Flea Allergy Dermatitis For Pets (Cats, Dogs, Ferrets)

Flea Allergy Dermatitis, or FAD for short, is the number one most common illness caused by fleas. Some vets that specialize in pet allergy say that as many as 40% of all pets may suffer from FAD. FAD is caused by an allergic reaction to one of the antigens in the flea's saliva. There are 13 different antigens that have been identified in flea saliva and if your pet is sensitive to even one of those your pet could have an allergic reaction and develop FAD.

Because there are difference species of fleas even if your pet has never had an allergy before when you move to a new state or even to a new city if there is a different flea species in that area your pet could show signs of FAD. Often FAD is made worse by seasonal allergies that usually occur in the summer and fall.

The symptoms of FAD are general and can make it hard to tell if your pet is reacting to a flea bit or just has a general allergy to something in its environment. The most noticeable symptom of FAD is hair loss and general itchiness, especially over the pets back and near the tail. Because the pet feels itchy it may start to overgroom. Overgrooming can cause a whole different set of problems including secondary skin infections, hair loss and lesions on the skin.

Often pets that have FAD will develop "hot spots" which are areas that seem to itch more than others and areas where your pet will routinely lick excessively and pull out its fur. Cats that are particularly sensitive may even develop a disorder called Feline Eosinophilic Granuloma which can be very serious and can cause lesions and inflammations inside the mouth.

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Matt Le Tutla