Fleas and Ticks

All dogs may at times have a few fleas, which usually is not much of a problem. But, in some cases your dog may be allergic to flea saliva, which will cause a skin allergic reaction to even just one bite. Also, ticks can be a major problem, in some areas. From ticks your dog may contract tapeworm infestation or Lyme disease.

Some products that can help control flea and tick infestations:

Frontline Plus – Each tube contains fipronil and S-Methoprene which kills flea eggs and their larvae. This is one of best products on market to fight infestation of fleas and ticks. Be sure to use this product as described. This product can make some dogs sick if they ingest medicine.

Advantage – This product works extremely fast on relieving flea infestation. It works by stopping life cycle before it begins by killing fleas before they have time to lay eggs. Advantage is water-resistant, so you can give your dog baths and know he is still protected against fleas and ticks. The active ingredient is imidacloprid. As with Frontline Plus read directions and apply correctly; can make some dogs sick if ingested.

Bacterial Infection

To help heal and prevent skin infections from scrapes or dermatitis and also to reduce fungal growth use topical treatments. You can find Antibacterial topicals in all kinds of forms. There are ointments, shampoos, and sprays. Any type will help as long as it has hydrocortisone.

Some products that can help control bacterial infections:

Septi-Clens Antibacterial Topicals – This product helps to heal skin irritations and minor cuts and also prevents them from becoming infected. As with all medicine please read directions. You may want to cover area where applied with a bandage to prevent ingesting.

Antibacterial Deodorizing Shampoo by Eight In One – This is a great product! You can give your dog a bath and help fight against infection. This shampoo is gentle to your dog’s skin and has added ingredients against infection.

For Worms Your dog can become a victim of several types of internal parasites usually known as worms. Roundworms are most common in puppies. Tapeworms can become a big problem when your dog has a high flea infestation. Treatment for worms usually comes in a pill form that will rid your dog of these parasites.

Some products that can help control gastrointestinal worms:

The most common dog allergy is itching of skin. Their respiratory tract can also be affected causing them to wheeze, sneeze, and/or cough. You may even notice a discharge from their eyes and nose. In some cases, digestive system can be affected which will cause them to vomit or have diarrhea.

In United States around 20 percent of dogs suffer from some type of allergy. Some of allergies might be allergic to fleas, atopic dermatitis, allergies to food, allergies to some thing in air, allergies to some thing they come in contact with or a bacterial allergy.

Atopic Dermatitis

This canine allergy is caused by dog’s immune system hypersensitivity to common substance around them, such as dust mites or mold. Atopic Dermatitis is an allergic skin disease that usually appears within first two years of a dog’s life.

Watch your dog for grooming excessively, by licking or chewing his back legs, paws, and abdomen, these are signs that he may suffer from atopic dermatitis. Another way to check is to see if his ears are reddened and hot to touch.

There are signs that are not as noticeable like in armpits, groin, and between toes of his paws. Saliva staining is another sign of atopic dermatitis. It appears as a reddish brown stain. If case becomes severe, skin may change color, especially abdomen, from a pink to a dark red to a very dark black.

It can be difficult to diagnose because flea allergy, food allergy and parasitic infections have some of same signs. After you have ruled out three above allergies from you list you may then need to have your dogs skin tested for allergies such as dust mites, pollens, and mold. After your vet has determined cause of atopic dermatitis he can recommend treatment. Flea Allergy