Veterinary Medicine - November 2007 - (Page L8)

FLEA BITE FACTS Q&A Flea Trax I It’s important for flea control products to be: • Extremely quick to control fleas • Able to eliminate adult fleas from the host and reduce viable eggs, larvae, and pupae in the environment • Unaffected by water, adjunctive topical therapy, and shampooing • Nontoxic and environmentally safe. preventing fleas from jumping on the treated dog. The next best would be a product that prevents all flea bites, even if a flea jumps on the dog. Unfortunately, neither product exists. Ihrke: In the past, dermatologists viewed flea allergy dermatitis as more of an all-or-none phenomenon. However, clinical experience with a very rapid acting chloronicotinyl insecticide, nitenpyram, has taught us that the more rapidly fleas are killed, the fewer salivary antigens will be deposited in the skin and the less severe the allergic reaction to flea antigen in the flea saliva will be in the dog or cat. This has revolutionized our thinking because we now view flea allergy as a dose-dependent disease similar to other hypersensitivities. However, this product must be given every day or every other day to maintain good efficacy. Dryden: Yes, I believe that flea control is important when trying to manage skin disease. It appears that pruritic skin disease has an additive component; therefore, any disease that can add to the pruritus must be controlled to manage the patient’s skin disease. Blagburn: There’s no doubt that we should incorporate flea control into the management of any dermatologic disorder. A successful flea control strategy is a necessity in most regions of the United States. In certain geographic regions (e.g., southeastern United States), fleaassociated dermatitis either accounts for or contributes to a very high percentage of small animal dermatologic disease cases. It is also important to note that fleaassociated disease may result from a small number of fleas in an exceptionally sensitive animal. Pet owners may be unaware that the skin problem their pet is experiencing is actually caused by fleas if they do not see fleas in the pet’s hair coat. Dermatologists can often rule out flea-associated disease by placing pets on an effective flea control program. Many veterinary professional groups such as the Companion Animal Parasite Council, the American Animal Hospital Association, and the American Association of Feline Practitioners recommend year-round use of flea and tick control products because of potential dermatitis and flea- or tick-associated disease. DeManuelle: I ask my clients who own pets with atopic dermatitis and food allergy to use continuous flea control. Our flea season in the Pacific Northwest is July through October. However, many of my patients Should flea control be a part of any dermatologic disorder management plan? 6 Griffin: Yes, absolutely. In dogs with concurrent flea allergy and other allergic skin diseases, the aggravation of the flea allergy often causes a subsequent aggravation of the other allergies as well. Even when dogs are not allergic, flea bites can contribute to skin damage and secondary infections, and, therefore, flea control is beneficial in dogs with any skin disease but especially critical in dogs with allergic skin disease. Aggressive flea control may not always be critical, but consistent flea control and prevention of flea infestation in a pet’s normal home environment is beneficial. 8

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Veterinary Medicine - November 2007

Veterinary Medicine - November 2007 Contents Leading Off The Veterinary Medicine Interview: Dr. Lila Miller Clinical Exposures Idea Exchange A Challenging Case: Uveitis and Secondary Glaucoma in a Cat Is it Immune-Mediated Neutropenia? Pimobendan Treatment in Dogs with Congestive Heart Failure CE Form Product Preview Advertiser Index Marketplace/Classifieds Mind Over Miller Special Supplement by Lilly: Flea Bite Facts Q&A

Veterinary Medicine - November 2007

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