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Help needed - re flies biting my dog |
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#1 |
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Join Date: Oct 2011
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Help needed - re flies biting my dog
They are definitely not fleas - he is Frontlined and wormed regularly, plus I know what a flea looks like.
The problem is very small flies, about the size of a large pin head. I groomed him today on a white sheet and found about 6 of them, but the poor little soul is still having the odd scratch. I have sprayed him with an anti flea spray and also a spray for biting mites. I have been to Pets at Home, and they were baffled as they had never heard of it, nor had the receptionist at Vets for Pets. Any help in preventing this would be greatly appreciated, as it is sad watching him scratch, and he is getting fed up of being combed. |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Dec 2007
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I'd be taking him to a proper vet because AFAIK flies don't bite. They vomit on things, mush it up and then suck it up.
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#3 |
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Several flies bite such as horse flies, sand flies and midges.
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#4 |
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Join Date: Dec 2007
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Do they? I didn't know that. I'd still be going to a vets surgery though. My experiences with vets in retail stores hasn't been great.
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#5 |
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Are you absolutely sure their not fleas? Because I'm afraid to tell you with what your using he may not be as protected as you think! Frontline notoriously doesn't work very effectively any more, in some cases not at all, and none of the sprays, powders, bombs, treatments you can buy in a shop work as well as what you get from the vets. All spot on treatments from a vets have to be prescribed, you can't buy them if your dog hasn't been seen in so many months. There is a difference between what you get from them and what you can buy from a shop, same as you buying over the counter at Boots vs prescribed from the doctor. I would go to the vets so they can check exactly what your dealing with, and if it is fleas, you'll need a good spot on liquid or tablet from them and a can of Indorex for your house and car
. For what it's worth, I have never encountered flies that are in a dog's coat causing it to itch and that you can comb out, flies would fly away if you went near them.
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#6 |
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Join Date: Oct 2011
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Quote:
Are you absolutely sure their not fleas? Because I'm afraid to tell you with what your using he may not be as protected as you think! Frontline notoriously doesn't work very effectively any more, in some cases not at all, and none of the sprays, powders, bombs, treatments you can buy in a shop work as well as what you get from the vets. All spot on treatments from a vets have to be prescribed, you can't buy them if your dog hasn't been seen in so many months. There is a difference between what you get from them and what you can buy from a shop, same as you buying over the counter at Boots vs prescribed from the doctor. I would go to the vets so they can check exactly what your dealing with, and if it is fleas, you'll need a good spot on liquid or tablet from them and a can of Indorex for your house and car
. For what it's worth, I have never encountered flies that are in a dog's coat causing it to itch and that you can comb out, flies would fly away if you went near them.Mine is a cocker spaniel with a thick coat, and the flies are there I have combed them out on a white sheet and looked at them under a magnifying glass. I understand what you are saying about |Frontline, no treatment is perfect but he has not had fleas or ticks I would just love to know how to prevent the flies from getting into his coat. |
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#7 |
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Fleas don't have wings but there are a few varieties of flies may behave as you say, personally I would go to the vet, flies don't attack healthy dogs from my experience. We used to have to treat our late flea allergic chi to stop tiny flies attacking her sore patches, they weren't biting but trying to lay eggs.
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#8 |
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Quote:
I am 100 per cent it is not fleas, fleas do not have wings, and these little feckers have them. If I keep him out of long grass and walk him around the streets, within a day he is not itching, when I take him for a walk in the fields he goes ballistic with the itching. I totally understand what you are saying as in flies would fly away.
Mine is a cocker spaniel with a thick coat, and the flies are there I have combed them out on a white sheet and looked at them under a magnifying glass. I understand what you are saying about |Frontline, no treatment is perfect but he has not had fleas or ticks I would just love to know how to prevent the flies from getting into his coat. The only thing I can think of is to try some Vectra 3d spot on, as it does 'sand and biting flies', whether that's what the ones on your dog are is obviously debatable, but it might still deal with them. You could also try bathing your dog using a citronella or tea tree oil (or even one with both) shampoo which acts as a natural insect repellant as they hate the stuff. I think next time you comb one out I would put it in a jar or something and ask the vet to identify it under the microscope as well so you know exactly what they are and what will treat them. |
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#9 |
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Possibly Blandford flies.
Are you in East Anglia or Oxfordshire? |
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#10 |
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Quote:
Goodness how odd. I only suggested fleas because most people who say there's something in their dog's coat but they aren't fleas usually are exactly that and they simply haven't recognised them, but you clearly are bang on with them - they aren't fleas if they have wings! How utterly odd, flies will buzz around and land on a dog but they wouldn't normally stay in the coat and even if they did, they'd soon shift when you went near, long before you got a comb near them!
The only thing I can think of is to try some Vectra 3d spot on, as it does 'sand and biting flies', whether that's what the ones on your dog are is obviously debatable, but it might still deal with them. You could also try bathing your dog using a citronella or tea tree oil (or even one with both) shampoo which acts as a natural insect repellant as they hate the stuff. I think next time you comb one out I would put it in a jar or something and ask the vet to identify it under the microscope as well so you know exactly what they are and what will treat them. |
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#11 |
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Quote:
Thanks for the advice. I will try the shampoo, and see if it helps. I like the idea that these are natural ingredients, as I truly do hate giving him chemicals, but needs must with some treatments. I hope this works, as he loves running in long grass, and although I don't want to spoil his fun, at the same time I don't want him tormented.
. It must drive her round the twist and I hate seeing her like that, but at the same time if she couldn't run about properly she'd be be equally as unhappy and driven crazy so it's a case of a rock and a hard place.If these flies are biting your dog it could be the irritation that's making him itch, or an allergic reaction. What helps a lot is giving a piriton allergy tablet before setting off on a walk then by the time you've got back home it has kicked in and there's not nearly as much scratching. Something else I use which is also a big help is Virbac Allermyl shampoo, it's very thick and sticky and you don't need a lot of it. What I do is put a little bit in one of those cheap salon spray bottles with cold water and spray it onto the skin then gently rub it in. Leave a minute or so then spray with plain water to remove, cold if possible as the coolness gives added relief. This works pretty well,mine stops itching within a few minutes, and it's quick and easy, just make sure you get it on the skin .
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#12 |
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Join Date: Sep 2014
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I've never experienced this, but I have several suggestions to add to the others in the thread:
give the dog regular baths check him all over very carefully to ensure that the flies aren't breeding in a wound on his body, or being attracted to an open wound, or that his scratching isn't caused by a skin condition which might bleed; put a lightweight cotton coat on him when you take him out so flies can't get near him if it doesn't clear up quickly take him to a vet , along with some of the flies if possible, try to distract him fro scratching with chews and toys. |
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#13 |
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Quote:
Possibly Blandford flies.
Are you in East Anglia or Oxfordshire? Blandford flies are notorious for biting dogs - and humans. |
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#14 |
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I rub coconut oil into my dog's coat, especially under her arms and belly (then try and stop her licking it off) I rub it on my 4 cats as well. For years I've been plagued with fleas. Frontline, and other commercial treatments don't seem to work now, but for the first time, they've gone! You can also use it on yourself if fleas are attracted to you. It's got a lot of benefits, you can cook with it if you wish. The organic is best.
https://authoritynutrition.com/top-1...f-coconut-oil/ |
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#15 |
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Join Date: Oct 2011
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Thanks for the above suggestions, I will try them one by one and see what happens, nice to have such helpful feedback.
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#16 |
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Join Date: Oct 2011
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A quick up date.
I washed my poor dog in a fab shampoo, put diluted lavender oil on his collar, and he is seriously starting to get so much better. He has only itched about 3 times today. Considering he was scratching non stop, I am so relieved that he is not so distressed. I have checked his body, and have found some dried up sores that have scabbed over, so it seems he is now on the mend. Also after asking various people who own dogs, one woman was really informative. She warned me never to miss tick and flea treatment, not even by one day, so on that point I will be meticulous, every 4 weeks and not every calendar month. Even though my dog did not have fleas, they were flies, I have managed to get rid of them We will both have a good nights sleep, because he got no rest from the scratching, and bless him, he is now dead to the world The relief from him not going mad with the scratching is wonderful. Thank you all for your advice, because it really helped my lovely dog - and me |
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. For what it's worth, I have never encountered flies that are in a dog's coat causing it to itch and that you can comb out, flies would fly away if you went near them.
. It must drive her round the twist and I hate seeing her like that, but at the same time if she couldn't run about properly she'd be be equally as unhappy and driven crazy so it's a case of a rock and a hard place.