagnosis of flea allergy dermatitis. Other conditions that can look like flea allergy dermatitis include respiratory allergies, food allergies, mange, and other skin parasite infestations or hair follicle infections.
Treatment And Prevention
Treatment for flea allergy dermatitis in dogs is usually prescribed by a veterinarian and may include antibiotics to help clear up the bacteria on the skin, in addition, the treatment often includes antihistamines to calm the itching and help reduce the reaction. Some vets will also include a small dose of corticosteroid to give more relief from the itching and scratching.
The best way to control flea allergy dermatitis is to prevent it from ever happening! It can easily be prevented with a monthly flea control treatment like Frontline Plus or K9 Advantix II. To see which is best for your dog, see our Advantix vs Frontline comparison. Flea preventatives like these are highly effective and should prevent your dog from contracting flea allergy dermatitis.
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