Flea Allergy

[jenwilson]

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:

[dash]

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.

[MaxBooBooBear]

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.

[Quercus]

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

[MaxBooBooBear]

@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.

[tanza]

@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?….

[Tiva]

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.

[MaxBooBooBear]

@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.

[sharronhurlbut]

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.