|
Ask any veterinarian about the most common cause of skin problems they
see for cats or dogs, and they'll tell you its Flea Allergy Dermatitis,
commonly known as FAD. Any cat or dog is a candidate for flea allergies,
but not all pets are allergic. If your pet has other environmental allergies,
the possibility of FAD is increased. If your pet seems to scratch endlessly,
is always rubbing, licking, even chewing at their skin, you should suspect
FAD.
The first symptoms of FAD can appear anytime in animals from 1 – 6
years old. It is not a contagious skin problem and it's not uncommon
for some pets in a multi-pet home to have FAD while others do not. FAD
is most apparent in the summer months, although in warm climates it is
a year round problem. It's not just your pet that may have FAD either;
you can easily have an allergic reaction to flea bites too.
What causes Flea Allergy Dermatitis?
Flea Allergy Dermatitis is the allergic skin reaction to a flea bite.
When a flea bites your pet to feed, it injects a minute amount of saliva.
Some pets are allergic to the saliva and their skin become inflamed and
intensely itchy. Because of the itch, your pet scratches constantly and
the intensity of scratching cause the skin to become more inflamed and
often raw. The raw skin then can have a secondary bacterial infection
set in, causing more complications for your pet.
Signs of Flea Allergy Dermatitis
FAD is usually seen as patches of reddened skin where there may be hair loss
or greasy feeling hair coat and skin. You'll usually see lesions on the pet,
often oozing or appearing wet. There may be patches of scabbing, scales or "hot
spots". The most affected areas of your pet will be the rump, abdomen, base
of the tail and inner thighs. There can also be lesions, inflammation and hair
loss on other parts of the animal, especially in cats, where FAD is often seen
on their faces. You'll see fleas and flea dirt on your pet as well.
How do you tell if the dirt looking grit on your pet is real dirt or flea dirt?
Just brush your pet and shake out the brush over a damp paper towel. Nothing
will happen with real dirt, but if those little specs are actually flea dirt,
they will soon dissolve into reddish brown spots on the paper towel.
Treatment for Flea Allergy Dermatits
Depending on the severity of the allergic reaction, your veterinarian may treat
your pet with antibiotics, steroids or antihistamines. Usually the pet has scratched
open lesions and bacterial infections complicate treatment. Treatment generally
takes from 1 – 3 months to be effective. The treatment plan must be fully
followed, even if it appears that the lesions have healed, etc. Failure to follow
your vet's treatment plan will cause a new outbreak of FAD to occur.
If your vet recommends medicated shampoos or bathing, be sure to bathe in cool
water only. Warm or hot water aggravates itching, making it very difficult to
leave the shampoo on for the length of time recommended!
If your pet suffers from FAD, it is an ongoing health concern for the life of
your pet. The best treatment for FAD is prevention.
Preventing Flea Allergy Dermatitis
You must take a proactive and thorough approach to preventing fleas if you want
to prevent your pet from suffering with FAD. Fleas are exceedingly hard to control.
You must break the flea's lifecycle in order to eliminate fleas from your pet
and your home.
The most basic treatment will consist of using a flea
control product on your
pet. Topical "spot-on" treatments are the most successful, as they
protect your pet's entire body. Flea collars are
less effective as their strength diminishes the further away from the collar
the flea is. There are even safe flea control
options for pregnant and very young
animals.
You must also treat the places in your home where fleas hide. They include pet
bedding, couches, carpets, crevices and cracks. We have detailed instructions
in the pet care library on the flea
lifecycle and how
to control fleas on and off your pet. For a pet with flea allergies, killing the fleas and preventing
continued infestation is the only real cure for FAD.
**This article is not meant to provide a diagnosis for your pet. If your pet is sick or showing unusual symptoms, please contact your local veterinarian for a diagnosis**
|
