Skin probs

Question
Hello, I have a 6 year old pomeranian named Taz. He has always been current on all vet care and on flea/tick and heartworm prevention. We recently moved to an apartment and found out a few days after moving in that the occupants before us had a flea problem! We use frontline Plus so we were not too concerned. However, our pom is very allergic to the flea bites so the frontline kills them but the bites still have been causing irritation. We are treating the apartment with a room spray as directed and have almost killed all of them, we first saw 4-5 each day on our dog now its only 1-2 each day so we are getting them just taking a bit. We are being very sure to wash bedding, vaccum, spray the flea killer and growth inhibitor as directed, and do everything we can to kill the fleas but in the mean time we are beginning to have problems with our poms skin. We got a product called Capstar from out vet which we were told can be used with the frontline and it kills the adults so hopefully it will cut down on any bites our pom gets. Now our main concern is continuing to kill the fleas and tend to our poms skin issues. He is otherwise super healthy. Here are his symptoms:

1. red bite marks about the size of a mosquito bite
2. a mild rash over his belly, base of tail, ears, and inner legs
3. persistent itch, so bad we wrapped his back feet so he could not cause any more skin scrapes

We asked our vet and they just said to give him benadryl, which we are doing, and wait it out till he fleas are dead. We have never had any fleas until moving into this new place and this is likely why our dog is reacting so bad, he has never had to deal with them. I was looking up on the internet how to help soothe his skin and heal. Now we are making sure he is clean, we washed him with a shampoo called relief from out vet and rinsing with a cream rinse and giving benadryl. Is there anything else we can do to help relieve the itch and help it heal? I read alot about witch hazel, is this safe and how would we use it? Also, what about apple cider vinager, heard alot about that, is it safe and how would we use it? Any additional ideas for safe easy home remedies to relieve his pain and heal the rash? We want to manage it before it gets so bad he needs antibiotics. Right now it is a very mild hot spot here and there on his body, mainly on his belly, and we want to be sure to do all we can the heal it without it getting worse or causing him more pain. Any ideas? Thanks so much.

Answer

Hi Rachel,

It's hard to guess at why you're seeing the fleas in your new place. They can hop on while walking in the common areas of your apartment, if another tenant has a pet with fleas they're in the building, hitch a ride on you, or even be left over from previous inhabitants (larvae can remain dormant for astonishingly long periods of time under a variety of conditions).

Because fleas only spend a small amount of time actually on your dog, and the rest of their time leaping through your house laying eggs and feeding on human blood and animal blood, it's not enough to just treat your dog, you also have to target the flea's environment, namely your home.

The simplest way to do this would be to call a professional pest control company to treat, and retreat your house (it should be retreated within two weeks, since eggs are hatching and need new fleas will need to be killed).

If you're going to clean your home yourself, start by taking all pet bedding and washing it thoroughly in hot water, or destroy it. Next, vacuum all carpeting and mop all wood and tile floors. It is particularly important to clean thoroughly in areas where your dog sleeps or rests also clean under furniture, in cracks and crevices and along walls. Don't forget closets too. And remember, you can't always see fleas - particularly eggs and larvae - so be thorough.
It's also important to clean or vacuum furniture - particularly between and under cushions, a favorite hiding place for flea larvae. After vacuuming, empty contents of vacuum cleaner into an air-tight plastic bag. Immediately dispose of bag outdoors or burn it.

Once your home has been cleaned, there are cleaning products you can spray on carpet and upholstery that contain a flea killing insecticide, such as Zodiac Carpet and Upholstery Spray, Raid Flea Killer Plus Carpet & Room Spray or Wellmark Flea Carpet Spray, to name a few.  There are also flea "bombs", or foggers you can set off in the different rooms of your home. Read the package, select a product that contains an IGR (Insect Growth Regulator), which prevents fleas from reaching reproductive age.

If you use a fogger, be sure to tape shut all cabinets or remove dishes, pots and pans from inside the house. Properly seal any open food containers and throw out any opened food that cannot be properly sealed. Move as much furniture as possible onto non-carpeted surfaces. The bomb spray may not reach under beds or other low-hanging furniture which could leave those carpeted areas untreated. Everyone, including your dog and other pets, needs to leave your home. Place the flea bomb upright in the middle of the area it is intended to cover. Spread newspapers under and around the bomb. Follow the instructions to set off the bomb, and then leave immediately.

Between the cleaning, spraying, and the fact your dog is on a monthly flea preventative, you be able to should have this flea problem under control pretty quickly.

To soothe your dog's itch, you can you an over an counter hydrocortisone itch cream. It's best applied before your dog goes out for a walk so he won't automatically try to lick it off, and it will have time to work.  Because you're using so little, it won't hurt your dog if he licks it.
You can also apply 100% pure Aloe Vera gel or dab on a little Witch Hazel. These are safe if your dog licks it. If oral Benadryl is making your dog sleepy, you could use the topical Benadryl Itch Stopping Cream. There are also sprays especially made for dogs itchy hot spots to consider, such as DVM Pharmaceuticals Relief Spray, Earthbath Tea Tree Oil Hot Spot & Itch Relief Spray, PETCO Soothing Anti-Itch Dog Spray, to name a few.

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,
Patti