From a #cat in #Arizona! Yes we have #FLEAS in Arizona! 😻🐜🐶
What prevention does your cat/dog get?
#catfleas #dogfleas #fleas #bugs #dermatologyforanimals #dermvet #dermvettech
Cat Fleas are small, wingless insects that feed on animal blood. Besides being a nuisance, they can also transmit diseases and cause allergies or anemia. There are more than 2,200 species of fleas recognized worldwide. In North America, only a few species commonly infest house pets. Two common species of flea are the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) and the dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis). However, most of the fleas found on both dogs and cats are cat fleas.
How can I control fleas?
Also Known As: Flea bite hypersensitivity
Transmission or Cause: When a flea sucks blood
from a pet, it passes its saliva into the animal’s skin.
Animals that are allergic to flea allergen will experience swelling, irritation, and itchiness. When the
animal scratches the bites, further trauma to the
skin lesions, hair loss, and more intense itchiness will
result. A single flea bite can cause these symptoms
in an allergic pet; animals without this allergy must
be bitten many more times
before their skin becomes
irritated.
Affected Animals: Any
breed or sex of dog can be
affected. The average age
for flea allergy is three to
five years. Cats also can be
allergic to fleas.
Overview: Animals that
have flea allergy dermatitis
are hypersensitive to the
saliva a flea passes into the
skin when it bites. The bite
from a single flea will have
a minimal affect on a normal animal, but animals
with flea allergy will experience immediate itching,
redness and swelling. It is the animals themselves,
and not the fleas, that typically do the worst damage.
When an animal scratches its fleabites excessively,
hair loss and skin abrasions can result. Some animals will develop circular, red, painful sores called
hot spots that can occur anywhere on the skin, but
commonly are seen along the back and tail base.
The most common allergic skin disorder, flea allergy
only can be resolved by preventing the animal from
being bitten by the flea and removing all the fleas
from the animal’s environment. There are medications available, however, that will alleviate the
itching and discomfort until complete flea control is
achieved.
Symptoms: Common findings in an animal that is
allergic to fleas include increased scratching or itchiness, loss of hair, hairs that appear broken, crusts
and erosions of the skin, and pimple-like bumps.
Thickened skin with darkened areas can be seen
in severe cases. Fleas or flea feces, which can be
difficult to detect, indicate the presence of fleas. Hot
spots sometimes can be
seen along the dog’s back
and tail base. These sores
are usually circular, red,
oozing, and very painful,
often requiring medical
attention.
Description: Flea allergy is
the most common allergic
skin disorder, affecting
animals with an abnormal
sensitivity to the saliva a
flea injects into the skin
when it takes a blood meal.
In reaction to flea allergen,
allergic animals will have inflammation and irritation
of their skin, not to mention intense itchiness. Hair
loss and skin lesions can result when an animal
scratches or bites its irritated skin.
The problem may last year-round in warm climates
or in flea-infested indoor environments. In regions
with cold winters, the allergy will appear seasonally
during the warm months of the year.
Treatment of
flea allergy requires eliminating the fleas from the
animal, other pets, and the surroundings. Various
medications can provide temporary relief of itching
for severely affected animals until flea control is
achieved.
How can I control fleas?
How can I control fleas? It may be difficult to detect fleas on a pet, but brushing it over a white sheet may help: flea feces, a dark,
black material, that falls from the animal’s hair onto
the sheet would suggest the presence of fleas. A flea
comb also can be used to look for the feces or the
fleas themselves. Pets should be examined often if
itching is noted.
Diagnosis: The symptoms of flea allergy can mimic
other disorders of the skin. Before concluding that
an animal is allergic to fleas, the examining veterinarian first will attempt to rule out allergies to food
and inhalants, internal parasites, drug reactions, hair
follicle inflammation (folliculitis), fungal infection, and
other topical parasites, all of which may have signs
similar to an allergic reaction to fleas. A thorough
history and physical exam will be required, during
which the veterinarian will analyze the type and size
of the skin lesions.
It is often very beneficial for pets with suspected allergies to be tested for allergens that may be causing
the animal to be itchy and uncomfortable.
There are
two common techniques that veterinarians can use
to determine any underlying allergies to allergens
such as fleas. One technique is called intradermal
skin testing which requires the injection of different
allergens into the skin. This usually is done by a veterinary dermatologist and may require sedation. The
second technique involves taking a blood sample
and sending it to a laboratory for allergy testing. This
is called serologic allergy testing. There are varying
opinions about serologic testing, so consultation
with the examining veterinarian will be necessary.
Prognosis: An animal with flea allergy dermatitis will
always remain allergic to fleas. The severity of this
allergy typically worsens as the pet ages. If fleas are
eliminated from the animal’s environment, the pet
will stop suffering the symptoms of flea allergy. If the
response is incomplete but flea control has been
achieved, the animal should be reevaluated by the
veterinarian for concurrent allergies.
Treatment: The goals of treatment are to alleviate
the animal’s allergic reaction to fleas by preventing
the flea from biting the animal and eliminating the
fleas from the environment. It is very important
that owners completely remove the fleas and their
eggs from the animal’s environment. This involves
the treatment of all household animals for fleas to
prevent the allergic pet from becoming reinfested.
There are many commercially available products
that kill fleas both indoors and outdoors. Additional
products have been designed for use on the animal.
Professional pest extermination companies, which
usually carry a satisfaction guarantee, are also an
option. A veterinarian can customize a flea control
program to meet an allergic pet’s individual needs.
Therapy for the allergic reaction is based on the
severity and history of the symptoms. Following an
evaluation of the dog, the veterinarian may prescribe
any of the following medications: topical treatments,
medicated shampoos, steroids, antihistamines,
antibiotics, and fatty acid supplements such as skin
oil replacement. The examining veterinarian often
will recommend a commercially available product
that kills fleas on contact, before they have a chance
to bite. These products are ideal in helping prevent
further flea allergic reactions.
The effectiveness of allergy shots, or hyposensitization, for treating flea bite hypersensitivity remains
controversial. This method of treatment, prescribed
by a veterinary dermatologist, usually is reserved as
a final therapeutic step for severely afflicted animals
not responding to strict flea control.
Prevention: Prevent fleas from entering the household. If evidence of fleas is noted on the dog or on
any other pets in the household, early intervention
can stop the problem before the symptoms become
severe.
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/…/skin-disorde…/fleas-of-cats
Visit the Disease info page on our website for more handouts about FLEAS
https://dermatologyforanimals.com/disease-information
