Flea allergy in dogs
A flea allergy is one of the most common allergies in dogs. A flea allergy is not so much an allergy to the flea itself; it is actually a reaction to the flea’s saliva. When a flea bites a dog to take a blood meal, it injects some saliva to prevent the blood from clotting. This can be compared to a mosquito bite. The saliva contains allergens/proteins to which dogs can respond with an allergic inflammatory reaction; this can lead to severe itching and skin problems such as hot spots, often on the back half of the body. If your dog has a flea allergy, strict and comprehensive flea control is absolutely essential.
Symptoms of a flea allergy
Dogs that are allergic to fleas can have a severe reaction to just one flea bite. A dog therefore does not need to be covered in fleas to have an allergic reaction. Most dogs mainly suffer from their flea allergy in summer and autumn, as this is when fleas are most prevalent.
Symptoms of a flea allergy may include:
- Persistent itching on the hindquarters, abdomen, back and
- The dog will roll around frequently to relieve the itching.
- The itching is accompanied by inflammation, scabs and hair loss, particularly on the hindquarters.
- The dog licks itself frequently.
- In many animals, the itching is present (almost) all year round.
An allergic reaction can sometimes last for weeks or months. This means that a dog may have an allergic reaction to a flea bite even when there are no fleas present on the animal.
