Help! Flea allergy or....? (lab, allergic, vet, allergies)

[geegirl]

I gave my two dogs each a bath 2 weeks ago and 2 days after that applied advantage on each of them. I also treated all of my cats at the same time. The cats seem to be just fine, but both of my dogs are still itching. I have seen fleas on Lucky ( my little white dog) that I have continued to pick off. Munch ( chocolate lab) is so itchy and has lost hair on her back legs, paws ( from chewing I think ) and her under carriage. I wanted to try and figure this out and deal with it myself before heading to the vet. Munch has had dog food allergies in the past that have seemed to be resolved since November when her food was switched. At that time she also had antihistimines from the vet. I'm not sure what to do. I'm going to bathe both of them again today. I was wondering if I give Munch benadryl?

Any advice, , suggestions, opinions would be greatly appreciated!

[ccr4tigers]

This just happened to my mother's dog. Sometimes fleas can form what are called "hotspots". If that has happened, then you will have to take the dogs to the vet. My mom's dog is a Beagle. They shaved her down and then put her on a round of steroids and a anti-inflammatories. Also, they gave her some sort of flea medicine that only a vet can administer.

Anyway, I know that sounds like a lot, but the symptoms you describe fit the beagle's exactly. You will probably have to take the dogs to the vet.

Also, I know you can give 10 mg of Benedryl per every 25 lbs your dog weighs. So, if your lab weighs 60lbs then you can give him 2 1/2 benedryl.

[Amazonchix]

If it is hotspots, you don't have to go to the vet...depending on your relationship with the vet. Last year we called our vet b/c our male had a hotspot for the first time. We bought ChlorhexiDerm from our vet for under $15 w/o an office visit. It is a shampoo with 2% Chlorhexidine. Rather than bath our dog, our vet had us make up a soapy solution to apply to the area 2-3x's daily. It cleared up within a week. I know something similiar is also sold at pet supply stores like PetSmart. Our vet told us we could grab it from him or run by the store. I "think" the key is to make sure it's active ingredint is Chlorhexidine. This is the exact bottle we have: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...42&pcatid=9642

Although all of our animals are treated for fleas/ticks religously...they have started itching lately, which has us wondering if it's possibly chiggers: Trombiculiasis (Chiggers) in Dogs This happened for a brief period last year and then it all stopped. I remember b/c at first I wondered whether my animals were having a reaction to something I had put on my carpet that stated it was animal friendly. I know recently, I was working in my flower beds. I was wearing shorts and so my knees rested on the grass as I dug around in the flower beds. The next day, I noticed blisters on my knees where I had knelt while working in my flower bed. I'm sure it was an allergic reaction, which makes me wonder if that isn't the case for some pets.

[geegirl]

I don't really know anything about hotspots. The areas when she has lost hair don't look inflammed or red. I just looked at her paws and one of the spots looks shiny and a little red. I think I'm going to take her to my vet today. My vet is a new vet for her, so, while I have a relationship with this vet this will be their first time to meet her. I'm writing the name of that shampoo and I will see what the vet says.

Thanks!
P.S. What's a chigger?