Flea allergy dermatitis is probably the most common cause of itchy skin in both dogs and cats, especially those that live in coastal areas. Fleas feed on the host and lay eggs, which drop off in the pet’s environment. Adult fleas thrive at temperatures of 18-30°C and relative humidity 70-80%. They cannot survive hot, dry conditions, so fleas in the sunny outdoor environment soon die.

Just because you don’t see fleas on your dog and they don’t bite you, it does not mean they’re not there. They prefer dog blood to human blood, so they won’t bite humans if there are dogs and cats around. The best way to find fleas is to use a flea comb onto wet paper. If you find brown blood spots on the paper, your dog has fleas. If your dog doesn’t, remember that prevention is better than cure.

Flea control has to be directed at killing adult fleas and preventing flea re-infestation. Your veterinarian can offer some recommendations on how to achieve integrated flea control. The flea control products should have a prolonged effect. The safest and most effective products that are currently available are fipronyl and imidocloprid. Nitenpyram is also very effective in getting rid of a flea infestation on a pet, but the effects only last  for about 24 hours.

It is not enough to focus flea control on your pet alone. Your pet’s environment should also be treated monthly. Bedding should be washed and hung in the sun to dry. Effective and safe environmental agents include preparations containing pyrethroids and/or triazine. Concentrate on carpeting and mats as well as cracks and crevices in the house and outbuildings. Don’t forget the furniture if, as is the case with most Dobes, those are shared by the dogs. It is also important to spray under furniture, beds and kitchen appliances. Insect growth regulators such as lufenuron are also needed if your pets are exposed to other animals that are infested with fleas, for example visiting cats or dogs that meet other dogs at shows, training etc. Complete flea control is possible but it requires diligent and regular application of flea control agents to pets and their environment.