(02-06) Flea Bite Allergy - Dogs and Cats Flashcards
Flea allergy is the most common pruritic dermatosis of dogs and cats where?
in warm and tropical climates.
What is the most common flea of dogs and cats?
Ctenocephalides felis
Actively feeding Ctenocephalides felis will not survive outside the host for longer how long?
than 3 to 4 days. It is a permanent ectoparasite.
The biggest problem with fleas is what?
massive environmental contamination with eggs, larvae and pupae, not the adult on pets!
Optimum environmental conditions are what?
65 to 80 F and high humidity.
Most flea allergic dogs and cats develop what types of hypersensitivity to multiple antigens present in the flea saliva?
a Type I (immediate, IgE mediated) and Type IV
delayed, cell mediated
what are factors, which
predispose animals to the development of flea allergy?
Intermittent exposure to fleas and first exposure to fleas later in life
Clinical signs of flea allergy are very typical!
d
Dogs and cats will develop alopecia, papules and crusts localized to what?
lumbar-sacral region, base of the tail, caudal aspects of hind legs and medial thighs
In cats, the papule-crust lesions are called what?
“miliary dermatitis”, and flea allergy is the most
common cause of this clinical syndrome in cats.
Is pruritis always present?
Pruritus is always present and it is severe!
Diagnosis is usually based on what?
history and clinical signs (The presence of fleas and/or flea feces strongly supports the diagnosis; however, do not rule
out flea allergy if you don’t find any flea and/or flea feces on the animal!
)
Client education is very important in successful treatment of flea allergy!
Clients have to realize that even one flea can induce clinical signs on an allergic animal
So, it is necessary to do what?
For success it is important to treat what?
Always use a combination of what?
eliminate ALL fleas in the environment!
the house, treat the yard and treat all animals in the household
an adulticide chemical (to kill existing fleas) and an insect growth regulator (to interrupt the life cycle thus preventing a continuous new crop of adults).
Flea control must be individualized to each client to an extent.
Provide treatment to control secondary problems such as pyoderma, seborrhea, or pyotraumatic
dermatitis.
d
In many cases, brief courses of what are used to suppress the allergic response and
provide immediate comfort?
oral corticosteroids
