If your pet has been displaying symptoms such as itchy skin or hair loss, you might immediately assume that your beloved friend is allergic to their food.  The internet is quick to support that decision, with the current trend of grain-free food.  You might be partially correct—many, many pets suffer allergies that make them itchy, but the culprit is rarely their food!  While there is a chance they may be suffering from a food allergy, the most common allergen is something that might not even occur to you: Fleas! Before insisting that there’s no way your furry friend could have fleas, bring them to see us at Countryside Veterinary Clinic in Charles Town, WV, where we have been providing high-quality animal wellness services for nearly 20 years. Below, we’ll discuss how you can distinguish a flea allergy.

Flea Allergies

The most frequent signs of a flea allergy include symptoms such as digging, scratching, hair loss, and “hot spots,” which are scabbed sores.  Unlike food or seasonal allergies, which generally cause a dog to chew or lick their feet, flea allergy symptoms are usually located along the dog’s flanks and hindquarters.  Other symptoms to watch for include “fleapicking,” which is when a dog nibbles furiously at their fur, and finding dark, gritty dirt on your dog’s skin.  This isn’t true dirt at all, but is actually flea waste.  You might not ever see a live flea because many pets are good at grooming them off quickly!  Usually, seeing live fleas indicates a VERY heavy infestation.

The most important part of treating a flea allergy is keeping a good flea control product on your pet year round.  Fleas live indoors during the winter and won’t simply die off in the cold.  Depending on the severity of the accompanying skin infection, your pet might also need antibiotics as well.

But I Keep Flea Control on My Dog!

Not all flea control products are made equal!  Flea collars are essentially ineffective, and while flea shampoos may kill the fleas on your dog at the time, they do not prevent new fleas from hopping on.  Products purchased over the counter may be too weak to work, counterfeit, or even downright dangerous to put on your pet.  Some older products that worked great in the past no longer have the same efficacy that they once had.  We have multiple options for safe, effective flea control and we are happy to help you pick the one that is right for you!

If your beloved pet is keeping you awake itching and scratching, bringing them to our local veterinary clinic for diagnosis and treatment is the best course of action. Here in Charles Town, WV, our medical team at Countryside Veterinary Clinic will work hard to make you and your pet happy and healthy. To schedule an appointment for your furry friend, call us at (304) 725-7663. You can also visit our website to learn more about our staff and services.