MY QUESTION IS DO THEY (SPRINGTAILS) BITE YOUR PETS? MY DOGS, SINCE WE MOVED HERE, HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT SCRATCH LIKE CRAZY. THEY HAVE RED SPOTS LIKE A RASH. HELP PLEASE .
Springtails don’t bite so you can rule them out. But the list of possible causes that could make a dog itch, get red spots or scratch themselves is quite extensive. Here are some the top reasons we see this happen.
1) Fleas. If you aren’t aware of what a flea looks like, I suggest you review our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE to learn. Fleas are one of if not the largest reason why pets get itchy and scratchy and this year is shaping up to be a wicked flea season. I’d start here on the list of possible reasons so make sure you do a good inspection of each pet to see if they’re harboring any. Oh, we get many inquiries from people who have fleas and are asking if they’re sporingtails since the two look very similar. And if you have a long haired pets, fleas can easily hide on the pet undetected so they can be tough to spot if you don’t know what they are.
2) Ticks. They are quite active right now. Though most tick infestations won’t prompt a lot of scratching, it can happen. Learn more about them in our TICK CONTROL ARTICLE.
3) If your pet stays outside a lot, there could be a local MOSQUITO, GNAT, BITING FLY, NOSEEUM or some other pest in the yard feeding on their skin, hair or blood. Any predatory insect that might feed on or close to a dog can cause an allergic reaction such as you are describing.
Additionally, I’ve seen dogs allergic to grass, pollen (like people), certain rugs or fabrics (since this is a new home it could something in their new environment), cleaning chemicals, some sort of detergent or something else you’re doing that’s “new” to them. The bottom line is the list of what could be causing them to scratch and itch is almost endless.
At this time I suggest you start with some products to help curb their itching (the symptom). Two we’ve had great success with is our MELALEUCA SHAMPOO and our OXY MED SPRAY. The Shampoo is an excellent way to start grooming them to both clean anything that might be on them as well as offer skin rash relief. The Oxy Med is best used directly on hot spots if you notice them attacking over and over.
Additionally, I suggest you start trying to determine what is causing the problem. Most of the pests listed above will readily attack people so I’m sure if any of them are involved, you or someone in the home or out in the yard will have similar experiences as the dogs. If that’s happening, you most definitely have an insect problem. From there you should be able to figure out what’s causing the issue. But if no one else in the home is being bit, getting itchy skin or having any similar problem as the pets, I’m not sure it’s any kind of pest involved. At that point I’d consider going to the vet to see if any of the dogs are having an allergic reaction to something in the home or yard.
Here are direct links to all the information and products listed above:
Flea Control: www.flea.net/flea-control
Ticks: www.bugspray.net/catalog/products/page2.html
Mosquito: www.mosquitoes.net/mosquito-control
Gnats: www.bugspray.com/article/gnats.html
Biting Flies: www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page306.html#biting_flies
Noseeums: www.bugspray.com/article/sandflies.html
Melaleuca Shampoo: www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page1238.html
Oxy Med Spray: www.bugspray.com/item/oxy_med_itch_relief.html
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