Why is my dog itching with no fleas, even on flea prevention?

Hi there. This would not be a common or expected side effect of Bravecto, so I would be suspicious that something else is probably causing the itching and hair loss. If it continues, I would recommend taking Tinker to the vet for an exam. Possible causes would include allergies (food allergies, or an allergy to something in the environment), a bacterial or fungal skin infection, or skin mites (mange). Your veterinarian can do some simple skin tests if needed to help diagnose the problem and get him started on appropriate treatment.

There are a few causes for the bumps you are seeing. Fleas are still a possibility. Bravecto is an excellent preventative, but it can still take 3 months for all of the fleas in Elli Mae's environment to die. She could still have a bacterial infection. Sometimes these infections need a second antibiotic or a longer round to effectively treat. I have occasionally used antibiotics for 3-4 weeks to get infection under control. Unfortunately, apoquel does not work very well on an as-needed basis. It works much better when given regularly. It is typically prescribed for twice daily use and tapering to once daily use. It is safe for long-term use. You can also try a medicated shampoo as a treatment, like Dechra DermaBenSs Shampoo which will help to flush the follicles. If the problem continues for another week, I would recommend a re-check with your vet.

I would wait another week before adding another flea medication. Also, you need to treat your home environment. If you use a pest control service, tell them you are having a flea problem and they can adjust their treatment. Use a premise spray that also contains an IGR, insect growth regulator. This will keep eggs and larvae from maturing into adults and helps break the life cycle. Also, vacuum EVERY DAY, throwing out the bag or emptying the canister every time into an outside receptacle and spraying the contents with insecticide to kill the fleas you’ve vacuumed up. Treat your yard as well, since fleas are opportunistic and will hop a ride into your home on your pant leg without you knowing it. Concentrate on areas under bushes, in the shade. Fleas are less likely to be located in open sunny areas where it gets hot. If chemicals are a problem for you, you can use borax in your home. Sprinkle it into rugs, into corners and under furniture, use a broom to work it into the fibers and let it sit for hours, days even. It won't hurt you or your cat to have it present. Then vacuum it up, reapply as needed. Food grade diatomaceous earth can be gotten from a health food store and worked into the rugs and corners in the same way as borax. These treatments aren't as fast and effective as chemical insecticides but they can help. You might want to consider boarding your pet for the day at your vet, to give you the opportunity to flea bomb your house without having to worry about your pet being exposed. They can bathe your pet and give a dose of Capstar while you treat your home. Be patient, you may have to repeat these steps multiple times 10-14 days apart to help break the flea life cycle.

There are many possible reasons for itching including fleas, allergies, skin infections and mange. I recommend using a good quality, fast acting flea prevention such as bravecto or simparica as well as an omega fatty acid supplement which is naturally antiinflammatory and moistruising. A full physical exam and further diagnostics would then be required if not improving in 5-7days

If you’re noticing increased itching in that area and you found a flea, you may try switching the flea prevention to see if that helps. Fleas can become immune to products. The top products on the market are oral products such as Nexgard and Simparica. Most pets can use these products but you should talk with your veterinarian before switching. They are administered once a month and at this point appear to work very well. If the itching goes away, then you know it was related to flea bites. Best of luck.

You have to treat the environment as well, as fleas don't live on the dog, they live in the home. If you haven't treated your home, that could be why Kobi is still scratching. Wash his bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home. I hope this helps.

High quality flea preventatives are very effective, so I would be surprised if your dog is itching from fleas. Different flea preventatives utilize different mechanisms of action to kill fleas. Some preventatives work by killing the flea after it bites, so it is not unheard of to see one rare flea. The important part is that the flea is killed before it has a chance to reproduce and lay eggs. The next time you see dirt on your dog, try to put it onto a white paper towel and moisten it slightly. Flea dirt becomes a reddish-brown color when wet. If you do not notice a significant color change, it is just regular dirt. The dandruff may be appearing as a result of skin sloughing when your dog itches. Allergies to a wide variety of environmental influences and food are a common cause of itching in dogs. Consider discussing this intense itching with your vet because dogs can develop skin infections by introducing bacteria or yeast from excessive scratching.