My dog and fleas..I really need your help on this one.?

Question

My dog is a 6 year old Yellow Lab and her name is Daisy. The first time we took her to the vet was when we got her to check up on everything. Well a few years later around when she was about 4 she started itching terribly. Like she would take 2 steps and itch...2 steps and itch. and on and on....she couldn't even sleep. So we took her to the vet and we got her a shot for hydrocotozone(sp?) and it got rid of all the fleas...but the vet told us that she was ALLERGIC to fleas...out of all things fleas! What dogs get the most! So she stopped for a while and now for about 2 weeks she is really starting to itch...I'm talking about worse than before..the vet told us to give her a bynnedryl(sp?) and it would help her. It sort of does but not enough..my dog is suffering and I feel terrible. Do any of yall know any home remedies I could give her or just anything...I must add she is well bathed so its not because she is dirty.

Thank you so much!
Haley

Answer 1

I used to have a lab that was alergic to fleas (And everything else in the world!). Here are a few suggestions:

Dab a little bit of Euculyptus oil (You can get it at healthfood stores) on her and on her bedding.

Wash her with Aveno Oatmeal bath - It really eases the itching. Cortozone shots won't get rid of fleas, they just ease the itching and really aren't good for the dog.

If she gets sores from all the itching, use Bag Balm salve. You can get it at Petsmart in the horse supplies.

Also, get the dog on a good flea protection program and also have an exterminator come out and spray in your house (It's a 3 cycle program). The DIY flea bombs don't really work.

Answer 2

I would advise anyone against using any of the Hartz flea products (really anything by them). Their flea products can kill dogs and cats, puppies and kittens. Actually, most soaps if left on long enough can kill fleas. Plain Ivory dish soap, only takes about a tablespoon mixed in a cup of water to dilute, can be lathered up and left on for 10-15 mins and will kill fleas. But with a dog with irritated skin, you don't want to use something like Head and Shoulders unless adding some good oatmeal or other soothing shampoo for dogs. Your vet or high quality pet store or groomer should be able to give you some medicated shampoo to give the dog relief. Dogs with flea allergies can be bit by one single flea and have serious problems, so you may not necessarily see the fleas. But Frontline or Advantage would be a good idea. You might also look at what you are feeding, and rule out additional food allergies as well. There are also some soothing sprays you can get. There are sometimes other things that can cause severe itching, too. Have they done bloodwork on her? In particular, checked her thyroid levels? If not, that can be a cause of serious itching/skin problems but there are medications that they can be kept on to take care of that. And, has the vet ever done a skin scraping?

Answer 3

The hydocortizone and benadryl are to treat the skin condition that your dogs is getting from the fleas, not to get rid of the fleas.

Fleas live and breed outdoors in grassy areas, also in carpets. If you haven't already done so, treat your carpet for fleas. If you have a lawn, treat that for fleas and consider not taking her to other untreated grassy areas til she starts to feel better.

Are you using a flea control product? If not, start doing so. I've used Advantage, also Frontline (if there are also ticks around). If she has her own bed, wash it thouroughly and try putting some eucalyptus leaves or boughs under it or get some eucalyptus oil to put on her bedding (just use a little). Eucalyptus oil is really strong, and can burn some dogs skin, so if she's already got a skin issue I wouldn't put it directly on her.

I'm sure you'll get lots of other suggestions, good luck!

Answer 4

Buy Advantage from the vet or a pet store. Works in California where the fleas are tough and don't respond to regular flea products. Costs about $15-20 but it is worth it.

Answer 5

I know you should lather the dog up and not rinse for a few minutes. That way the fleas suffocate in the bubbles. Also, there is medicated shampoo that you can use for fleas/itching. My Dad's dog is allergic as well, and they go through the same thing. It's sad, but the dog always itches. Good Luck.

Answer 6

Bathe regularly with Scratchex flea soap & then dry & spray with Hartz flea spray.Follow the directions on both.Start at neck & go to tip of tail.Do not do head or face.You must vaccuum alot & keep it up because 2 weeks & the flea eggs will be hatching around your home.Wash all dog bedding in bleach regularly.I hear too that rincing the dog with tea water helps.Fleas dont live on the pet,,they just jump on to feed off of its blood & can cause the dog to become anemic.

Answer 7

you need to get some frontline or advantage for her. these are flea preventatives sold by your vet to help rid your dog of fleas. no fleas=no itching due to being allergic. it's pretty simple. as for dog's getting fleas the most, only when you don't prevent it. i'm not sure my dog has ever had a flea on her at all. and why did you not take your dog to a vet for 4 years?!?!?!?! your dog should have regular yearly vet checks for vaccines. that's irresponsible in itself. get some flea meds and take you dog the to vet for regular visits.

Answer 8

First of all, get this poor animal some of the topical drops to kill fleas
from your vet (such as Advantage). Then give her a bath in baking soda water. That will help with the irritation caused by constant scratching.

Answer 9

I have an Airedale Terrier, a German Shepherd/Chow mix, and an Australian Cattle Dog/Border Collie mix. What kind of dogs do I wish I could have...Besides Airedales, probably some sort of Setter or Pointer, a Giant Schnauzer, a Boxer, a Belgian Sheepdog, a Collie and an Irish, Lakeland, Scottish, Wheaten, Welsh, and Wire Fox Terriers The coolest thing my dog does is peel boiled eggs. The funniest thing he does is he sits in a wheelbarrow and lets you push him around everywhere.

Answer 10

Well...if she has flea allergies...she might have other allergies...we dealt with our dogs ears, (where she continually dug at them until they bled and lost the hair) for over 5 years...after going to the vet all the time with no relief we thought we would have to put her down just to give her relief...somehow we came across information that she might have chemical allergies...so we put her on organic dog food (Paul Newman's)...and her ears totally cleared up and no more itching!...After so many years of this!...The vet just blew it off, but oh well, we know what we know. You might try this plus put her on garlic daily (fleas don't like it)...Good Luck.