Timely destruction of fleas will help avoid trouble for humans from constantly itchy flea bites. There are frequent cases of allergic dermatitis in a person or pet, leading to the appearance of pustules and hair loss in the bitten area. One bite of a flea, an insect parasitizing rodents, cats or dogs, can cause the following disease:
- plague
- typhus,
- hepatitis,
- tularemia,
- encephalitis and other deadly infections.
Even the transfer of tapeworms from host to host is often carried out by these “bloodsuckers”.
How a flea bites
A person experiences a sharp stabbing pain when bitten by a flea, this is explained by the fact that, unlike bedbugs and ticks, the flea does not inject an anesthetic at the time of its bite. Thanks to special enzymes that block blood clotting, which the flea injects during a bite, human blood flows through the wound into the flea's stomach in a thin stream almost by itself. When the flea detaches itself from the bite, the elastic walls of the skin will close and prevent bleeding from escaping.
A painful bite is the least of the evils that a flea can cause.
Why does flea dermatitis develop in cats?
Individuals older than 1 year are more often susceptible to this disease than kittens under 12 months. But in the second case, the invasion almost always ends in death. The reason is weak immunity, which often cannot cope with the disease.
This kind of skin inflammation in cats doesn’t just happen. The most common causes of the disease are:
- warm season;
- dirt from the street;
- unsanitary conditions;
- contact with other animals;
- decreased immunity;
- self-walking
The peak of diseases occurs in the summer season, when the air temperature reaches its maximum, which provokes an increase in the activity of parasites. This usually happens in July-August. At this time of year, it is extremely undesirable to let your pets outside. Especially when it comes to southern cities. For a disease such as flea allergy in cats, Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar, Anapa and other settlements in the southern regions are an ideal place for spread.
Fleas that cause the disease can enter the house, for example, with dirt on the soles or on outer clothing.
Outdoor animals, which are almost always infested with fleas, are especially dangerous for cats living in apartments. Therefore, walking pets on the street should only be done under close attention and on a harness. It is for this reason that self-walking cats should be reduced in time as much as possible, especially in the summer.
But not all pets, even if they have fleas, can become infected with this disease. Usually it is dangerous only for those cats that have a decrease in immunity. Most often this happens after an illness, as a result of which the protective functions of the animal’s body are significantly reduced.
Consequences of a flea bite
- An allergic reaction to an enzyme that prevents blood clotting can vary. From rashes, itching, redness and swelling to anaphylactic shock
- The flea is a carrier of a huge number of dangerous diseases.
- Itching caused by a flea bite forces a person to scratch the wound, thereby creating the risk of contracting secondary infections.
Diseases whose pathogens are transmitted by parasites themselves pose a huge danger. Their specificity is largely determined by the type of blood-sucking insect.
What to do first
Therapy for allergies to blood-sucking insects is complex. To begin with, it is important to quickly and completely remove fleas, and to stop signs of the pathological process and alleviate the pet’s condition, take medications.
Destruction of parasites
To remove parasites, it is recommended to use the following methods:
- The animal must be thoroughly washed with a special shampoo to kill fleas.
- Use a comb to comb the fur to remove parasite larvae.
- Apply a special product in the form of drops to the skin, which is aimed at killing fleas, ticks and other parasites.
- Give the cat an anti-worming tablet.
It is important to rinse off the foam very thoroughly; to do this, the wool is washed three times with clean water.
You cannot use a flea collar during therapy, as it can aggravate the pathological condition. This is due to the fact that the cat’s body reacts negatively to the chemical composition of the collar and the essential oils in its composition. This leads to cramps, nausea and severe, profuse vomiting, prolonged diarrhea and frequent fainting. Therefore, it is worn only as a preventive measure after the fleas have been destroyed with special means.
If necessary, all activities (bathing, combing, taking pills) are repeated. Although flea treatments for cats always give a positive result, if there are too many fleas, a repeat course may be required.
Home treatment
The house must be treated for fleas. They can jump from the animal's fur to pieces of furniture, remain on the carpet and then migrate back to the pet after it has been treated.
Treating your apartment for fleas is necessary to completely get rid of these insects.
For the home it is necessary to use special insecticides. You can buy them at a pet store. All upholstered furniture in the house, floor coverings, and carpets are subject to treatment. You also need to treat the floor, especially the baseboard. The cat mat on which the pet sleeps must be washed at high temperature.
If the animal lives in a private house and regularly goes out into the yard, the area needs to be thoroughly treated.
What does a flea bite look like? photo
These fleas usually live in the habitats of rodents and birds; they are capable of not only biting skin and drinking blood, but also settle under the nails and lay eggs there. The larvae grow in this environment, feeding on the resulting pus and surrounding tissue. Itching, swelling, and irritation appear at the site of the lesion. Doctors diagnose sarcopsillosis.
Treatment methods:
- Use cold compresses. This will help eliminate itching, relieve swelling and relieve pain. Wash the affected areas with soapy, warm water, then apply ice.
- Baking soda relieves inflammation, reduces itching and reduces the risk of infection. The recipe is simple - mix a teaspoon of baking soda with water, then spread on the affected area. Leave the paste for 7-10 minutes, then rinse with water. You can use this method for pets as well. Dissolve a glass of baking soda in water and rinse your pet; the procedure will make your pet’s life much easier.
- Apple cider vinegar will prevent infection and relieve itching. Make compresses for several minutes, applying them to the bite site. In addition, you can spray vinegar diluted with water in areas where parasites are most concentrated.
- Aloe vera extract is an excellent antiseptic that will help relieve inflammation and itching and speed up healing. It is necessary to lubricate the wound with juice from aloe leaves. Leave the product on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse it off with warm water.
- “Oatmeal, sir!”, yes, don’t be surprised, so does she! Powdered oatmeal paralyzes toxins in the skin and soothes inflammation. Recipe: Prepare a thick mixture of equal parts finely ground oatmeal and yogurt, plus a small amount of honey. Apply the balm to the affected areas of the skin and leave for half an hour, then rinse with water.
Flea bite symptoms
If the listed symptoms are well expressed, supplemented by profuse rashes in the area of the bites, their suppuration, ulcers in the mouth and throat, enlarged lymph nodes, fever and headache, insomnia, we can talk about the presence of a disease such as pulicosis, which is understood as a dermatological disease caused exclusively flea bites. This disease is usually caused by human fleas.
- Stitching sharp pain at the moment of the bite.
- Itching from a flea bite, more pronounced than from a mosquito bite.
- Formation of small tumors.
- The location of the bites is on the legs and occasionally in other places.
- A series of bites characteristic of these parasites.
Content
1. Where do fleas come from and how do they manifest themselves? 2. How are fleas detected on a cat? 3. How dangerous are fleas for cats and humans? 4. How to rid a cat of fleas 5. How to remove fleas from a cat using shampoos and sprays? 6. How to get rid of fleas on a cat at home?
Fleas are insects that cause a number of diseases and actively infect cats mainly in the summer season. According to statistical data for Russian cities, it is this particular species of ectoparasitizing insects that attacks representatives of the cat family in spring and summer. There are over a hundred varieties of fleas known that are dangerous both for yard cats and pets. Moreover, the danger of insects to humans has been scientifically proven.
In this article, we suggest studying recommendations on how to get rid of cat fleas and prevent their reappearance.
First aid
Tavegil
If your child is bitten by fleas, wash the wound with cold water and antibacterial soap. If you are allergic to bites, you should use any antihistamine. Suitable for treating children:
- Diprazine.
- Fenistil.
- Diazolin.
- Suprastin.
- Tavegil.
Before giving medicine to a child, you need to read the instructions, which indicate at what age the drug can be taken.
Flea bites can be lubricated with the following products:
- ethyl alcohol or vodka;
- baking soda solution;
- Sulfuric ointment;
- calamine solution.
If a child scratches the skin, the wounds should be treated with brilliant green or iodine. If desired, you can use pharmaceutical ointments (Nezulin, Bepanten or Psilo-balm). To prevent further scratching, the treated areas are bandaged.
If the itching does not subside, the affected areas of the body can be immersed in very cold water. If the bites are located in hard-to-reach places, apply ice or frozen meat. If necessary, make a compress of 1 tsp. baking soda and 1 glass of water (helps relieve itching).
Prevention
To minimize the risk of the disease, special attention should be paid to its prevention.
In order to prevent the occurrence of dermatitis in cats, the following measures must be taken:
- Keep the house clean. To do this, every time you come home from the street, you need to wash your shoes and clean your outerwear. After these manipulations, you should put things in a closed space, for example, a closet.
- The cat should wear a neck strap regularly. It is an excellent remedy for repelling skin parasites, because its composition is aimed specifically at destroying them. In addition, such a device is the most inexpensive method to protect your pet from fleas.
- Avoid self-walking of the animal, especially in the warm season.
- Periodically carry out a preventive examination of the cat's skin for the presence of parasites.
- Visit your veterinarian regularly.
- Do not violate the flea treatment schedule (2 times a year).
When a disease such as flea allergic dermatitis is detected in cats, timely treatment plays a huge role, since its health condition depends on the speed of reaction of the animal’s owners.
