| Ask The Vet -
Q&A |
Question
My dog's skin on her lower back is driving her mad. I've
tried flea treatment but that didn’t work. I think she might
have very sensitive skin because it seems to make her itch like
crazy. My dog is a 17 year old crossbreed bitch in good health.
Stuart Palmer - Staffordshire, UK |
Answering questions:
Susie Samuel MA VetMB MRCVS from
Vet
Help Direct |
| Answer |
Hi
Stuart,
You’re
right to think of fleas first as it is the cause of 95% of all itching
in dogs. The itching can be caused by irritation from lots of flea
bites or, if a dog is allergic to fleas, just one flea bite can
be enough to cause problems.
You
say that you have tried flea treatment. I would have three other
important questions:
1)
Did you use a flea treatment that was recommended by your vet? Some
of the flea treatments that are available without a prescription
are not very effective. You do not have to actually buy the products
from your vet. If you ask for a prescription you can pick it up
online or from a pharmacy stocking animal products. Frontline is
now available without a prescription and is very effective.
2)
Have you treated the house? If you have seen any evidence of fleas
on your dog it is likely that there are many hundreds more larvae
lying in wait in your home. To treat your home you need to purchase
a knock down spray and follow the instructions on the pack carefully.
If you have birds or fish in your home make sure you choose a product
that is safe for them.
3)
Have you treated all other cats and dogs in your home?
If
you have covered all these points and your dog is still itching
there is probably something else going on. You need to take your
dog to the vets as there are many other causes of itching. Your
vet will need to do some tests to get to the bottom of this.
Kind regards,
Susie Samuel MA VetMB MRCVS www.vethelpdirect.com |
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D for Dog www.dfordog.com |
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Only
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Disclaimer:
'Ask The Vet' is not intended to be used for as a substitute for
visiting your vet. If your dog is showing any sign of poor health
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are not sure how urgent the condition is use www.vethelpdirect.com
to help you decide. Any opinions given in the answers to these questions
are Ms Samuel's, they may not necessarily reflect the views of the
veterinary profession in general or any other individual veterinary
surgeon. |
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