Flea Allergy Causes Hair Loss
If your dog is restless, keeps writhing around, scratching and biting its back, it's very likely that an unpleasant, uninvited guest has lodged itself in its skin – a flea. The same thing can also happen to your cat, and the more it tries to rid itself of the nuisance, the more her fur suffers.
Over 2000 species worldwide
A troublesome guest – but also an old acquaintance: the flea is the most common bloodsucking parasite affecting dogs and cats. There are over 2000 species worldwide. But in Germany it is primarily the so-called cat flea which – despite its name – makes life a misery not only for cats, but also for dogs, small pets like rabbits, and even humans.
Diagnosis: flea-saliva allergy
The consequences should be taken seriously because, when it stings, a flea secretes saliva into the wound to stop the blood coagulating and to keep it flowing. The proteins in this saliva can trigger a flea-saliva allergy or flea-allergy dermatitis in the host animal. These are among / This is one of the most common skin diseases in dogs and cats.
Growing sensitivity
A flea-saliva allergy often begins inconspicuously. Hypersensitivity increases only gradually in many four-legged friends. Often, all that is then needed is another small bite to cause a severe allergic reaction. This can range from a tormenting itch to skin irritations such as pimples or papules, i.e. small blisters filled with liquid.
Skin injuries and hair loss
This is no fun for the affected dogs and cats: the itching leads to excessive scratching and biting, in turn causing further skin injuries. The papules can burst and become encrusted; grazes and hair loss are also possible. If the condition persists, the skin often swells and cornifies, and eczema can develop.
The most serious injuries appear on the rear part of the animal's back or on its underparts, because these areas are the easiest to scratch. Later, the open wounds can easily get dirty and inflamed.
Effective help
The best treatment pursues a double strategy, one treating the existing skin inflammation, the other combating the parasite. The aim is to kill adult fleas before they can suck blood and lay eggs. This interrupts the development cycle and prevents a relapse. And not only the affected cat or dog should be treated, but also all other animals in the household.
User-friendly treatment
Treatment is not a problem using modern anti-parasitic drugs, because they make protecting against and fighting fleas particularly easy for dogs, cats and their owners. For example, Advantage® – developed by Bayer using an active ingredient called Imidacloprid – offers what is called "spot-on" technology: the anti-flea agent is simply trickled onto the neck of the dog or cat. The active substance spreads over the whole body surface via the sebum/skin fat. When applied every three to four weeks, it reliably protects your pet against becoming infested with fleas again.
Not only in summer
Years ago it was assumed that flea infestation was only a summer problem. However, recent studies have shown that a flea problem can also arise in winter. Dogs and cats living in centrally heated homes offer an ideal climate for fleas, which can then spread in winter, too. Regular protection is therefore essential, bearing in mind that a few flea bites are already enough to set off the process of flea-allergy dermatitis again.
Advice for patients
Every body reacts differently to medicines. Therefore it is impossible to tell which medicine works best for your animal. Please consult your veterinary.
