flea allergy

Have you treated your grass?

If she's still that miserable I might see the vet. She may need a short course of medication to help her skin heal.

I havent treated my grass nor do I really know how. I do keep the grass cut because she is allergic to it too but normally the frontline is enough to control it but it didnt seem to work as well this time.

She has been to the vet for this before around the sametime last year so I called my vet and she prescribed her Temaril P and Cephalexin. I havent went to pick them up yet and I really hate giving them to her because if I could just get rid of the fleas, she would have no reason to scratch. And in turn I dont see the antibiotics working if the fleas are still biting her.

With the frontline not doing a great job this time, should I consider switching to something else?

Temaril-P is an antihistamine combined with a steroid, not an antibiotic. Getting rid of the fleas that are actively biting her might not be enough to stop her from itching. Some dogs are SUPER sensitive to flea bites and even one bite will make them miserable for weeks. My sister's little maltese mix is like that. When ONE flea bites them, all of their skin kind of kicks into 'overdrive' and reacts by getting itchy, red, and inflamed. The Temaril-P helps their skin heal by reducing the itching and inflammation.

You are right though, NO medicine would help her skin get better until you get rid of all the fleas!

I can't use spot-on flea prevention for my dogs, so I can't help you there. I vacuum daily (yes, daily), and that seems to keep them at bay.

 I would switch to a different product. I personally use Advantage - as needed - and haven't had any problems (and I'm in flea central!)

I am going to check into the Diatomaceous Earth. At this point I am willing to try anything that will not harm her to get rid of these pest.

I do vaccum as much as I can but I do miss a day here and there. I have even took the vaccum hose to her, ( she doesnt mind and isnt scared of the vaccum at all.)

I am going to talk to the vet about switching to advantage and hopefully that will help. It seems to offer more than frontline anyhow. Her skin has gotten dramatically better since I put the frontline on her but it only killed the fleas for a week or so. The hair has started to grow back in on her butt and the sores are gone. I do my best at stopping her from digging but she has realized this and now trys to hide to dig. I am going to rip the house apart again today to clean and vaccum and maybe give her a bath as it is almost time for it again anyhow. So hopefully this will help until we are allowed to give more flea meds.

Frist off -- you have to understand, flea allergy dermatitis is MORE than you think it is.  She will NOT stop scratching when the fleas are gone.  The dog who is flea allergic is allergic to the flea's SPIT.  Yep - I'm serious.  It literally sets up a chain reaction of inflammation in the body -- she needs to go to the vet and she needs antibiotics AND some sort of steroid (because it's usually the only thing that will take the inflammation down). 

You need to do three things all on the same day -- you need to give the dog a Capstar, flea bomb your house AND treat the yard.  Find someone who will keep the dog for you for the day while you do the house and the yard.   Then seriously you will need to do both the house and yard again in 7-8 days (the life cycle of the flea) .. .  simply because if you have a dog who is flea allergic you can't afford even ONE flea.  (been there done that - it is H$LL!!)

And next time threaten your brother with bodily harm and never let him do that to you again. 

Both Frontline and Advantage aren't working for me this year at all and I just got some Vectra to try (similar -- it stays on the skin/in the hair follicles/oil glands like Frontline)

But honestly -- getting rid of the fleas is just the first step -- flea allergy dermatitis -- once it starts -- is very difficult for the dog.  it is very painful and it will simply worsen and worsen -- and nothing just 'makes it better' without pretty darned strong medicine (and I"m the first one to suggest an herbal or such if one will work -- it won't in this case)

 Leaving the dog at the groomer's to have a good, deep scrubbing, nail trim, and file is a GREAT thing to do while you de flea your house. Filed nails and no more fleas on the dog helps tremendously. Definitely switch flea preventatives (monthly, even, if you have to!).

And, yes, they can have nasty reactions to fleas. My Emma does, on occasion, if she gets a bunch on her. She'll break out in hives, and her little face puffs up. She is allergic, allergic. 

calliecritturs

Frist off -- you have to understand, flea allergy dermatitis is MORE than you think it is.  She will NOT stop scratching when the fleas are gone.  The dog who is flea allergic is allergic to the flea's SPIT.  Yep - I'm serious.  It literally sets up a chain reaction of inflammation in the body -- she needs to go to the vet and she needs antibiotics AND some sort of steroid (because it's usually the only thing that will take the inflammation down). 

You need to do three things all on the same day -- you need to give the dog a Capstar, flea bomb your house AND treat the yard.  Find someone who will keep the dog for you for the day while you do the house and the yard.   Then seriously you will need to do both the house and yard again in 7-8 days (the life cycle of the flea) .. .  simply because if you have a dog who is flea allergic you can't afford even ONE flea.  (been there done that - it is H$LL!!)

And next time threaten your brother with bodily harm and never let him do that to you again. 

Both Frontline and Advantage aren't working for me this year at all and I just got some Vectra to try (similar -- it stays on the skin/in the hair follicles/oil glands like Frontline)

But honestly -- getting rid of the fleas is just the first step -- flea allergy dermatitis -- once it starts -- is very difficult for the dog.  it is very painful and it will simply worsen and worsen -- and nothing just 'makes it better' without pretty darned strong medicine (and I"m the first one to suggest an herbal or such if one will work -- it won't in this case)

Listen to Callie!Lex is allergic to fleas and it was a huge pain in the butt to get rid of them, but you have to treat everything!! Just one will set him off.

Arearis

Temaril P and Cephalexin

The Cephalexin is an antibiotic and may have been prescribed because the scratching has led to a staph infection, very itchy.  I agree that you have to treat the dog, house and yard all at the same time and repeat in ten days.