Category Archives: Fleas

Dogs, Fleas, Ticks

Fleas and Ticks in Winter

Fleas and ticks are a year-round nuisance for most of us but, when it comes to the infestations of our yards and our homes, the fall seems to be a particularly terrible season. Here are few areas fleas and ticks like to hide and how to best limit your pet’s exposure to these pesky parasites.

Leaf Piles

The autumn season is probably best known for the beautiful changes it brings to the colors of leaves just before they begin to fall to the ground. Though they may be a pretty sight and a blast for kids (or pets) to play in, leaf piles can also be a haven for fleas, which prefer to congregate in humid areas away from bright sunlight.

Solution: Rake up fallen leaves regularly and immediately bag and dispose of them in a secure trash receptacle.

Tall Grasses/Trees

Ticks love to climb up tall grasses so that they can grab onto a passing animal or human.

Solution: Mow your lawn regularly and trim back branches so they don’t jut out towards walking areas.

Outdoor Feeding/Sleeping Areas

Does your pet frequently sleep outdoors or do you leave out food and water bowls for them? Fleas and ticks recognize these high traffic areas – whether they are trafficked by your pet or a wild animal like a raccoon or possum – and lie in wait until they can latch onto a host.

Solution: Regularly clean out sleeping areas, especially if there are pillows inside. Also, if possible, remove food and water bowls after your pet uses them and/or before nighttime. Raccoons and possums are opportunistic feeders and will eat or drink anything left out. They also are frequently teeming with ticks and fleas.

What if My Pet Doesn’t Go Outdoors Much?

Even if your dog stays close to home, fleas and ticks are canny creatures, and they have ways of making it into your home and onto your pets, even with preventions in place. All it takes is a few fleas or ticks to get established in your yard before you have a full-scale infestation on your hands.

Be Pro-active

Visit your veterinarian for advice on the best preventive medications and the safest way to use them. Your doctor will be able to show you the proper way to apply these medications and recommend just the right dose for your pet’s age and weight. Some people also choose flea and tick preventatives based on their personal preferences or the lifestyles of their pets.

Diana Ruth Davidson, Chief Pet Officer and Managing Nanny, Westside Dog Nanny

We offer pet services such as:  Pet Sitting,  In-Home Dog Boarding, Dog Walking, Overnights in your home, Doggie Day Care.

Diana@WestsideDogNanny.com
310 919 9372

Allergies, Dogs, Fleas

Flea Bites on Dogs: Allergy Dermatitis

Understanding Canine Flea Allergies

Fleas are nasty little critters that make life miserable for your dog and for you. First there are the bites that hurt and then itch and itch. Then there is the problem of keeping your home environment and your pet insect-free. But here’s one more reason to hate fleas: They can really do a number on your pet if he is allergic to flea bites by causing another itchy problem called dermatitis.

Flea allergy dermatitis is the most common allergy in dogs and is caused by fleabites, specifically the saliva of the flea. It is a very itchy disease and predisposes to the development of secondary skin infections.

Oddly enough, most animals with flea allergy have very few fleas. The reason is that they are very itchy and they groom themselves excessively eliminating any evidence of fleas. A couple of fleabites every two weeks are sufficient to make a flea allergic dog itchy all the time. Any animal can become allergic to fleas, although some dogs are more attractive to fleas than others. Fleas are bloodsucking insects with a lifespan of 6 to 12 months. This life span is influenced by environmental conditions And can vary from two to three weeks up to a year. Optimal conditions include humidity of 75 to 85 percent and temperature of 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidity is more important than the temperature. The adult flea spends most of its life on the host, while the immature stages (eggs) are found in the environment.

In dogs, common signs of a flea allergy are chewing and biting of the tail, rump and back legs. Sometimes they chew their front legs and cause oozing lesions (lick granuloma). In fact, the itching may be so intense that the animal will cause severe skin damage in a short period of time (“hot spot”). These are usually found on the hip area or on the side of the face.

Diagnosis of Flea Allergy Dermatitis in Dogs:

Diagnosis of flea allergy is made based on history, clinical signs and a positive skin test.

Treatment of Flea Allergy Dermatitis in Dogs

Treatment of flea allergy dermatitis involves three phases:

  • Prevention of flea bites. The most important part of treatment is preventing flea bites with aggressive flea control on your dog and in the environment.
  • Treatment of secondary skin infections. Antibiotics and antifungal drugs may be necessary to treat secondary skin infections triggered by the flea allergy.
  • Breaking the itch cycle. If your dog is intensely itchy, a short course of steroids may be necessary to break the itch cycle and make your dog more comfortable.

Preventative Care

Use an effective safe flea control product on your dog on a regular basis beginning one month before the flea season starts and continuing up until one month after the flea season ends.

Use frequent vacuuming and carpet cleaning strategies to remove eggs and larvae from the dog’s indoor environment. Use a professional cleaning or exterminating service in difficult cases.

Use appropriate yard maintenance especially in shaded areas preferred by your dog. Immature stages of fleas are sensitive to dryness and heat. They die in sunny areas. Trim trees and rake away all the debris. Keep the grass trimmed short. Fleas survive only if there are enough animals to support them, so one dog roaming a one-acre yard would not pose a problem.

See your veterinarian promptly if your dog develops acute skin lesions (acute moist dermatitis) as a result of biting or scratching at fleas. Frequent grooming of your dog with a “flea comb” may be helpful to remove fleas.

To learn more about flea allergy, please click on Flea Allergy Dermatitis In-depth.

  • Flea allergy dermatitis, caused by fleabites, is the most common allergy in dogs.

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Diana Ruth Davidson, Chief Pet Officer and Managing Nanny, Westside Dog Nanny

We offer pet services such as:  Pet Sitting,  In-Home Dog Boarding, Dog Walking, Overnights in your home, Doggie Day Care.

Diana@WestsideDogNanny.com
310 919 9372

Cats, Fleas

Flea Control for Cats and Flea Bite Allergies

 

Flea Bite Hypersensitivity in Cats

 

Flea bite hypersensitivity or flea allergic dermatitis is very common in cats. In fact, it is the most common skin disease to be diagnosed in pets. Flea allergies usually develop when cats are young (less than one and up to five years of age), but can begin at any age. Flea saliva is actually believed to be the cause for the allergy or sensitivity.

The flea life cycle includes the adult flea, egg, larva and pupa. Adult fleas do bite, but cannot survive long if they are not on an animal. Once the adult flea lays its eggs on the host cat it will fall off, leaving the eggs to mutate through the rest of their life cycles. The rest of the flea’s life cycle then occurs on the host cat, and the generational cycle continues and grows until the flea population has been eradicated entirely.

Symptoms and Types

Flea bite hypersensitivity or flea allergic dermatitis usually causes severe itching, a condition that is medically referred to as pruritis. Since as few as one or two flea bites a week can cause pruritis, symptoms will often persist even after some form of flea control has been applied. Most cats will have symptoms that worsen with age, but symptoms are also often episodic. Cats especially will sometimes suffer from a related conditon called neurodermatoses, a behavioral problem that comes about as the result of anxiety related flea bite hypersensitivity.

Most owners will first notice frequent and severe itching and scratching, hair loss, and scabs on their cat’s skin. Many times the hind end is affected more than the front of the body or the head, however, cats that are suffering from an allergy to fleas can have lesions anywhere on the body. Moreover, fleas or flea dirt may or may not be readily visible.

Diagnosis

Using a flea comb to inspect your cat, fleas or flea dirt may be seen more easily. Skin tests for mites or bacterial skin diseases may also be recommended if the fleas cannot be seen. Sometimes the best diagnostic method is just to treat for fleas.

Treatment

Flea control and prevention is essential for cats with flea bite hypersensitivity. There are numerous options on the market for killing the adult fleas for a period of time, but all should be repeated (as indicated) for continuous flea control. Treatments often are applied as spot-on treatments, which are topical treatments that are applied to a small unreachable area, usually at the top back of the neck where the cat is unable to lick it off. In some cases, oral products may be more useful and practical. Flea shampoos can also be beneficial for young animals or for an acute flea infestation, but continuous management with one of the long-term products is essential.

Flea control for outdoor pets is virtually impossible, although the current flea control products that are available may be sufficient for short term treatment, as long as your house does not become infested. There are many pet products that treat for fleas during their immature stages of life (i.e., eggs). However, if the house or yard has become infested, environmental treatment will be necessary. Fleas may actually bite humans in the house if flea medications cause them to leave their animal host to search for another host.

Cats that are allergic to fleas may require steroids or antihistamines to combat their sensitivity to the bites. Likewise, if a secondary bacterial infection develops as the result of open lesions, antibiotics may be prescribed. Follow-up exams are often necessary for determining how treatments are progressing.

Living and Management

The most important factor in managing a cat with fleas is the application of regular treatment doses on a timely basis. Because it takes only one or two bites for a flea allergic animal to start itching, you will have the best results when you are consistent with flea control products. Other factors, like frequent bathing, and whether you have chosen to use spot-on or other topical products, will determine how long to wait between product applications.

Diana Ruth Davidson, Chief Pet Officer and Managing Nanny, Westside Dog Nanny

We offer pet services such as:  Pet Sitting,  In-Home Dog Boarding, Dog Walking, Overnights in your home, Doggie Day Care.

Diana@WestsideDogNanny.com
310 919 9372

Dogs, Fleas, health

Flea Control for Dogs and Flea Bite Allergy in Dogs

Flea bite hypersensitivity and flea allergicdermatitis is the most common skin disease in pets. And although the allergies usually develop when dogs are young (less than one and up to five years of age), flea allergies can begin at any age. It is the saliva from the flea that is actually believed to be the cause of the allergy or sensitivity.

The flea life cycle includes the adult flea, egg, larva, and pupa. Adult fleas do bite but cannot survive long if they are not on the dog. Once the adult flea lays its eggs on the host it will fall off, leaving the eggs to mutate through the rest of their life cycles. This generational process continues on the host pet until the flea population has been eradicated entirely.

The condition described in this medical article can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how flea bite hypersensitivity and flea allergic dermatitis affect cats, please visit this page in the PetMD health library.

SYMPTOMS AND TYPES

Flea bite hypersensitivity or flea allergic dermatitis usually causes severe itching of the skin. This condition is medically referred to as pruritis. As few as one or two flea bites a week can cause pruritis, so symptoms will often persist even after some form of flea control has been used. Symptoms are often episodic, but most dogs will have symptoms that worsen with age. Some dogs can also suffer behavioral problems as a result of flea bite hypersensitivity, with a condition called neurodermatoses.

Most owners first notice frequent and severe itching and scratching, hair loss, and scabs on the dog’s skin. Many times the hind end is affected more than the front of the body or the head, however, dogs that are being affected by an allergic reaction to the fleas can have lesions anywhere on the body. Moreover, fleas or flea dirt may or may not be visible.

DIAGNOSIS

By using a flea comb to inspect your dog’s hair, fleas or flea dirt can be seen more readily. Skin tests for mites or bacterial skin diseases may be recommended if fleas cannot be found. Sometimes the best diagnostic method is to just treat for fleas.

TREATMENT

Flea control and prevention is essential for dogs with flea bite hypersensitivity. There are numerous options on the market that kill the adult fleas for a period of time, but all should be repeated (as indicated) for continuous flea control. Insecticides often are applied as spot-on treatments – typically topical treatments that are applied to a small area, usually at the top back of the neck where the dog is unable to lick it off. Oral products are also available, some of which may be more useful and practical for you and your dog. Flea shampoos can also be beneficial for young animals or for an acute flea infestation, but continuous management with one of the long-term products is essential.

Flea control for outdoor pets is virtually impossible, but current flea control products that are available may be sufficient for short term treatment, as long as the house does not become infested. There are many pet products that can be used to treat for fleas during their immature stages of life (i.e., eggs). However, if the house or yard has an infestation, environmental treatment will be necessary. Fleas will actually bite humans in the house if flea medications cause them to leave their animal host to search for another host.

Dogs that are allergic to fleas may require steroids or antihistamines to combat their sensitivity to the bites. Likewise, if a secondary bacterial infection develops as the result of open sores, antibiotics may be prescribed. Follow-up exams are often necessary to determine how treatments are progressing.

LIVING AND MANAGEMENT

The most important factor in managing a dog with fleas is the application of regular doses of flea treatment on a timely basis. Because it takes only one or two bites for a flea allergic animal to start itching, it is best that you be consistent with flea control products. Other factors to consider, such as frequent bathing, and whether you are using spot-on treatments or other topical products, will determine how long to wait between product applications.

 

Diana Ruth Davidson, Chief Pet Officer and Managing Nanny, Westside Dog Nanny

We offer pet services such as:  Pet Sitting,  In-Home Dog Boarding, Dog Walking, Overnights in your home, Doggie Day Care.

Diana@WestsideDogNanny.com
310 919 9372

Dogs, Fleas, health

Apple Cider Vinegar: A Natural Fleas Preventative

 

Fleas are annoying, but every pet owner knows the pests are actually more than a nuisance—their bites can cause itching and irritation on your pets skin, and they carry a myriad of diseases, too. There are plenty of options available for killing fleas, but many contain chemicals and non-natural ingredients.

A natural flea killer is likely sitting in your pantry right now: apple cider vinegar. It can be an inexpensive alternative to pricey medications, and it’s easy to use. Read on to learn more about how to use apple cider vinegar for fleas.

Apple Cider Vinegar: A Natural Flea Killer?

Apple cider vinegar doesn’t actually kill fleas, but it does provide an unpleasant environment that will make fleas want to move on. Both the smell and the taste are off-putting to fleas, which means they avoid your pet if they smell and taste like apple cider vinegar, says Darcy Matheson, author of “Greening Your Pet Care.”

Apple cider vinegar is best used as a preventative measure in protecting your pets against fleas. And while there are plenty of commercial products available for killing and preventing fleas, not all veterinarians like them. “I recommend using natural flea products instead of chemicals due to the many detrimental side effects that can occur when using chemical products,” says Dr. Judy Morgan, a holistic veterinarian in New Jersey. She notes that some chemicals found in commercial options can potentially negatively affect not only the pet, but also the humans—including children—who administer them and come in close contact with the treated pets.

Using apple cider vinegar as a preventative flea treatment will make things easier for you later. Dr. Pamela Fisher, a holistic veterinarian in Ohio, notes that fleas are much harder to deal with once they’re on your pet and in your home.

But not all veterinarians support apple cider vinegar as an effective flea preventative. “I would only recommend natural options for owners who are holistic or for patients who do not respond well to medicated flea treatments,” says Katie Gryzb, DVM, a veterinarian based out of Brooklyn. “I would never recommend a natural option over a medicated flea treatment except for the previously stated cases.”

How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar to Prevent Fleas

Pouring a bottle of apple cider vinegar over your pet will not magically make fleas disappear—so don’t try it. However, there are multiple ways this natural flea repellent can be used: in drinking water, in baths and as a spray.

If you choose to use apple cider vinegar to bathe your pet, using a diluted solution is best, says Fisher. This option can be used as a preventative or a treatment, depending on your needs.

Adding apple cider vinegar to your dog’s drinking water can be a good option, but it may be a little tricky, explains Matheson. For this option you should include a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar for every quart of water, but your dog might not be a fan at first. “You may have to introduce this gradually because apple cider vinegar does have a distinct taste,” Matheson says.

How to Make an Apple Cider Vinegar Flea Spray

To use apple cider vinegar in a spray, just add equal amounts of apple cider vinegar and water to a spray bottle. Spray the mixture on your pet when you notice fleas, or before they go outside to discourage fleas at the outset. This mixture can also be used in your home if you notice fleas in your carpets or bedding, but be sure to always test on a small area first to see how the material will react.

If using the spray method, it’s important to be aware of where you’re spraying. “Be careful to avoid their eyes, noses and ear area when you’re misting around the face,” Matheson says.

This spray can be even more effective if you add a few drops of some essential oils, says Morgan. She recommends lavender or cedar oil as both have flea-repellent properties and will make your dog smell a little better than if you just use apple cider vinegar.

Other Home Remedies for Fleas on Dogs

 

Apple cider vinegar can be used as a natural flea killer in many ways, but dog owners have other natural options, too.

Many people like to use essential oils, which Morgan uses on her own pets when necessary. It’s important to make sure essential oils are diluted before use on your pet, Morgan says, because otherwise they’re too strong and could cause skin irritation or respiratory distress These oils can be mixed with water and added to your dog’s collar before he heads outside—Matheson says to use 8-10 drops of oil and two tablespoons of water to make the mixture. Oils such as lemongrass, cedarwood, peppermint, rosemary and thyme are also safe and effective mixtures to use as possible flea preventatives. It’s equally important to know which oils not to use on pets—tea tree oil, for example, can be toxic to both cats and dogs, Matheson says.

Matheson also recommends using lemon as a home remedy for fleas on dogs. Similar to the vinegar, fleas are repelled by the taste of lemon. Simply add a cup of lemon juice to your dog’s bath or include some on a comb while you’re brushing them out.

Natural flea killers, however, aren’t without their downsides. “Many of the products need to be reapplied on a regular basis,” says Fisher, “but are well worth the effort to keep our pets and families safe.”

Remember that it’s best to work with a veterinarian to safely control and prevent fleas, even if you’re using natural products.

 

Diana Ruth Davidson, Chief Pet Officer and Managing Nanny, Westside Dog Nanny

We offer pet services such as:  Pet Sitting,  In-Home Dog Boarding, Dog Walking, Overnights in your home, Doggie Day Care.

Diana@WestsideDogNanny.com
310 919 9372

Cats, Fleas

Fleas on Cats

How can a natural product to combat fleas on cats almost lead to the cat’s death?

Natural products can be hopeless against flea infestations, and that’s bad news for cats.
I hate fleas.
Although I always have claimed to be an animal lover, and fleas are animals, I do not feel any cognitive dissonance about this apparent contradiction. Fleas are horrible creatures. I realize that they fulfill certain roles in the ecosystems in which they reside, but those roles are bad. Fleas cause agony and misery in companion animals. They spread diseases such as feline infectious anemia and bartonellosis (known inappropriately as cat scratch fever, when really it should be called flea feces fever). And let us never forget fleas’ role in the death of one-third of Europeans in the middle ages — fleas are the vector for plague.
Over the years I have treated many cats who died or nearly died as a result of fleas. Feline infectious anemia, caused by a bacteria in the Mycoplasma genus, has led to the near-demise of many a patient. And I have seen many cats nearly die (and a few actually die) from a different type of anemia caused by fleas. These cats had such heavy flea burdens that the blood sucking parasites sucked them near or to the point of death.
After an incident at work a few weeks ago, I have a new reason to hate fleas. They may lead to life-threatening intestinal obstructions.
A cat was brought to my clinic with a history of vomiting and weight loss. The owners had been struggling with a severe flea infestation in their house. They had used a natural product that, like all natural flea control products I’ve encountered, was absolutely ineffective.
Blood tests showed no cause for the gastrointestinal symptoms. Radiographs (X-rays) also did not provide an answer. An ultrasound of the abdomen, including the intestines, was performed. It showed a foreign object lodged in the intestines.
How, one might ask, could a foreign object show up on ultrasound but not on radiographs? Certain soft items such as fabric, hairballs, and some plastics are “radiolucent,” or invisible on X-rays.
The cat was rushed to surgery, and the foreign body was found within the intestines. The surrounding intestinal wall was devitalized and in the process of dying; fortunately, it had not yet burst open. The affected section was removed and the remaining sections of intestine were sutured back together.
While the cat recovered from surgery I opened the affected section of intestine to determine the nature of the foreign body. It was a hairball. The cat had nearly died from a hairball.
Although many people believe hairballs are normal in cats, in fact they are not. Hairballs don’t just happen. All cats (except for the hairless breeds) groom and swallow hair, and their systems are designed to move the hair through the intestines and out the rear end into the litter box.
Recent research has shown that a very significant number of cats who develop hairballs suffer from problems with their digestive tracts. These may among other things include inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal motility disorders, pancreatitis, and a nebulous condition called triaditis. The cat in question had no evidence of these disorders on any of her diagnostics (and she underwent the ultimate diagnostic event — exploratory abdominal surgery).
So why did the cat’s nearly fatal hairball develop? It is possible that a very mild (too mild to be observable on ultrasound or during surgery) case of pancreatitis or inflammatory bowel disease contributed to the matter. But in the end I wound up suspicious of her flea infestation.
The owners reported that the cat had been frenetically grooming during the time of the infestation. The cat’s hair was sparse and barbered (which is a way of saying that she had been biting the hair off with her teeth). I theorized that over-grooming and subsequent excessive hair consumption because of the flea infestation had contributed to the formation of the terrible trichobezoar.
Although I always have had bad things to say about natural or alternative flea preventatives, I should confess that these products are not alone in their inefficacy. Frontline Plus was applied in our hospital to the cat in question. (She could not take an oral preventative before or immediately after surgery because of her intestinal issues.) Twenty-four hours later she was still crawling with fleas that appeared to be alive and well.
Fortunately, 12 hours after surgery the cat’s intestines were sufficiently healthy for oral treatments. She received a dose of Capstar, which did the trick.
I counseled the owners extensively on how to address the home infestation. One stage of the flea life cycle, the pupa, is immune to all medicines, flea bombs, and other treatments. There will be millions of pupae in carpets, on bedding, and in every crack and corner by the time there is an active and visible flea infestation in the home. I recommended discarding bedding and cleaning as much as possible, but I warned the owners that millions of pupae would remain. The best option in such circumstances is to use an effective product (for now, Comfortis still seems to work very well) simultaneously and consistently in all pets in the house. After several months all of the pupae will have hatched into adult fleas that will have been killed by the effective preventative.
The cat in question went home to finish her recovery. But don’t let this happen to your cat. Stay ahead of the fleas with an effective preventative.
We offer pet services such as:  Pet Sitting,  In-Home Dog Boarding, Dog Walking, Overnights in your home, Doggie Day Care.
Diana Ruth Davidson, Chief Pet Officer and Managing Nanny, Westside Dog Nanny
Diana@WestsideDogNanny.com
310 919 9372

Dr. Eric Barchas