Train the Dog Blog

If you have a dog that is driving you crazy up all night chewing and itching, then he most likely is suffering from an allergy to fleas. Sounds ridiculous but it\’s more common than you think. For some dogs, this can turn into a serious problem, especially if left untreated.

You can see something like this start in your puppy but it is also very common in much older dogs. The adult flea does the biting but they don\’t live long unless they are on the host dog. Hmmm, is that supposed to make you feel better?

Did you know that adult fleas are the only ones that bite? Once they fall off the host dog or cat, they don\’t live. That\’s good to know, however, the process continues because the adult flea leaves behind eggs that will hatch and continue the process.

If you want to keep your dog flea free, then you need to continue treatment. The symptoms can be painful to the dog and an annoyance to the owners. This chronic condition left untreated can lead to behavioral problems in your pet as well.

Constant itching and chewing is a sure sign of fleas on your dog. You can also search the dog to see if you notice the fleas themselves or flea dirt. Your vet might also want to test a skin scrapping for mites if no fleas are visible.

Fleas can also bite humans so if you think you might have an infestation in the house or yard, it\’s best to treat those areas as well. Really it only takes a couple of bites to set your dog\’s flea allergy in motion. Treating the dog without treating the home or yard can just lead to another infestation.

Help your dog get relief from this itchy allergy by taking immediate action. Treat them with a dip or flea shampoo and a continued application monthly of the topical applied to the back of the neck. You dog will surely thank you, if he could!

Quick diagnosis and treatment will help relive your dog from his suffering. Chewing and itching along with hair loss are sure signs of a flea allergy. Additionally you might see lesions in numerous places over the dog\’s body.

More serious infestations might require multiple treatments before results are noticed. Continued monthly treatments will eventually take affect ridding your dog of those nasty little nuisances. And you will see a happy healthier dog for all your efforts.

Have an Animal that you Care For? Check out Catherine\’s recommended Pet Supplies for Dogs website that uses nature\’s highest quality ingredients. They have the most amazing Natural Organic Dog Shampoos available.

Mange is an itchy, inflammatory disease caused by the mite Demodex. Making a determination of which mite your dog is infected with can determine the seriousness of mange. Typically mange in dogs is referred to as Demodicosis.

Mange can cause immune system problems, lesions and genetic disorders if left untreated. Both cats and dogs are known to contract this uncomfortable disease. Your dog\’s side effects will be different depending on which mite your pet is infected with.

Determining which type of mange your dog or cat has is the first thing your vet will do. Localized mange is typically found in certain parts of the body only. Generalized mange is found over the entire body and can be very difficult to cure and treatment is an ongoing thing.

If you see small patches of lesions around your dog\’s legs, face or trunk, then he probably has the milder form, which is localized mange. Generalized mange will appear over the whole body in the form of redness on the skin accompanied by the patches of lesions. Doctors will say that there is no known cause for mange however; some feel that immune system problems can prompt this disease in your dog.

It is believed that one form of mite can be transferred from the mother to the baby via nursing. There are to other forms of mites and it is not yet known how those mites are transferred. Demodex canis gets into the hair follicle of the pet causing this transmission during nursing.

There are a couple of ways to diagnosis demodectic mange in your dog or cat. Either a sample of urine can be tested if that is available, but also by testing a piece of scraped skin. Another possibility could be that your dog may have a bacterial infection of the hair follicle instead of mange.

Generalized mange can be the hardest to cure. You have the option of the lime-sulphur dip and continuous medication, which should alleviate some of the discomfort. In the more severe cases, it should be ascertained what type of life the dog will have to endure with this chronic condition, then determine the best solution for your dog.

Skin scrapings are necessary to continue testing the dog during its treatment to determine that the mites have been eliminated. If your dog is diagnosed with mange, it is important that you are diligent with the prescribed treatment. This will enable you to keep the spread of the disease under control.

As with any chronic condition, it is suggested that you not breed a dog with chronic mange. Prevention may be as easy as maintaining the good health of your pet. Regular bathing and grooming and healthy diet can help prevent the onset of mange.

Have an Animal that you Care For? Check out Catherine\’s recommended Pet Supplies for Dogs online store that uses nature\’s best ingredients. They have the most wonderful Natural Organic Dog Shampoos available.