Flea Allergies

One of the most common allergies found in Japanese chins is flea allergies. The saliva that fleas pass into a sensitive dog's skin causes the allergic reaction. A normal animal will merely bite at the flea and stop once the itching goes away. The skin of a sensitive dog will swell, become irritated and itchy. This drives your pet to excessive biting and scratching which only worsens the problem by causing hair loss, hot spots, and lesions. Flea allergies are often characterized by hair loss around the base of the tail.

Flea allergies are diagnosed by the constant presence of fleas and flea feces on the dog. When wet the flea feces will turn into a red color because the flea's diet is blood. An intradermal skin test is often used to diagnose flea allergies. This test done by inserting an agent into the skin to test the skin's reaction to it. Some false negative results can occur, but mostly this is an effective test. Itchy skin as a result of food or skin allergies also needs to be ruled out.

Proper treatment of this allergy is getting rid of all fleas around your dog. Until you have accomplished this, your vet may give you medicated shampoos, fatty acid supplements and antihistamines to relieve your canine's pain. These supplements are only necessary for severe cases, and you will need to have your chin's hair cut short if the damage to the skin is severe. Topical flea treatment is a very effective way to stop fleas from coming in contact with your pet. The product you choose should not only kill fleas but also repel them. Don't use a flea control product that only kills the eggs. A flea can live for months and will certainly thrive on your pet if you do not use a product that kills adults.

The sleeping, eating and living area of your pet also needs to be treated for fleas. Stopping fleas from coming in contact with your dog is the most effective flea allergy treatment. Treat your other pets as well to prevent them from passing fleas onto your allergic pet.