Flea Bites (allergic, bite, vet, prescription)

[NewToYorkSC]

My dog got fleas for the 1st time in his 8 years.
Right to the vet...Special shampoo...Frontline prescription...
However, he is picking them up outside and yes even though they die if they bite him with the meds, he has these nasty red marks all on his belly from the bites and he is itching them as they heal up (dry skin).
Any suggestions?

[STT Resident]

It's possible he's allergic to Frontline. I have an older Siamese cat who is horribly allergic to Frontline and to flea collars. While the others were fine with Frontline, I had to dust her all the time with a flea powder she wasn't allergic to - and then discovered Revolution. She's not allergic to it, all the redness and itchiness on her large pink boobs and belly disappeared and I now have a well-managed Revolution feline family who are all happy and flea-free. Hope that helps!

[NewToYorkSC]

Originally Posted by STT Resident

It's possible he's allergic to Frontline. I have an older Siamese cat who is horribly allergic to Frontline and to flea collars. While the others were fine with Frontline, I had to dust her all the time with a flea powder she wasn't allergic to - and then discovered Revolution. She's not allergic to it, all the redness and itchiness on her large pink boobs and belly disappeared and I now have a well-managed Revolution feline family who are all happy and flea-free. Hope that helps!

Could be, thanks for the info...I got frontline because he could have just one dose. They originally were going to go with Advantx, but they do not make a dose for 120 lbs, so it was better then going with a dose ofr up to 80 and a dose for 40.
I'll check into Revolution.
Thanks again!

[pugluvr]

Even if he is allergic to the bites, you have got to get rid of the problem causing the allergic reaction. You mention that he's picking them up outside, I'm assuming in your own yard? If that is the case, you may want to look in to have a professional come out and spray your yard. Or check Home Depot or Lowes and see if they have a spray that you could use yourself.

[NewToYorkSC]

Originally Posted by pugluvr

Even if he is allergic to the bites, you have got to get rid of the problem causing the allergic reaction. You mention that he's picking them up outside, I'm assuming in your own yard? If that is the case, you may want to look in to have a professional come out and spray your yard. Or check Home Depot or Lowes and see if they have a spray that you could use yourself.

Thank you, I will look into that this weekend.

[Woof Woof Woof!]

Frontline is for fleas and ticks.

Better to use Advantage. Much safer, in my opinion.

[riveree]

I just had a flea discussion with my vet.

We've been using Advantage, and my vet said it is very safe for the dogs with no real reactions to it known (in general...I'm sure there are some cases here and there).

He also said that we need to keep the dogs on Advantage for a flea cycle. Meaning, the fleas in the yard will continue to jump on the dogs and die from contact with the Advantage. If we keep applying the Advantage for a period of time, we will work through the flea life cycle in the yard and kill off the fleas in the yard via their jumping onto the dogs. Makes sense.

Also keeping your grass trimmed can help. If you have woods behind your house, keeping a mulch barrier of 3 or more feet in width between the woods and your house is supposed to cut down on ticks traveling from the woods, so I imagine it can help with fleas as well.

[NewToYorkSC]

Thanks to everyone for the replys.

The vet went with Fronline due to my dogs size. Instead of 2 smaller doses to add up to his weight with Advantix he gets just one dose of Frontline. Advantix doesn't go over I think 80 pounds.

We are now trying corizone to help.

Vet says next step in antibiotics....

They yard has been 'treated'.

I'm hoping for the best...

Thanks again everyone!

[aquastone]

Ask your vet about a capstar pill or comfortis.

[NewToYorkSC]

Thanks I will ask about confortis/capstar pill...

I want to again thank everyone for their replies. It seems the spray on coritzone is helping A LOT!!! He of course is not too happy when he gets sprayed, since it says 'cooling spray', so I guess it's alittle chilly on his belly!! But thankfully it is looking better.

Thanks again everyone!