DOG FLEAS - merged

Sagaris

My vet gave my dog some really strong steroid cream when she last got an infestation (minor!) as apparently she is allergic to flea bites! Within a few hours she'd stopped scratching and by the next day the radness had gone.
I treated the carpets and furnishings as well to make sure the little blighters were dead - no re-appearance so far!

ka7e

I have a dog and a cat with flea allergies. You really have to keep to a strict routine of applying Frontline regularly. My vet advises treating the cat every 4 weeks and my dog has Advocate spot-on flea treatment as it's really powerful (she tears her hair out and creates open sores if she gets just one bite).
Last week the cat had an injection of depo-medrone to calm his skin and stop him itching, it's a [SIZE=-1]corticosteroid and can't be used long-term due to the side-effects. Despite being "Frontlined" he was covered in huge welts!
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foreign_correspondent

I understand that itching can become habitual in dogs as the scratching makes them itch so they scratch more...our old dog used to be itchy, but i read that rinsing them with vinegary water after washing calms it down.. it worked brilliantly. We used to wash her, rinse her really well, then pour a jug of water which was about 30% vinegar over her. When she had itchy spots I also tried dabbing diluted vinegar directly onto them with some cotton wool. Again, seemed to help a lot.

tieg3

I put an odourless garlic capsule in my dog's food daily to keep the fleas away- they don't like it for some reason, and an evening primrose capsule - it puts a barrier on their skin & makes the coat look geat too (both recommended by a vet) as my dog also had a terrible allergy to fleas. Savers sell them in a tub of around 365capsules for about a fiver each.

candygirl

tieg3 wrote: »

I put an odourless garlic capsule in my dog's food daily to keep the fleas away (recommended by a vet) as my dog also had a terrible allergy to fleas. Savers sell them in a tub of around 365capsules for about a fiver

I do too, but I still think the OP needs to take the dog to a vet, as it could eb an autoimmune problem that's causing the itching.The vets should always be the first port of call:p

tieg3

candygirl wrote: »

I do too, but I still think the OP needs to take the dog to a vet, as it could eb an autoimmune problem that's causing the itching.The vets should always be the first port of call:p

Yes I agree the vets should be first priority.
I would ask them about the capsules I mentioned, my vet had me using all sorts of expensive lotions and potions:mad: and it was a friends vet that recommended the capsules to her:rolleyes:

candygirl

tieg3 wrote: »

Yes I agree the vets should be first priority.
I would ask them about the capsules I mentioned, my vet had me using all sorts of expensive lotions and potions:mad: and it was a friends vet that recommended the capsules to her:rolleyes:

Mine have them every day too, and fingers crossed no fleas yet;) .they eat them out of my hand too, as well as evening primrose capsules for a shiny coat:p spoilt little monkeys:p

tieg3

Sorry candy girl I was editing my op as you posted:D
Ummmm yes very spoilt!:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

hobo123

thanks so much for all the advice I will be taking him to the vet but it isn't that easy to get an appt with them just wondered if anything I coulddo for him in the meantime. I will certainly keep the garlic capsules in mind for the future.

Another question if anyone has the answer I got the frontline spot on from the vets but it seems to relieve him when we shower him which we did tonight just now wondering whether we should have or if this will stop treatment from working.

thanks

JennyW_2

echo the others about taking your dog to the vet but just a thought here.

I had a similar situation with my dog 3 years ago. Terrible scratching and sore red skin - poor thing was in so much discomfort. He had been regular frontlined too.

We weren't happy with the vet's diagnosis so sought a 2nd opinion - turned out to be a seasonal allergy and he was prescribed anti-histomines. Jake was 4 at the time - vet said it's very common and he will probably grow out of it by the time he's 7. Vet was right. Jake is 8 this year and hasn't had the scratching for the last 18 months/2 years.

We cant always assume scratching is flea associated.

oh, in the meantime, sudocreme (or similar) will help soothe the sore skin.