How to Cure a Flea Allergy

Although all fleas bites make the bitten party itch to some extent, some dogs have an extra adverse reaction to the parasites. This is most likely caused by an actual topical allergy to the saliva that gets onto and under the dog's skin when the flea bites it. If a dog is allergic to flea bites, the bite area swells slightly and turns red; the dog also scratches far more than one who is not allergic to fleas.

It's not likely that your dog will ever be "cured" of his allergy to flea bites, but you can take steps to keep him from having an allergic reaction in the first place.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Flea repellent
• Laundry soap
• Washing machine
• Dryer
• Antihistamine
• Oatmeal soap
• Towels
• Papaya juice

1. Get rid of the fleas. The best way to get rid of a flea allergy is to do everything you can to keep your dog from being bitten in the first place. If your dog has fleas, get a topical flea repellent (like Advantix or BioSpot) from your veterinarian or local pet supply shop and use it on your dog. Make sure to machine wash and dry all of the dog's bedding to get rid of fleas -- including yours, if your dog sleeps with you.

2. Minimize the allergic reaction. Benadryl is very effective at alleviating allergic reactions in dogs and can be found in the cough and cold aisle of any pharmacy or Wal-Mart. Get the basic Benadryl, not the kind that works on coughs. Check with your veterinarian for dosage amount; a general rule of thumb is one 25 mg Benadryl pill per 20 pounds of pet twice a day.

3. Consider topical relief. A bath with oatmeal soap can help alleviate the itch, and a bath in the bathtub (as opposed to spraying with the hose in the backyard) can drown quite a few fleas. Applying papaya juice to the worst of the affected (most bitten) area can help, too, as it has been shown to provide effective relief for skin allergies.

Tips & Warnings

• Try not to bathe your dog more often than once a month; overbathing can cause dry skin, which will just make her itchier.

References

• More on dogs and flea allergies
• A clinical look at dogs and flea allergies

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