Flea Bite Dermatitis - What Works?
25 Aug 2006
What is flea bite dermatitis?
Fleas are an extremely common parasite among dogs and cats. Some pets suffer very little from the bites of these creatures but a number of less fortunate pets develop an allergic reaction to flea saliva, leading to a severe skin reaction known as flea bite dermatitis. Fleas bite their host animal and suck the blood for nutrition, leaving saliva behind under the pet’s skin. Recent scientific studies have shown that flea saliva contains around 15 different allergens that can cause reactions in sensitive dogs and cats.
The common problem of flea bite dermatitis affects both cats and dogs of all ages, genders and breeds. In pets with this condition, the flea bites themselves generally become red, swollen and severely itchy. This leads to chronic inflammation and scratching of the skin as well as ongoing discomfort for your pet.
How do I know whether my pet has flea bite dermatitis?
Dogs and cats with flea bite dermatitis generally show signs of chronic biting, scratching and rubbing their skin, especially around the base of the tail. This may, in turn, lead to hair loss and thinning of the coat. The skin may appear red and inflamed. A flea allergy will also be noticeably seasonal and cause worse symptoms during summer and fall when fleas are most prolific.
Free PDF Pet Ebook of the Day
Spring Fever Unleashed: Managing Your Pet's Seasonal Woes
Simply Right Click and choose Save As to save to your desktop! More FREE Natural Health, Wellness and Pet Ebooks at Remedies4.com!If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
