Treatment FAQ

why is my dog scratching more after flea treatment

by Murphy Moen DDS Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Why is my pet still scratching after applying flea treatment? It's fairly typical after you've applied Itch Flea for there to be a period of hyperactivity amongst the fleas as the product takes effect, and this can cause an increase in itching. It should settle down though after 24 hours.Apr 23, 2021

Why does my dog scratch more after frontline?

Treated fleas may become more active before they die The ingredient in FRONTLINE Spot On and FRONTLINE Plus that kills fleas makes them hyperactive before they die. So you may see fleas come to the surface of your pet's coat and your pet might feel a bit more itchy than usual until those fleas are killed.

Will dog still itchy after fleas gone?

They can continue to itch, and, unless you have aggressively treated your dog AND your house and premises, the fleas may not actually be gone. Get your pet on a good topical or oral flea control through your vet. In flea control, you get what you pay for.

How do I know if flea treatment is working?

A. The active ingredient in FRONTLINE (fipronil) kills fleas by affecting their nervous system, making them hyperactive before dying. These dying fleas often rise to the top of your pet's haircoat, so the presence of visible fleas after treating your pet, is a sign that the product is working.

Why does my dog keep getting fleas even after treatment?

Not treating often enough Fleas go through a life cycle of egg, larvae, pupae and adult. Most flea treatments just kill adult fleas, but fleas can continue to emerge for months after you think an infestation has ended. When a newly emerged female flea finds a host, she can lay eggs within one day.Feb 19, 2018

How to treat fleas on dogs?

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.

Why does my dog's skin get itchy?

Dry flaky skin may well be as a result of scratching due to flea infestation , but can also be affected by allergies and medical conditions.

What does flea dirt look like?

Flea dirt is the waste product produced by fleas and when dry it looks like little black specs; however if you wet it these black specs turn red as they contain digested blood. This brings us to the ‘wet paper test’, we comb through your pet’s coat and collect the debris onto a piece of wet white paper, if there is flea dirt present there will be small red dots visible where the flea dirt has dissolved in the water. The wet paper test helps to distinguish between flea dirt and just dried mud that may be on your pet’s coat.

What causes skin irritation?

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.

Can you find fleas on the underside of a dog?

It can be easier to find fleas on the underside of your pet as the coat is naturally thinner here. It is often easier to see the flea dirt in your pet’s coat than the actual fleas. Advertisement.

Can fleas jump?

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.

Can cats carry fleas?

Cats can also carry the fleas and they do not even have to be your own cats, for example if a cat comes through your home or garden then the fleas can jump off or deposit eggs as they go. This is why we often advise treating the home environment and in-contact animals also.

What are some other causes of itchy skin in pets?

After flea allergies, most itchy skin disease is usually due to an underlying allergy of some sort, be it your pet’s food or something in their environment.

What is atopic dermatitis?

After ruling out a food allergy, if your pet is still itching, and it’s in the typical locations of the ears, between their toes and their belly, then a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis may be reached.

How Itch can help your pet

Fleas are a nuisance, and they do make our pets itchy. But in addition to this, the worst-case scenario is that your pet may be flea-allergic.

Why does my dog itch after flea treatment?

Causes of itching after flea treatment: It is also possible that your dogs’ flea treatment is not working, and fleas are the cause of their itching . You can determine this by checking your dog carefully for fleas after administering the flea medication. Carefully part your dog’s hair, especially in flea prone areas like the base ...

Why does my dog itch after fleas?

Your dog may have a flea allergy. If your dog is allergic to fleas, the itching will continue for some time after eliminating fleas. If the allergy is severe, the dog may continue to itch if even one or two fleas can bite. You may have to take extra preventative measures like treating your home and yard for fleas.

How to stop my dog from licking my shoes?

Look for shampoos that contain moisturizing and anti-inflammatory ingredients such as oatmeal and argon oil. · Use a mixture of half apple cider vinegar and half water in a spray bottle. Spray the itchy places on your dog and prevent licking until dry. Do not use apple cider vinegar on open wounds or raw skin.

What is mange in dogs?

Mange is an infestation with microscopic insects that burrow into the skin to feed and live. Constant itching and loss of hair, especially in areas such as the elbows, groin, and armpits are symptoms of mange. Seasonal allergies can also cause constant itching in dogs.

What to do if your dog is scratching?

If your dog is scratching continuously and seems miserable, there are things you can do to bring relief. · Use an itch relief shampoo. Pet stores sell a variety of anti-itch shampoos. Those with all-natural ingredients are the safest option for your pet.

How to help dogs with seasonal allergies?

Regular grooming, an air filtration system, and limiting the time spent outdoors can all help manage the symptoms of seasonal allergies. Food allergies are also common in dogs. Food allergies are notoriously difficult to diagnose. Your vet will probably suggest an elimination diet, which requires strict adherence.

Can flea medication be effective?

If you continue to see active fleas after the medication should have taken effect, the medication you are using may not be effective. There are numerous types of flea treatment, so talk to your vet about trying a different kind of treatment. Your dog may have a flea allergy. If your dog is allergic to fleas, the itching will continue ...

Why does my dog scratch so much?

These factors include fleas, staph (bacteria) or yeast (fungal) infections, and food allergies. If you’re noticing an increase in your dog’s scratching, they may have developed one or more of these flare factors that are pushing them over their “itch threshold” despite being on anti-itch medication. Fleas.

What to do if my dog is scratching?

If your dog has a persistent itch that makes them scratch or chew themselves, a visit to your veterinarian will help narrow down the cause and get them started on a safe and effective anti-itch medication. Sometimes your vet will prescribe multiple medications together to both ease your dog’s itchiness and address the root cause ...

Why does my dog itch in August?

August is Itchy Pet Awareness Month. Flare factors that are causing your dog’s itch. There are a few reasons this could be happening — different “flare factors” can increase your dog’s itching despite being on previously-effective medication. A flare factor is a condition that causes dramatic worsening of itching or skin inflammation ...

How to prevent staph and yeast infection in dogs?

This will help prevent staph and yeast infections, which are a major flare factor as they weaken your dog’s natural skin barrier and make them more susceptible to allergens. Keep your dog on a hypoallergenic or high fatty acid diet that will support their skin barrier.

Why does my dog have a lot of yeast on his skin?

Dogs with atopic dermatitis have increased Staph and yeast on their skin compared to normal dogs, due to a breakdown in their protective skin barrier. Your veterinarians can prescribe oral, injectable and topical medications to treat these conditions. Food allergies.

Why is flea control important?

Flea control is crucial to controlling flares of allergic itch. Intermittent exposure to fleas, such as when a pet owner only applies flea preventative when they see fleas or for a few months during the summer, increases the risk of developing flea allergy [1].

How to treat a dog with itch?

An oral treatment versus a topical solution may be best because you’ll likely be bathing your dog regularly. Bathe your dog weekly with a medicated shampoo and use anti-itch sprays and/or mousse as recommended by your vet.

Why does my dog itch after a flea bath?

The itchiness could be caused by the flea bath itself, either on its own or in addition to any remaining fleas or reinfestation with new one, flea baths can be drying or otherwise irritating to the skin, especially if the dog has sensitive skin or allergy to the flea dip used… its pretty strong stuff.

How to treat fleas on dogs?

First you must treat the dogs environment, wash the dogs beds , use an apholstery cleaner on furniture and rug shampoo on carpeting, if your dog has a dog house sprinkle it with FOOD GRADE diatamaceious earth (get it at feed stores, do not use the kind you get at home. Continue Reading. A flea shampoo only kills the fleas on the dog at the time ...

How long does flea shampoo last?

First, flea shampoos only kill the fleas that are on them at that time. Even the best shampoo only lasts 30 min after the bath. Second, they are full of chemicals, and depending on the brand, tbh , not always the safest.

What shampoo should I use for fleas?

Skin Allergies are probably the main culprit. Also, check the shampoo. A good mild efficient shampoo for itchy skin is oatmeal shampoo.

How long does it take for a dog to get fleas to hatch?

Now all of this will kill the fleas alive now, but in a few days the eggs will start to hatch, so in 7 - 10 days you will need to do all this again (except the diatamaceous earth). You would also need to bathe the dog at least every 3 days until both treatments in the environment have been completed.

How long does it take for flea meds to kill?

Remember, most flea meds take up to 18 hours to kill a flea, so if they are in the environment and jump on pup, it takes awhile. The second possibility is that frontline isn't working on them.. Frontline actually stopped working for us several years ago and we switched to advantage, now I use that or revolution.

Why does my dog smell after a bath?

She said, “If a dog smells after a bath it's because the dog was not completely dried. ”. The place she works has a self serve dog wash. Every week she witnesses owners washing their dogs and giving them a quick wipe with a towel, maybe a minute or two of using the dryer, then off they go.

Why does my cat react to flea serum?

Other times, your cat might simply have an adverse reaction to the serum because of a weak immune system. You might be the one at fault, as well; if pet owners use dog flea medicine on cats, or adult cat medicine on kittens, their pets are likely to behave erratically after their treatment.

How to treat a cat with fleas?

How to Perform the Treatment. Deworming and anti-flea treatments are crucial for your cat’s safety. Administering them is a bit uncomfortable for the cat, however. You have to take a pipette and apply the anti-flea serum onto the nape of your cat’s neck. The process is rather simple:

What do fleas eat?

For instance, flea larvae tend to feed on tapeworm proglottids. Each proglottid stays inside of the larva during the pupal stage. Once a cat ingests the pupa, the tapeworm can manifest inside the cat and continue its life cycle.

Why does my cat change his behavior?

A change in your cat’s behavior always causes concern. Your cat’s changing behavior may result from illness, injury, pain, stress, or fear, but before you can bring your cat comfort, you must get...

What is a flea?

Fleas are external parasites. They attach themselves onto the body of a host, usually a mammal, and bite their flesh. Most often, a flea will simply jump up from its natural habitat and attach itself to the host. However, animals (as well as humans) can also pick up larvae while walking through tall grass or wooded areas. The larvae will then develop on the host’s body until they mature into adult fleas.

Can cats get flea spray?

When you apply them onto the fur, the cat can ingest them by accident and get flea treatment poisoning. In fact, it doesn’t even have to do it consciously. For example, if I were to get an anti-flea spray, I could accidentally spritz some of it into my pet’s mouth. And it doesn’t end with ingesting the product, either.

Can you use anti-flea serum on a kitten?

But taking care of a cat is not always the same as taking care of a kitten. Kittens are delicate and frail compared to adult cats. They are still developing, so you can’t use any adult products on them. Even a regular dose of an adult cat anti-flea serum could harm the kitten by poisoning it.

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