Question from Tracey Newall
My dog Dexter gets
Answer from Shanika Online Vet
It is good to hear that you are treating Dexter;
It is really important to remember that a pet suffering from a flea allergy or irritation does not need to be full of
What is a flea?
Ctenocephalides canis or felis (the dog and cat flea) are a small wingless parasitic insect that live on our pets and in the environment. Fleas can jump but they can’t fly, they need blood feeds to survive and a large proportion of the flea population are in the environment as oppose to on your pet.
Where are the fleas coming from?
Fleas live on animals as well as in the environment. The flea population consists of adult
Fleas in the environment, by this we mean anywhere a pet with
Cats can also carry the
So how can you tell if your pet has fleas ?
Gently part your pets fur and search through close to the skin,
So what is flea dirt and how can you tell if there is any on your pet?
Flea dirt is the waste product produced by
Can the fleas live on humans?
You will be relieved to hear that cat and dog
How to treat the flea problem?
I would recommend using a veterinary flea product either in the form of a spot on (applied to skin at the base of the neck), impregnated collar or a spray directly on your dog. It is however really important to treat any in-contact animals not just dogs but cats too. Lastly do not forget to treat the environment; this is most easily done by use of an aerosol spray applied to the carpets, skirting boards and soft furnishing. Instructions often advise vacuuming carpets before you spray to help the chemicals to be more effective.
Always read the safety information as the chemicals may be harmful to fish or birds and it is important to allow good ventilation after spraying also. In my experience it is best to treat half the house at a time so as to leave somewhere for pets and people to hang out without having to breathe in the spray. The chemicals in the spray are designed to kill or prevent further development of the
Why is my pet still scratching even though I have treated him/her for fleas ?
Provided a thorough approach to
What medical conditions may be causing my pet to scratch?
The skin has its own inbuilt barrier to substances that can cause irritation this however can be weakened in conditions such as Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland), Cushing’s disease (overproduction of natural steroids) and bacterial skin infection.
What should I do if after treating my pet, in-contact animal and the environment my pet is still scratching?
It is likely you will need to discuss further investigations into your pet’s skin condition with your vet, to try and rule out some of the conditions listed above. The investigations may involve blood and or skin tests. There is also the possibility that an exclusion diet or low allergy diet may be suggested if diet is suspected as a contributing factor to the skin problem.
So in conclusion an itchy pet may well need more than flea treatment. That is not to say that
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Discussion
My dog had fleas and I gave him a topical treatment. The next day he did not want to move and he was acting depressed. Anytime I brought him out of the room he would run back in the room whimpering. He has started limping and sometimes he’s trembling.
Hi I treated my pet with spot on treatment last week I have also cleaned and sprayed my whole house with flea spray I have washed all clothing in my house and bedding and soft dog toys and this morning I have noticed flea dirt on my dog when I have checked him I have found a flea running around. Why has he still got fleas? And does the flea dirt mean that the fleas are not dying? What should I do now? Any help is greatly appreciated I am at the end of my tether
On average it takes 90 days to clear a flea infestation – because the pupae in the environment are pretty much invulnerable to flea sprays. And that’s if you’re using modern and effective prescription-strength products!
Definitely time to check with your vet as to what the best treatment is (for EVERY animal in the house): and then keep slogging on! You will beat them, it just takes time!
I washed my dog iwith flea shampoo she was still scratching I don’t no what to do
Get her seen by a vet; most flea shampoos are not very effective (sorry!), so it might be she needs a more effective treatment; however, other skin diseases are also a possibility.
I gave my dog a bath and 2days later I put Frontline on her, but she is still itching. My question is can I put another Frontline treatment on her? I don’t have money for the vet unfortunately so I need to help her somehow without paying hundreds of dollars
Fipronil (the active ingredient) isn’t a particularly active drug against fleas, and so we very often get failure to respond completely after administration. However, there are lots of other causes of itching that really need investigation before just adding new flea treatments. A second dose of Frontline would not be wise as it would be off-license and the risk of side effects would be significantly increased. I would strongly advise seeking veterinary advice from a charity vet to rule out other skin diseases and to select another flea treatment option.
I gave my dog Brevecto chew 24 hours ago after seeing fleas on her. Now she is scratching like crazy. She has always used Brevecto. What could be the problem?
That’s a really unusual response: I’d suggest it might be the fleas scrabbling as they die setting him off? But if in doubt, or if it carries on, definitely get her checked out – it’s not listed as a known reaction to the medication, but it is worth getting it looked at.
Hi I have gave my dogs frontline plus 8 days ago and they are still scratching to the extreme, what can I dog, it’s driving them mad
OK, Frontline is a much older drug and less effective than many modern ones. It also isn’t very effective against mites. I’d suggest having a chat with your vet about what the best parasite control would be for them – good luck!
I applied pet armor on my black lab. It turned his fur white.
This isn’t a product we have here in the UK; first of all, though, I’d suggest checking whether the hair has been turned white, or just coated with a white residue? If the former, I would advise a vet check because it suggests that your dog has reacted to the product. If the latter, it suggests either a duff batch, or a problem applying it (especially if the temperature was higher than the product is intended to be used at, meaning that the carrier evaporated before the drug was distributed over the skin). And check the label for any safety precautions carefully!
My dog got the flea and tick medicine yesterday and today been skating more what else can I do
Check with the prescriber or supplier of the medication, because it could be a side effect of the medication; alternatively, and more likely, there are either some worms unaffected, or the behaviour isn’t due to the worms. Skating or scooting is often due to over-full anal glands, so a vet check would probably be wise if worming with an effective modern product (one containing praziquantel) has not been effective after 2 days.
My dog is on Simparica Trio and recently came in contact with a flea infested kitten 3 days ago. Now my dog is itching. Could this still be fleas or something else?
It could be, but if so the problem should disappear pretty quickly, so long as the Simparica was given (and swallowed!) within the last 4-5 weeks. If it doesn’t go away, though, I’d suggest a vet check – one possibility is a flea allergy which means even one flea bite could set off an itch/scratch cycle, even though the flea would rapidly die; another is that it’s simple coincidence and that there’s something else going on.
My dog had frontline back of the neck treatment For fleas last week he still itching should I give him a second dose?
No, the drug normally lasts for 4 weeks at a minimum. The most likely issue is that there’s a solid infestation in the house – and to get on top of that you need a lot of environmental control, and/or a faster-acting drug. I’d strongly advise having a chat to your vet about suitable products, and really working hard to root out the larvae, eggs and pupae in the home (and car, and bedding etc). Good luck!
I put frontline plus on my dog and she still is itching and acting like something is biting her really bad
It takes almost 24 ours for Fipronil to have much effect on fleas, and if there’s an infestation in the house, you will still see itching. Fipronil is also ineffective against mites, or (of course) allergic skin disease: so if she’s not improving at all, it’s vet time to see what might be going on and how best to manage it!
I have black dirt on my body but they sometimes jump up. They scratch my head. But there are no injuries. Please tell me the reason and treatment for this.
I’m afraid we cannot comment here on human health conditions or human parasites: please seek medical attention from a human healthcare professional.
My 7.5 week old new pups have fleas, they are pretty small puppies. What can I give them that’s safe. It’s the weekend and waiting till their vet visit on Tuesday seems like a long time.
There aren’t that many products licenced for use in small pups that young, and it will depend what is available in your location (I think you’re US-based, and if so, I don’t know much about the drugs available locally). Your best bet is to talk to either a vet or another animal health professional (in the UK, a pharmacist, SQP or Registered Animal Medicines Advisor) and see what is most suitable. Good luck!
My is not eating is 3 days now and it can not puppy as well now I’m worried can you help
If a puppy isn’t eating for 3 days that’s more worrying than for an adult dog – definitely time for a vet check!
Good day,
My dog has not had anything to eat in 2 days, her poop is runny and she vomited after drinking water. She also has a fever and she does not have energy, she just lays the entire day.
What could be the problem?
The most likely cause is a bowel infection (gastroenteritis), but there are lots of possible causes, from Salmonella or Campylobacter to parvo or Giardia. However, whatever the cause, if she can’t keep water down, she needs a vet – what normally kills dogs with these conditions is dehydration, and the degree of fluid loss you are describing could easily be fatal within a few days.
Hello, So I was actually cleaning my puppies from fleas and I would kill them and pop them with my nails. One of the puppies ate all the dead fleas, is that bad? Should I take them to a vet?
Eating dead fleas is the main way in which dogs get infected with tapeworm, which is the main risk! Definitely time to consider worming them. Also, remember that grooming alone will not resolve a flea infestation as 95% of fleas are living as maggots in the carpet, soft furnishings, and dust.
my dog can’t stop scratching himself. And his ears and eyes are swollen and red. He is causing injury to himself by scratching so much. This just started about an hour ago. Please help. Is this serious?
It might be an allergic reaction, especially if it started suddenly – and if so, yes it could be dangerous – vet time now, I think.
Hello , I took both of my dogs to the vet because they had fleas and they got the treatment and they got their nexguard gummies as well . They were fine for the first few days but then they couldn’t stop itching and it’s gotten to the point that my dog keeps scratching herself and she makes her self bleed a bit and I have checked on her and there’s no sign of flees . I cannot sleep because I’m so worried and I feel so bad for them .
OK, I’d have a chat with your vet about that. There are three possibilities that spring to mind. Firstly, that there’s a very severe infestation of fleas in the house, and although the drug is killing the adults, new ones keep hatching and biting the dogs, but then dying so you don’t see them (on average, it takes about 3 months to clear a house that’s heavily infested). Second, the medication may not have worked normally – in which case your vet needs to report it to the regulator and the manufacturer as a “dud” batch. Thirdly, the fleas might not have been all that’s going on – there may be another skin disease or parasite that isn’t affected by the drug but whose presence was masked by the fleas; in which case, the vet needs to take a look and see what treatment is needed.
Statistically, I think option 1 is most likely, but any of them is possible, so give the vet a ring and have a chat!
My daughter Yorkie contacted flees she gave him the flee medication washed him and sprayed him and the flees are still there
It depends what the medication was; most flea shampoos and even the sprays are fairly poor at killing fleas (fipronil spray for example is about 80% kill at 48 hours). I’d be inclined to talk to your vet and get a prescription-strength product which is likely to have a faster and more effective knock down of the parasites (for example, some tablets now are 99+% at 4 hours).
After 1st grooming , including bath, my 4 mo old puppy scratching and biting. I put flea med ps in a few weeks before grooming. Should I reapply flea meds
It depends on the exact medication, but NEVER use them more often than recommended by the manufacturer, as some of these drugs can be quite toxic in overdose. If you’re not sure, have a cat with your veterinarian who will be able to prescribe a different one if needed.
My friends has 5 cats and they are full.of fleese they also have a dog which has picked up.them to if the dog was treated would the dog pick them.up.again
It depends what treatment was used. Some last for 30 days or longer, whereas others wear off much faster. However, to control any flea infestation, you need to treat all in-contact animals, and the environment (house, carpets, rugs, bedding, cars etc etc). Good luck!
You haven’t answered my query. My dog is completely free of fleas after using frontline but now itches all the time.
What can I do?
Hey I just found your comment under this post
Please let me know what helped you
My dog had flea treatment and it’s past two weeks
No sight of fleas but he is super itchy
Please let me know
Frontline has a relatively low efficacy, and personally, I would never guarantee that a dog was free of fleas after one treatment of any product, even one of the newer ones. Remember, many of the fleas are in the environment, jumping on to take a meal, and if he is allergic to them, it only takes one bite.
However, fleas aren’t the only possible cause: allergic skin disease and other parasites such as mites that aren’t affected by fipronil are also possible causes of itching. If you’ve treated for fleas and are confident there aren’t any, then it’s time to go to your vet and talk about the other options, and consider some more potent prescription parasite control products that will deal with any other parasites he may have picked up. If those don’;t work, the n the next step is to consider an allergic skin disease work up. Good luck!
I have 2 rescue dogs that are not related and are a mix of different breeds. They both scratch and lick their paws constantly. I have treated for fleas even though I’ve never seen any on them. They didn’t start this until a year or two ago and we’ve had them for almost 10 years. Could it be the Zoysia grass or the weed control that our lawn company is using?
It’s a definite possibility; but so is canine atopy – we do see it in crossbreds and although there is a genetic component, you could just be unlucky! I’d have a chat with your vet, who will be familiar with the allergens in your locale, and consider a trial period where they don’t go on the treated surfaces for 3-4 weeks and see what happens.
Hello I just took my dog to the vet for flea bites and the vet said it’s flea allergies but my dogs had fleas two other times before that is that possible for him to have flea allergies if he’s had fleas before
Yes, definitely. Like any other allergy, the immune system’s response gradually builds up over time. In fact, it isn’t usually possible for an animal to be allergic to something their body has never been exposed to before.
Gave my dog flea medicine last weekend today she’s been crying yelping and tensing her muscles she walked fine
That’s not a normal response – I’d strongly advise you to contact your vet as soon as possible, and tell them what medication you used.
I have been using Seresto collar and since they are having issues I’m afraid to put it on him how , so what do you recommend ? My dog is age from 5-7 years old weighs about 65-75 lbs has fur of a retriever/husky
Overall, Seresto is actually pretty safe. There are some dogs who don’t tolerate it well, but if he’s never had a problem before, it’s unlikely to cause a problem now.
However, if you’re not happy with it, the best flea control products are all prescription-strength, so have a chat with your vet about alternative options – as tablets or as spot-ons, there’s a huge range of effective and safe medications available now.
My dog just got a flea treatment and she is crying non stop and scratching her face on the floor , what do I do ?
Contact your vet – that doesn’t sound like a normal reaction! And make sure you let the prescriber or retailer know, so they can report the abnormal side effect.
my dog had fleas i shampoo him frontline him then we had some cream for his groin area, this was two days ago and he is still scratching like mad how long before he settles down..
Fipronil takes approximately 48 hours to kill the adults, however, it is water soluble so will wash off and be ineffective if you are bathing your dog. However, if there are fleas on your dog there are almost certainly fleas in your house and his bedding too – so you need to clean the environment thoroughly, keep up with flea treatment on him, and keep going! On average, it takes 3 months to clear an infestation, and that’s with mroe powerful prescription-strength flea treatments than fipronil.
See here for more ideas: https://vethelpdirect.com/pet-health-library/dog-flea-control/
Hi I was wondering if you know the answer my pets been getting treated for fleas and she’s been fine and today she was due her next spot on so I have applied it but she keeps trying to lick it and scratch it will that effect the treatment.
There are a number of possible causes, but the simple answer is that yes, it could alter how effective the product is. I’d recommend talking to your vet for advice on this one!
Hello I have a 12week old mini bordoodle I got on Sunday 10/27/19 .. I notice later that night she was scratching did some searching found 1 small lol black bug crawling took it off .. monday I took her to put flea/tick medicine btw her shoulder blades and sprayed mybporchbit a lil bit of Ortho home defense.. Tuesday still itching sreached her found nothing so I bathed her in Hartz flea n tick dog shampoo and washed her bedding(hot water)… Wednesday still itching even more I spray my porch n house( carpet/her bedding) with Hertz flea/larvae/egg home spray. Side not previous owner feed her Nutro grain free food wet n nature’s Recipe grain free (dry).. however I feed her Nutro wet(grain free) and Nutro dry (but the dry don’t says grain free)..its Thursday now.. no one in my home have gotten bit.. I’m sad n feel helpless..she’s even scratching her head/face now..sometimes rub her face into her bedding or on the carpet…please help
I think it’s important to get her checked out by your veterinarian, as it’s clear that the flea treatment you’ve been using hasn’t eliminated the itching. It may be that she’s suffering from a flea allergy (where even a single bite is enough to trigger itching), or that there’s another allergic disease underlying this (e.g. atopic dermatitis). It’s also quite possible that there’s something else going on, such as a skin infection that is causing her to itch. In any case, “home treatment” clearly isn’t working, so I think it’s time for a full workup and treatment from your vets.
My Shih Tzu just visited the vet three weeks ago for fleas. The vet gave him three month’s worth of Simparica and 15 pills of Apoquel. I also purchased a can of Knockout that they recommended. The last three weeks I have tried my best to turn the house upside down. I vacuum every day, washed all bedding, pillow cases, blankets, and clothes, and vacuum my car every week in hope of doing enough damage to disrupt their life cycle and eventually get rid of them for good. I sprayed all the carpets, the cracks in the kitchen and bathroom. I even bought borax and powdered all carpets. I bought flea traps from Amazon to try to trap some fleas but have only caught one in a span of a week. For some reasons, my dog is still scratching himself whenever he is in my room. Prior to finding out he had fleas he slept on my bed with me. I have set flea traps in my room but haven’t caught anything. I gave my dog two baths in the last three weeks. I combed him today but can’t find any fleas. There are a few small brown speck-like on his hair but the flea comb can’t even pick them up since they’re so tiny they go through the teeth of the comb. Are those possibly fleas? Also, what can I do to make sure my bed mattress is flea free? I don’t use a bed sheet so I’m positive there are larvae and eggs inside the seams of my mattress.
The black/brown flecks you’re referring to are actually flea droppings. You will very rarely catch a live flea in a comb or a trap, as you’ve said, the problem is the larvae that and pupae in the house that are hatching out and biting. They’re probably dying fairly rapidly after each blood meal, but not soon enough to stop your dog itching.
The best advice I can give you is to make sure that any upholstery that your dog might have been on is washed at 60C (to try and kill the eggs); that you vacuum all areas frequently and apply the environmental flea treatment immediately afterwards; and that you keep up with it!
Regarding the mattress, I’m not sure what the best option would be – it might be worth contacting the manufacturer to ask what products can safely be used on it.
On average, it takes about 3 months to clear an established infestation in the house, so keep up with it!
My dog has been treated by a vet when she was lost and he said no need do anything else as if a flee was on her now it would die. But shes sore and still scratching a lot that was 2 weeks ago ,ive treated the house numerous times flea sprays recommended, but still have found a couple on my son getting really low with all this please advise
Unfortunately, a well-established flea infestation can be really hard to treat – in fact, recent studies suggest it usually takes a minimum of 3 months to eradicate! The key things to remember are (1) treat ALL pets in the house, with a prescription-strength product (like your vet has provided) so there’s nowhere for the fleas to hide, and make sure they’re all covered continually for at LEAST 3 months. (2) treat the house with very frequent vacuuming and flea spray (to catch the pupae – they’re pretty much indestructible until they hatch, so the vacuum cleaner tricks them into emerging, and the flea spray kills them). (3) remember to treat all the bedding, upholstery and soft furnishings (wash it at 60C) as that’s where flea larvae like to hide out. (4) If you need more advice, do contact your vet – they’ll be happy to advise over the phone in most cases and help you make any extra modifications that you might need. (5) Keep going and don’t despair! You will kill them eventually…
Hello! So I got my 13 week old dog on Saturday. On Monday I noticed her itching and saw a flea on her. I treated her immediately that day. However, it is Tuesday so it hasn’t been that long, but she is still itching. It has been about 24 hours since I put the medicine on. I also used HotShot to spray the entire house and washed all bedding. Is it normal for her to still be itching? How long after treatment should she itch for?
It depends what treatment you used; most of the “over the counter” flea products contain fipronil or permethrin, which take 48-72 hours to kill the fleas, and generally have a kill rate in the region of 80-95% (meaning that between 5 and 20% of the fleas will survive). Prescription-strength products are usually faster, working in 4-24 hours, with kill rates roughly in the 95-98%+ range.
Alternatively, it may be that your puppy has already developed an allergy to fleas; in this case, a single bite will make him very itchy for several days.
Overall, I’d suggest checking exactly what product you used, and then contacting your veterinarian for advice about faster acting or more potent products.
I have recently treated my pug for fleas with flea away. He is still itching and his skin is sore in places.
This has been an ongoing problem I have noticed but have put it down to fleas. Should I take him to the vets and see what they say.
Only they cost you and arm and leg! Any remedies for him. I hate seeing him in discomfort 🙁
Unfortunately, there are a wide range of different causes of skin itches. While fleas are the most common, mange mites, allergies, bacterial infections, fungal or yeast infections are all common as well. I’m afraid it isn’t possible to tell what the cause it over the internet, so I think a check up really is called for.
Hey urm so I have a bull mastif and I’ve not long ago bathed him, then treated him with the spot on and flea collar. The fleas seemed to had gone but now I’ve seen a few on his back end, and he is constantly itching and biteing but now where he is itching his chest and under his chin, he now has fresh sores that are bleeding a little and I haven’t a clue what to do, please help?
Hi Chloe, you also need to make sure you treat the home and car etc. as these are places larvae live. If he is bleeding he may well need a vet visit, as there is the issue of a skin infection. as well.
Hi my 16month old dog Bordeaux cross has developed a bad case of lunging and trying to attack any small dog that comes near hercshe never been bit or attacked by Amazon dog trued all-sorts will a DAP spray work ??
Hi Pat, DAP may only help a little. It sounds like this is becoming a learned behaviour and as such you need the services of a qualified behaviourist. Please speak to your vet, as they might be able to recommend someone who can help with this behaviour. Dave RVN
Hi there, I purchased frontline for my dog, and the one for cats, but have been told that if they lick each other, they will get sick. My cat and dog are best buddies and wrestle and play together constantly. Is it true that they will be toxic to each other?
Hi Deborah, it is always best to make sure that the product is fully on the skin, rather than the fur. Keep other animals away from grooming as they can be very ill if a spot on is ingested, until the product has dried – and always speak to your vet for further advice.
My shih tzu was suffering from itching and i sprayed frontline everywhere its already the 4th day but he is still itching 🙁
my plan is to take him for grooming to short his cut and spray again so all his body parts absorb the liquid medicine.
is that okay?or I should look for another treatment?:( im suffering alot plz help me everytime i see him scratching himself i cant stop crying.
I can appreciate why you’re so worried, and you’re trying so hard to make him feel better! It’s worth treating for fleas regularly and also treating the house with a household flea spray and washing all of his bedding on a hot wash so that you completely break the cycle. If he continues itching, I’d make an appointment to see your vet in case there’s another cause of his itching – for example, an allergy of some sort.
My toy poodle as come to me with a lot of fleas I’ve been to the vets and he
Put flea stuff on and he as still got them he is due for another check up
This pup as come from a breeder
My 11 week old puppy toy poodle as been treated by the vets for fleas but
After 10 days still as them shall I take him back Julie wilson
Hi Julie. Yes I’d recommend popping back to your vet or giving them a call to see what they’d recommend as next steps. If you haven’t treated your house with a household flea spray, I’d recommend doing that and washing his bedding on a hot wash – fleas can and will live in the environment, so to break the cycle completely it’s important that the home is treated as well as your pet.
My dog Dexter has bin fleedocs and wormed.but he is still scratching and nibbling his back legs Thanks
Hi Debbie, there are a number of reasons dogs will have itchy skin, from fleas to allergies and a range of things in between. It is best to have your dog examined by a vet. It must be very distracting to be constantly scratching and nibbling and it can turn sore and infected. There is often much that can be done. Best wishes
Please can you help.i rescued a rabbit and I think he has fleas. He’s been scratching really bad, his fur has come off and he’s cut himself.im worried what to use incase it hurts his sores
Hi Vikki, we’d recommend that you take your rabbit to be examined by a vet. He sounds very uncomfortable and this doesn’t sound like a straight-forward flea case, there are a number of potential causes. Treatment will be specific to the cause and the sooner you have him looked at, the better. Best wishes.
Please can you help.i rescued a rabbit and I think he has fleas. He’s been scratching really bad, his fur has come off and he’s cut himself.im worried what to use incase it hurts his sores
Hi Vikki, we’d recommend that you take your rabbit to be examined by a vet. He sounds very uncomfortable and this doesn’t sound like a straight-forward flea case, there are a number of potential causes. Treatment will be specific to the cause and the sooner you have him looked at, the better. Best wishes.
hi , right my patterdale hes 12yr, and had op for his right eye removed though bad cataracts. now 6months down the line iv had to spend quiet a lot of money towards flea treatment. iv done everything you have said sprayed flat etc… you don’t understand how much this is driving me and the dog up the wall. iv asked my vet foe 6 months flea spot on however it wasn’t frontline she told me fleas are becoming used to frontline . so now 6months down the line and my dog still biting, scratching, no fur around tail and his back. what can i do next ?
Hi Shay, we feel for you as once a flea infestation has taken hold, it can be a frustrating issue to sort. Firstly, it might be worth checking that it is indeed fleas that are causing your dog to bite and scratch at his skin. There are many causes of skin problems including a hypersensitivity to fleas but it could be another allergen altogether. If you haven’t already, it would be worth asking your vet to examine your dog for other causes. You may have actually seen fleas, if you haven’t, try combing through your dog’s coat and emptying the comb onto a wet piece of white paper. Black flecks of flea ‘dirt’ will have a brown/red ‘halo’ appear around them. It can take much persistence to rid of a flea infestation as 95% of the problem is in fact not on your pet but in the environment, using a prescription flea treatment is always a good start, spraying the house with a licensed house flea spray is also important. Hoovering regularly and washing bedding often (at at least 60 degree) is also key. Remember that flea eggs can live a long time in the environment which is why it can take a few months to be rid of the problem. You might find that as the weather warms up in the spring, you see more fleas. At least then, they will be killed by your various flea treatments. Really though, if your dog is suffering with persistent itches and making himself sore, I’d take him to be examined by your vet and to gain more advice on the matter. Good luck and best wishes
hi , right my patterdale hes 12yr, and had op for his right eye removed though bad cataracts. now 6months down the line iv had to spend quiet a lot of money towards flea treatment. iv done everything you have said sprayed flat etc… you don’t understand how much this is driving me and the dog up the wall. iv asked my vet foe 6 months flea spot on however it wasn’t frontline she told me fleas are becoming used to frontline . so now 6months down the line and my dog still biting, scratching, no fur around tail and his back. what can i do next ?
Hi Shay, we feel for you as once a flea infestation has taken hold, it can be a frustrating issue to sort. Firstly, it might be worth checking that it is indeed fleas that are causing your dog to bite and scratch at his skin. There are many causes of skin problems including a hypersensitivity to fleas but it could be another allergen altogether. If you haven’t already, it would be worth asking your vet to examine your dog for other causes. You may have actually seen fleas, if you haven’t, try combing through your dog’s coat and emptying the comb onto a wet piece of white paper. Black flecks of flea ‘dirt’ will have a brown/red ‘halo’ appear around them. It can take much persistence to rid of a flea infestation as 95% of the problem is in fact not on your pet but in the environment, using a prescription flea treatment is always a good start, spraying the house with a licensed house flea spray is also important. Hoovering regularly and washing bedding often (at at least 60 degree) is also key. Remember that flea eggs can live a long time in the environment which is why it can take a few months to be rid of the problem. You might find that as the weather warms up in the spring, you see more fleas. At least then, they will be killed by your various flea treatments. Really though, if your dog is suffering with persistent itches and making himself sore, I’d take him to be examined by your vet and to gain more advice on the matter. Good luck and best wishes
hi my dog shih tzu has been itching and crying for days. He has been treated with flea shampoo, he has a flea collar on and also has spot on. how long shall I leave it till I take him to the vets? he’s eating and drinking as usual and is his normal self expect the itching and crying
Hi Emily, it sounds as if your dog is still experiencing some discomfort. It could be fleas however there are many potential causes for skin problems. A vet will examine your dog, in particular his skin and advise you of the best way to go about making him more comfortable. Best wishes
hi my dog shih tzu has been itching and crying for days. He has been treated with flea shampoo, he has a flea collar on and also has spot on. how long shall I leave it till I take him to the vets? he’s eating and drinking as usual and is his normal self expect the itching and crying
Hi Emily, it sounds as if your dog is still experiencing some discomfort. It could be fleas however there are many potential causes for skin problems. A vet will examine your dog, in particular his skin and advise you of the best way to go about making him more comfortable. Best wishes
My kittens were treated for fleas with broadline 4 weeks ago but a few days ago they are showing the same symptoms. One in particular lies with her bum in the air crying for it to be scratched. They are both showing this behaviour but one is worse than the other. I feel helpless I’m scratching them but they don’t seem to be getting much relief. I’m trying to distract them from the scratching and incessant crying by the laser toy but they soon start rubbing themselves of the floor and cry. Please help
Hello, sorry for the delay in replying! You don’t mention their age or if they are girls – the crying could mean they are in season, if they have not been spayed, and completely unrelated to the flea treatment. Have you seen any evidence of fleas (dirt or live fleas) on them? Don’t forget only 5% of fleas live on your pets, so you need to treat the home and bedding too. David RVN @ VetHelpDirect
My kittens were treated for fleas with broadline 4 weeks ago but a few days ago they are showing the same symptoms. One in particular lies with her bum in the air crying for it to be scratched. They are both showing this behaviour but one is worse than the other. I feel helpless I’m scratching them but they don’t seem to be getting much relief. I’m trying to distract them from the scratching and incessant crying by the laser toy but they soon start rubbing themselves of the floor and cry. Please help
Hello, sorry for the delay in replying! You don’t mention their age or if they are girls – the crying could mean they are in season, if they have not been spayed, and completely unrelated to the flea treatment. Have you seen any evidence of fleas (dirt or live fleas) on them? Don’t forget only 5% of fleas live on your pets, so you need to treat the home and bedding too. David RVN @ VetHelpDirect