Canine Hot Spots - Parasitic Allergens
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| Definition / Causes | Parasitic Allergens | Allergy Testing |
| Environmental Allergens | Other Causes | Prevention |
Ectoparasites
These include, especially, fleas. Apart from the trauma and irritation of individual flea bites, many dogs develop an allergy to flea saliva, which causes generalized skin inflammation and can lead to pyoderma. A whole host of other afflictions, known as Parasitic Skin Disease, can result from ectoparasites.
Fleas: There are many types of fleas, but for dogs, it is often the cat flea that causes the problem. Fleas will not live or breed on humans, although they may bite us. They are dark brown, vertically flattened, and very fast moving. They breed in carpets and bedding, usually inside. Every adult female flea has the potential of laying up to 200 flea eggs per week inside a house, so it doesn't take long for tens of thousands of fleas to develop. The flea egg falls to the floor, lies in a carpet or between the floor boards, hatches, and forms an organic scavenging pupa, which then forms a cocoon before emerging as the adult flea. The life cycle can take from two weeks to six months or more.
Flea prevention: We believe that the best anti-flea products are obtained directly from your veterinarian, when your pet has an active flea problem. However, you should try to prevent flea infestation before it starts. Once treatment starts, it is important to provide constant flea control, as a break of even a month will allow fleas to start breeding again in your household.
Determining the presence of fleas: To conduct a very simple test for the presence of fleas, start by placing a layer of damp tissue paper twice the size of the dog on a tabletop. Place the dog on the tissue paper and comb all areas of the coat, especially the middle of the back, onto the tissue paper. Then look for black/brown granules that absorb water and form a russet brown ring around the granules. These are flea dirts and indicate an active flea presence.
Life Cycle of Fleas: Dog fleas will lay their eggs on a pet in their close proximity. These develop into organically scavenging pupae in carpets and skirting boarding and, depending on climatic conditions, will develop via a cocoon phase into adult fleas between two weeks and six months after deposition. Movement in a room triggers the hatching of the cocoon larvae into the adult flea.
Other Flea-caused Skin Conditions
Ticks: These are common parasites of dogs that walk in long grass. They are able to spread some intracellular parasites. The bites can also cause local skin reactions, such as tick bite granuloma.
Cheyletiella: This is a mite that can live on the skin of dogs. It particularly likes the dorsal surfaces and will cause intense irritation and heavy scurfing and dandruff in limited areas, especially on the dorsum (upper surfaces) of the back.
Lice: These external parasites are becoming increasingly rare and are species
specific. They are usually 1–2 mm in length and a faun to plum color. They will
cause intense irritation on all body surfaces, especially over the body where
areas of hair loss and skin inflammation may occur.
Ear mites: Also known as Otodectes, these are common parasites of the ear canal
of the dog which may cause intense irritation and excessive wax production. They
often cause secondary irritation around the ear flaps.
In any case of pyoderma, assume fleas may play a role until proven otherwise.
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