Dear Dr. Forsythe: I keep getting told my pet has a flea condition, but there aren’t any fleas on her and I know this for a fact. I check her every day, comb her and I would know – I’m allergic and if there is a flea anywhere I would get bitten too. My question is why do all the vets keep insisting it is a flea problem and trying to get me to put flea medicine on my dog? “Tina” has been itchy and lost the hair near her bottom and won’t stop chewing. I think it is a nervous habit she’s developed since she has been upset ever since we moved recently. When I yell at her she stops, but the minute I turn my back she goes at it again. Her skin is getting red and she is miserable but I’m really wary of putting that toxic stuff on her back, for fleas I’ve never seen.
Don’t believe everything I hear
Dear Don’t believe: From what you’ve written, it appears as though more than one veterinarian has looked at Tina and suggested she could have Flea Bite Hypersensitivity. This can happen when a pet develops an itchy delayed reaction to the bite of even ONE flea. That bite could have happened when she went outside to relieve herself, when you took her for a walk or if a dog or cat came to visit you. A flea hops on your pet, takes a quick nibble, injects a tiny microgram of flea saliva while taking a blood meal, and up to a few weeks later, your dog gets a nasty red rash usually at the tail base. It often appears as a “Christmas Tree pattern” which is a dead ringer for flea-bite dermatitis.
Although there are some other possibilities on the differential, it sounds like a no-brainer.
Speaking of no-brainers, please don’t take offense if I say that yelling at your dog to stop her from biting and itching is about as likely to yield success as trying to convince the post office to open all their service windows from 12-1 p.m. So if your pet is not on a monthly preventative like Frontline or Advantage, she is vulnerable to flea bites. Even though you don’t see any fleas, you need to understand they don’t stay on for long, so if they can hop on, quickly bite, then hop off, this easily explains your pet’s problem.
It also explains why you’ve had a bevy of veterinarians singing the same old song you don’t want to hear.
I know it is hard to “wrap” your mind around this one, but I doubt very much if Tina’s rash is from stress, and I also suspect your yelling does little to help her. She probably just thinks you yell a lot! Why not face the facts and get reliable flea medicine that works and will make Tina feel better? You’ve got several things to gain, among them a happier and grateful pet.
Dr.F
Dear Dr. Forsythe: I work at an office with six other people and want to start bringing my pet to work with me. I have a Boxer and she is sweet and funny and clean. I think she would be great for business since we do mortgage work but I’m afraid this one grouch in the office will put her big fat foot down and complain. How can I get past her? Should I start a petition? Should I butter her up? Go over her head to the boss? Any suggestion would help.
Loves her puppy
Dear Loves her puppy: Yes, I have some advice: First of all, I’d stop making fun of the “grouch” in the office – you said she would put her big fat foot down, and anyone with a weight problem who has to deal with cankles would not like the idea of your making fun of them. She’s probably already self-conscious enough about it. Secondly, if you think having your pet in the office would be good for morale (I for one agree with this – who in their right mind wouldn’t want to be able to take a break a few times a day and smooch a Boxer’s flat face?) then I suggest you gather everyone together and present your case in a positive, kind and non-threatening way. Mention all the terrific reasons a “shop” pet could help the business and ask everyone to consider your proposition, and then be prepared for reasons why some may not be OK with it. Some people are afraid of dogs or suffer allergies. If you work on a team with other people, everyone has to be on board, or it may mean doggie daycare for your smashed-faced friend. Let me know how this one turns out, OK?
Dr.F
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