Hot spots (flea allergy dermatitis): Treatment and prevention

Parasites like fleas, mites, and ticks are inevitable if you’re sharing your life with a dog. Keeping on top of them is a must if you want to keep your pet strong and healthy.

As far as your dog provides a source of food and a place to breed, fleas will take any chance to hop on your dog, suck up the blood, lay eggs, and spread diseases.

Flea saliva contains a compound that irritates your pet’s skin. If your dog is allergic to flea saliva, one flea bite can cause severe flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), one of the most common causes of itchiness in dogs and cats.

How do you know your dog’s got fleas?

A tell-tale sign of fleas is your pet chewing his paws and pads and scratching at his groin, armpits, belly, or under his chin when he lies down on the floor or in his bed.

If the flea infestation is severe, young puppies and kittens may become pale, because too much blood loss can cause anemia.

Signs of Flea Allergy Dermatitis

Hot spots or acute flea allergy dermatitis appear as raw, moist, hairless wounds that can become acutely inflamed and painful due to excessive scratching or licking.

Hot spots may be caused by fleas or other bites of insects, yeast infections, allergies, or other causes, so it is also essential to look at the underlying cause to prevent them from recurring as they can become very painful.

Treatment and prevention

Your vet will recommend steroids, antihistamines, and washes to treat flea allergic dermatitis; he may even prescribe antibiotics if a secondary bacterial infection is present. You will then be advised to implement flea control measures.

If your pet has a flea allergy, it is critical to apply fast-acting conventional flea products to eliminate as many fleas as possible in the shortest amount of time. Choosing the right product depends on how much you and your dog are disturbed by fleas.

Naturopathic recommendations

There are plenty of completely safe, all-natural ways of treating mild itching at home. Here are the best ways which can provide some real relief for your itchy pooch.

Apple cider vinegar: Apple Cider Vinegar: Add 1⁄4-1⁄2 cup to a large bowl of warm water and pour over the body of the dog (avoiding the head) or use it on affected skin areas.

Bicarb soda: In a bucket of warm water, add a spoonful of bicarb soda, stir well and pour over the skin. This also helps to reduce odor if your dog is very smelly.

Clay: Healing clays can be applied to inflamed areas of skin to soothe inflammation and reduce swelling.

Colloidal silver is an excellent wash on the skin for fungal conditions and is very soothing and curative. It is safe to use on the face and near eyes and mouth.

Epsom salt can be used as a rinse for inflamed paws. Dissolve some Epsom salts with water in a trough, bucket, or bath and soak the dog’s feet for around 5 to 10 minutes.

Green or black tea: Make a pot of black or green tea. Allow the tea to cool to a warm temperature and then pour over the coat of the dog and allow it to dry.  

Witch hazel: Made from a plant called hamamelis, witch hazel evaporates almost instantly, making hot spots feel more comfortable.

Natural ways to fight fleas

Apart from treating and preventing flea bites on pets, it’s far essential to use a program to keep the pet’s surroundings free from fleas. This may include:

1. Wash The pet’s bedding with hot water and slight bleach.
2. Use de earth or borax powder in the home under the rugs, carpets, and furnishings to kill fleas and thoroughly vacuum the house after three days of application to remove fleas, larvae, and flea eggs.
3. Using flea foggers, flea bombs, anti-flea sprays, powders, etc. to deal with rugs, carpets, and other places where fleas usually hide.
4. Regular combing is beneficial in finding and putting off fleas. 
   

Puppy training 101: 7 tips to start your dog off right