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Flea Allergy

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • J

    Hollie had a flea allergy (caught it before it became an infection) a couple of months ago. She has begun scratching and chewing again, and starting to lose a little hair around her tail and under her tail.:eek:

    Being the over-protective parent that I am, I have already scheduled a vet appointment for tomorrow. They will check her out, confirm my suspicions and we will leave there with prescription and front-line.

    I just feel sooo bad for her, scratching all the time. The fleas have been horrible here this year. I typically put front-line on Hollie 3 months a year during the summer. This year I have used 6 already. I don't like putting so much front-line on her, but my vet doesn't recommend any of home remedies (garlic, cidar vinegar in water, dawn detergent for baths, etc. – DO Any of these worK???)

    Has anyone else had a horrid flea problem this year? :confused:

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  • dashD

    I have not had fleas since frontline was released until this year. I used it as soon as I saw one but it doesn't seem to have the same effect it used to. Maybe the fleas are getting immune to it. I may switch to something else. I hate fleas.

    Jennifer

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  • MaxBooBooBearM

    Tyler and Zoey's dermatologist (who has been treating their ringworm) prescribed monthly topical for fleas (they are already on the pills–Sentinel). Zoey is allergic to fleas. I wanted to just use it if they had fleas, but the dr told me I should keep them on it year round......there is also a pill that can be used when the topicals don't work. I forget the name of it--it's only used when really necessary.

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  • QuercusQ

    So you use both a topical and an ingestible at the same time! Hmm…didn't know you could do that!

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

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  • MaxBooBooBearM

    @Quercus:

    So you use both a topical and an ingestible at the same time! Hmm…didn't know you could do that!

    Oh yes–I've done it periodically over the years--on the advice of my vet. The ingestible works differently than the topical--I believe it sterilizes the fleas, but the topicals kill the fleas. So if there's an infestation, you use the topical to get rid of them fast, and the ingestible helps for maintenance. Sentinel also is their heart worm pill.

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  • tanzaT

    @MaxBooBooBear:

    Oh yes–I've done it periodically over the years--on the advice of my vet. The ingestible works differently than the topical--I believe it sterilizes the fleas, but the topicals kill the fleas. So if there's an infestation, you use the topical to get rid of them fast, and the ingestible helps for maintenance. Sentinel also is their heart worm pill.

    I would be worried with "overload" of a pill and topical?….

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • TivaT

    My Zara (terrier mix) is alergic to fleas, too. Before, I was doing like jenwilson (put frontline during the summer etc.), but few years ago (in December), Zara scratched her armpits, they were so swollen, and Zara was barely walking… Vet immediately put on Zara stronghold, and next day I found one dead flea on Zara... Vet told me to put frontline on Zara every month and it works.

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  • MaxBooBooBearM

    @tanza:

    I would be worried with "overload" of a pill and topical?….

    I was worried when it was first recommended–but my vet said it was fine. And the dermatologist was pretty adamant that with Zoey's flea allergy, that the topical in addition to the Sentinel should be used year round. I've never had any problems with any of the 3 Bs I've done this with--but it may depend on the dog.

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  • S

    I remeber that the powder 20 mule team borax is it even around now?? sprinkled in the carpets and then vaccumed up, would kill and of the flea eggs that were in it.
    I have used it and it works…
    But since the frontline, have had no need.

    Sharron Hurlbut

    BRAT, basenji rescue

    Evergreen basenji club

    Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue

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  • AndrewA

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    @khanis: I have NEVER heard of these legendary fleas or mosquitos…. and I am a Portland native... and have NEVER had a flea issue with my basenjis [Whippet, IG, RR, Newfs, or cats]. Our home ranges from 3-6 basenjis on average and still no problem, even with dogs that come/go for showing or boarding. The only time I have treated them [my dogs] was prior to traveling to the midwest or east coasts. During the time I lived in Portland, which is at the very northern end of the Valley and has more wind than the lower Valley, I noticed a lot fewer fleas and 'skeeters. I can understand why you haven't experienced them. Try camping on the shores of Fern Ridge sometime. Make sure you take lots of DEET. I grew up there and, man, the 'skeeters are horrible!:eek: I can remember our dogs and cats had a rough time of it, too. We were always picking fleas off them. But that's the difference between living in the city and living in the back woods. The conditions in the lower Valley are perfect for the growth of fleas and mosquitos: standing water everywhere and very few hard freezes. (Gramma lives in the "sticks" too and has lots of both in her area outside Salem.) But, again, back to the subject, she used Brewer's Yeast and had pretty good results with it.
  • basenjiboy20B

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    V
    Do you live in the country in MN? My 4-year-old hound mix, Priss, has problems in the summer months starting about August. She will lick her feet until they are red and the fur is almost gone. I have tried all kinds of medications, shots, and changed her diet, but it is something environmental. I've even taken her to different vets to see if someone might have a solution. Most of the medications are steriods; they work for a week or so, then are ineffective. I won't use them anymore. Priss bloats up like a balloon! My vet thinks it is either a particular weed that grows this time of year or possibly a mite or small insect that is invisible to the naked eye. I wash her feet in vinegar and water when she comes in the house and have started using Willard Water, http://www.dr-willardswater.com, too. Sometimes, I use a diluted solution of tree tea oil to soothe the itching. Priss smells like a dirty sock from licking her feet when she is troubled by allergies. Also, she runs a low-grade fever, especially in the morning. I give her 1/2 a baby aspirin and wash her face with cool water.
  • K

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  • E

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    tanzaT
    To my knowledge, dogs don't get Posion Ivy….. As far as Fleas.... while we don't have a big problem here in No. California... I do need to use flea protection.. at times.... To be on meds for heartworm is responsible... and I would never take a chance... Liver problems with Basenji is not uncommon... that to me is the biggest plus for blood work up at least once a year... especially with our old Basenjis... some as with the Kidney's starting to shut down... my 15 1/2 yr old has been Kidney failure (nothing to do with Fanconi, but just old age) for almost the last year.... we have kept her going to SUBQ fluids since we found this out... and while I would do no more then this, since she accepts the fluids well (we at this time give fluids 2 to 3x's a week...) we take each day as a bonus day until the time she is ready to cross the bridge.... As far as flea meds.... if they don't have fleas... I would not worry about it.... of couse different then meds for heartworm... since that is a mosquitos born problem...