My dog is allergic to fleas, I have been applying Frontline once-a-month, he still itches!?

Question

I bought a flea comb and treated the house. I'm concerned because although he's gotten much better, his fur hasn't grown back where it fell out and he still has some bumps and itches. What could be causing this? We bought a special shampoo and a cream for him, which has been helping but he's still suffering with the itchiness. Is there something I'm missing?

Vet confirmed that it's a flea allergy. We brought him to the vet when the original problem happened. It still wasn't going away so we brought him back in but it was due to the fact that he still had fleas (we hadn't bought a flea comb and had a cat who caught the fleas too and wasn't allergic). He had an odor and clumps of fur coming out and itchy red bumps. It's gotten much better since the last visit but he's still got a few bumps and his fur isn't growing back completely (he's a long-haired Doxie) or not as thick as it once was.

Answer 1

this may not have anything to do w/fleas hon.
you might wanna have your vet check him for allergies, which is easily kept in check w/OTC meds or prescription meds that your vet recommends or prescribes.

i had a foster dog that had horrible seasonal allergies, my vet recommended an OTC allergy med and it helped clear up the rash, bumps and itching.

Edit:
well the only thing i can think of is to ask if you have had the house and yard treated too. it's impossible to get rid of the fleas on your dog or cat if the yard and house are not treated for adult fleas and eggs.
sometimes the stuff at the store doesn't work and ya have to get a pro spray company to do it. they make sprays safe for pets and kids (it's what i have them spray my house and yard with).
some dogs are SUPER allergic to fleas and even one bite can set them off.
has your vet talked about cortisone shots? or even allergy meds?
sometimes when a dog has a severe allergic reaction or mange or any number of stressful situations that shocks it's immune system it can damage the follicles of the hair and the follicles can actually die. so you end up w/a dog that has bald spots.
it might also take a very long time for his body to grow new hair. his immune system has been working overtime to combat this allergic reaction so there wasn't a "need" to regrow hair, if ya get what im saying. the body (for animals and humans) puts non-important things on "hold" while it heals the major problems first.
I'd give him a while to see. he may or may not have permanent hair loss from this.
here are some herbal ideas to help boost hair growth:
http://dogs.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Herbs_Vitamins_for_Hair_Growth_in_Dogs

Answer 2

Then why not ring the vet and tell them this? Sounds like they were very helpful the first and second time!

Flea combs don't help a flea infestation - they are for diagnosing the presence of fleas, and combing out dirts, they don't kill anything.

What did you use to treat the house with? Are you still regularly treating the cat? I would suggest switching to Frontline Plus for starters, because this kills the flea eggs and larvae on the animals as well as the adult fleas. Depending on what treatment you used for the house, it may or may not have been helpful.

If you bath the animals within 48 hours before or after applying the Frontline, the Frontline will not work. You also need to make sure the stuff gets right on the skin of the animal, not the fur.

Speak to the vet about what else you can do!

Chalice

Answer 3

Frontline will only kill the flea after it has bitten the dog. Therefore, the problem will persist until you have killed all of the fleas in his environment. Here is how to do that:

Once the pet has been treated, you must treat your home and yard. The best products to do this would include not only a killing agent, but also a sterilization agent. Inside, I would use Ultracide, if you can get it. (Many on line sites sell it.) Follow the instructions on the label Wash all animal’s bedding and vacuum frequently. I WOULD NOT put any chemical in the vacuum bag or catch container, other than a flea collar. It is too dangerous to risk the vacuum accidentally spreading that chemical through the air. Throw out the vacuum bag or dump the catch container after every vacuuming. You can never vacuum too much DO NOT STEAM CLEAN YOUR RUGS This can hatch flea eggs and make your problem worse.

Outside I would use Demon WP mixed with Gentrol or Nylar, carefully following label instructions. Treat the entire yard, paying special attention to under bushes and low hanging branches. Most of these products can be bought at any Do-It-Yourself Pest Control company either on line or in a store.

Treating your house and yard is just as important as treating the pet

Answer 4

Do you still have fleas? If so, then that's the problem. If not, did you wash all of his bedding, carpets, etc... to remove the flea debris (dead fleas and their feces)?
I would try that first.

If he's still itchy, and there are no more fleas, and all is clean, they he may be itching from another allergy, from the sores that are healing from his previous itching (healing makes a sore itchy), or from dry skin.
I would make sure he's on a good diet first...make sure he's getting enough of the Omega fatty acids. (supplements to give are fish oil pills, ground flaxseed, etc...) Give him an oatmeal bath. You can put Calendula oil on his sore and itchy spots.
An allergic reaction can last for a few weeks after just one exposure. You can talk to your vet to get some steroids or anti-histamine medication like Benadryl (depending on the problem) until his reaction calms down.

Answer 5

Flea Allergy Dermatitis is very common. How long after you bathe him are you applying the frontline? You want to wait about 24 hours before applying it. And dont bathe him for about 3 days after. 95% of the flea populatin lives in the enviorment not the pet...so treat your carpet, funiture, bedding and the pets bedding....just treat the whole house! But be sure to use a good flea spray. The bombs from Walmart are not good flea treatments for your house....They dont work. Go back to your vet and ask them if they have something to use in your house.. I work for a Vet and we sell Knockout...It works great. It will take time for the hair to grow back. But you can ask your Vet if he can give an allergy shot to help with the itching as well. Just be patient...It takes time,

Answer 6

You have a flea infestation some where. Most likely it is the back yard or an area that your dog is in all the time. It is easy to get fleas off a dog, a simple bath will do it but they will continue to get reinfected by going to where the fleas are. You need to treat your yard & home for fleas. If there are no fleas, he won't pick them up. A monthly bath & a monthly yard treatment should clear up the infestation. If the infestation is bad, you may want to treat every two weeks for 6 weeks, to kill off all the life cycles of the flea/tick. I use products that have permethrin or pyrithrin in them. It is a fast kill poison & kills instantly & does leave a residue. I use "Happy Jack Kennel Dip ll". as a dip for the dogs & as a yard spray. You can call your local extention service & find out what they are recommending in your area.

Answer 7

I have 2 dachshund who have flea dermatitis, I use Advantix every month on them, which works fine.

The only thing missing (I assume you are using a soapfree shampoo like HyLite) from your regimen is a possible initial shot of prednisone at your vet's to get the dog to stop itching immediately.
The rest is maintenance.

One dachsie came to me as a rescue with almost no fur and sores on her skin - she's fine now, takes time, but with good nutrition, absolute flea control, and possibly a decent pet vitamin, your dog should get his fur back. I wouldn't shampoo too often either, dries out the skin further.

Answer 8

My dog had to same problem apply the fllee med every three weeks undtil we get frost and ask your vet to give u some pills for the itching. that will help and it will take a while to for there hair to grow back its been two months since i took my dog and her hair has not grown back yet. ALSO a good flee shampoo is dawn soap and baby shampoo mix the two togehter and leave it on them for like two mins it rally works and try to get flee collars but be carefull look for scapes they can get infected and that is worse just keep a eye on them if they dont stop take back to vet.good lcuk

Answer 9

Try Bag Balm on the sores. It's a medicated salve that will help sooth the sores and heal them at the same time. It's completely safe if the dog licks it. You can get it at larger pet shops or feed stores.

You also need to treat your house...Either call in an exterminator (DIY Bombs that you buy at the supermarket are worthless) or if Katslookup answers, listen to her advice!

Answer 10

it is most likely what you are feeding. also the bite of ONE flea can set a dog nuts that is allergic