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Problem with fleas
I have a 6 year old miniature schnauzer with fleas. We have used a topical flea medication, a flea collar, and a flea bath. We've cleaned the house. His itching was better until just a few days ago when it got MUCH worse and he's chewed his backside absolutely raw from the itching. A vet friend said he's allergic to fleas.
So here's my question. Actually two questions. First, isn't EVERY dog allergic to fleas, which is what causes the itching? Second, how can I help him get over it? He had an e-collar on, but he is still able to reach around and chew on his tail and backside. I tried Benadryl and Motrin, but neither seemed to help much. I finally went and bought a muzzle to stop him from chewing, which seems to be helping, but now I need to get his skin to heal. We deep cleaned the house again today, gave him his next dose of the topical flea medication, and gave him a serious flea bath. Any other tips?
Thanks.
Re: Problem with fleas
No, not all dogs are allergic to fleas.
Look at this way: you're going to be itchy if you get bitten by a mosquito, whether you're allergic or not. Everyone has a reaction, and it's because enzymes or something that the mosquito squirts into the bite so they can suck out blood. Same with the pain/discomfort/slight swelling of a bee sting.
HOWEVER, someone ALLERGIC to a mosquito or bee is going to have an even bigger swelling/itching/pain reaction. My cat is allergic to fleas. She reacts a million times worse to just ONE flea on her (btw, that 1 flea on her can bite her hundreds of times in a day) than my other cat does (who you'd never even know had a flea). She scratches/bites/chews the flea bites to the point of making herself bleed and having hair loss.
A short course of steroids, like prednisone, always clears her right up (you have to go to the vet for this). It helps calm all the itching so she stops attacking herself and everything can heal. Keeping her on a good flea topical also prevents the cycle from recurring. Make sure you're using a reliable flea medication, like Frontline or K9 Advantix II for a topical. I really like Trifexis as a combination flea/heartworm pill preventative (it's what I give my dog now).
Getting a topical hydrocortisone cream to put on your dog's itchy bites might help calm things and let him heal, as well.
B/w 1/8: betas 17,345, progesterone 25.6
**6.30.12** I have found the one whom my soul loves.
Thanks for the advice. He is doing better today. The inflammation has gone down a bit since we've kept the muzzle on all day (except to eat and a few minutes to play).
Since I just used Hartz Ultra Guard as his topical medication yesterday, and today found out it's not a very good one, do I have to wait a full month before I can use another, more effective treatment?
Stop giving Motrin to your pet and go to your vet ASAP!
Hartz is the WORST flea topical out there!! It has caused deaths in hundreds of dogs, and life-threatening reactions in many others.
Read the directions for it. If it says not to bathe or get the dog wet for X number of hours after application, you may be able to wash it off. But I'd seriously call and ask your vet! I would never want to give/apply something else on top of chemicals already applied without knowing the safety/risks from a trained medical professional.
And invest in a GOOD flea med, like Frontline, K9 Advantix II, or a pill like Trifexis (which is also combined with heartworm prevention).
B/w 1/8: betas 17,345, progesterone 25.6
Yes please please PLEASE don't give Motrin or any pain reliever without talking to your vet. Most are highly toxic to animals
Talk to your vet about when to apply your next dose. Yes you should wait but the timing depends on what treatment you plan on using from now on.
Frontline, K9 Advantix and the Seresto collar are what I would recommend if you live in a tick infested area.
Advantage multi, and trifexis are also great combo heartworm flea products if you don't have tick problems
Sorry, I guess I should have been more specific. I'm not giving him human Motrin. I was giving him Tramadol, which he received from the vet two weeks ago when he was attacked by a pit bull.
Overall, he is doing better. I still have him muzzled because he chews like crazy when I don't, and bathing him today only found about 5 fleas. I think we're slowly getting on top of things.
Ok first of all I am very VERY glad to hear you are giving tramadol that was perscribed for your dog. Motrin is very VERY different from tramadol.
I still recommend you go see a vet. They can give your pup something to relieve the itch. A muzzle is preventing him from itching which is good but its also like torture to your dog. Can you imagine someone tying your hands and then covering you in mosquito bites? Yes the trauma from chewing is bad and we try and stop it, but if you don't relieve the itch your dog is miserable.
Speaking of muzzle, what kind of muzzle do you have on your dog? Some are not meant to be worn continuously.
Also I just reread your OP and another thing I noticed is that you gave a bath right after applying the medications. You need to let the medications be on the skin- not the hair- for approximately 48hrs before you bathe your dog. You also don't want to put the meds on if they are still wet from a bath The product you were using is not very effective in the first place, but the poor application can make it even worse. (or save your dog from the nasty side effects of the meds) Talk to your vet, have them show you how to properly apply the medication so you know you are doing it right.
Dawn dish soap helps to kill fleas. Not sure what you're using to bath him with. And a good dose of anything over hartz is better to kill the fleas and flea eggs. But I'd wait 2 weeks before re-applying anything. And make sure he's dry first.
When our dog got flea's I used frontline, on the dog and the 2 cats. And just kept re-applying every 3 weeks. Took a good 2 months to finally get rid of all the fleas. And I used a flea collar in the vacuum and took the vacuum outside to empty it.
The only good way I know to eliminate fleas from your house is to set off a bug smoke bomb. You will need to get any people or animals out of the house for a day and set off 1 per every 3 rooms in your house or so. Just cleaning will not work and the fleas can live in your house for a while and keep biting the dog again. You have to attack the problem in two ways, treating the dog and the house for fleas. If that still doesn't work, call an exterminator to get rid of them.
Good luck! Fleas are terrible!
Hey!
Okay my dog she is allergic to fleas and skin allergies like CRAZY. Once I year, always from August to December I have to take her to the vet and put her on predisone. there is something in the yard, air that makes her get a really bad rash and she will chew herself raw. I keep her on an expensive flea medication. Trifexis. Its a pill so you cannot wash it off etc. It works wonders for her!
Another side note- completely off topic about Dawn... NEVER use Hertz!!!!! it is the worst thing! It had been recalled nearly three years ago without my knowledge. My pup nearly died because of it. If we didn't figure everything out and if the vet we used wasn't gracious and live above her office and kennel... my pup would have died. She said it had poisoned her system so severely that it was an absolute miracle she hadn't died. my hubby and I are just so grateful that she is still here with us.
I have heard about the pills for fleas, they are the best and nearly every kennel around uses a pill of some sort. they are good for a month, but they are $20 a pill. But you get what you pay for. It will help with the flea problems in the house front too.
We have been using Sentry Pro Toy and small breed for our little one now and it sucks. It works for a grand total of two days, then the fleas come back x2. I know i hand picked 100 fleas off my pup.. and I lost track after a hundred. It hurts me to see her this bad and it physically hurts me too because not only is she allergic to fleas... so am i.
And a little fact that I had read in another post, about only treating fleas spring through fall is not going to help stop the next occurrence the next year. Fleas thrive in a humid environment and they form a cocoon in the winter so they can survive. There is not a flea bomb, topical cream, pill, etc... that can kill a flea while it is in its cocoon. Funny thing about the cocoons though, the fleas may be babies when they form the cocoon but they will be fully fledged adult fleas when they break out and instantly start breeding... making the flea situation twice as bad the next season.
I hope this helps some New pet owners and maybe help a few other people who did not know such things, as I only found this stuff out when i took my pup to the vet about that vile Hertz meds.
I only use the pill Comfortis for fleas after my dog and house got infested while he was on a topical. Haven't had a problem since.
I've also seen a lot of people use diatomaceous (SP?) earth for flea control.
B/w 1/8: betas 17,345, progesterone 25.6
I've spoken to terminex and other pest people, and they say you can bomb your house, but the best thing to do after your deep clean is to vacuum every day. At least once, if not twice for 2 weeks. Eggs take up to two weeks to hatch, so that time frame should rid your house of fleas and larvae.
Washing dog beds (and your bed if your dog gets into it) every few days during those two weeks is helpful in ridding the fleas as well.
Michelle & Michael
Married - August '10
TTC - Since September 2011