Can he really have fleas, without 'having fleas'?

Took our dog to the vet today, I've been away at my parent's for the last week and when i came home a couple of days ago noticed he had started licking at a patch on the top of one of his back legs (near his tail area). It was getting a bit yucky and like there was pus underneath the skin so I thought maybe it was a hot spot (as Golden retrievers/labs are prone to getting them).

Anyway the vet said it's most likely a flea issue and asked if he had regular flea treatments, um no ( :redface: ). I just don't understand how he can have fleas when there have never been fleas on him. Surely I would have noticed if he had a flea problem? He's only been licking that one spot, I thought if he had fleas he would be itching and scratching all over, or at least in more than spot. I had a close look at his coat/skin tonight and can't see anything. He is a bit grubby but i would have expected that since he digs/rolls around in the dirt and goes swimming in the river every day. But definitely no fleas jumping around and nothing I can see that would be flea dirt (unless I just don't know what I'm looking for).

I feel like a terrible dog owner now, the vet used this almost condescending/humourous tone after I'd said he doesn't get flea treatments because we've never had a problem with fleas and now I feel really bad.. :shakehead:

My dog Max (shihtzu cross poodle) had the exact same thing this time last year!!!! I took himt o the vet and they said the same thing but I KNEW it couldnt be fleas as neither of my dogs had or have ever had them and they are regularly treated (Monthly with an all in one wormer/flea control tab. If we go out to a park where there are otehr dogs around or we are in long grass I will give them a capstar tab JIC.

I told the vet this and he said maybe a fleajumped on, bit him andjumped off and the dog had an allergic reaction. I almost laughed but didnt.

I dont know what it ended up being but I shaved all the area around it so the hair wouldnt irritate it and wouldnt create a moist environment for the scab not to heal but whatever it was, he hasnt had it again.

Hope your furbaby is feeling better soon. :hug:

A cat i owned many years go, kept getting bitten on his ears and nose, we thought fleas but he was flea free, turns out he was allergic to mozzies, we were given a cream, and had to put bug spray on a cotton tip and put it on his ears, id had him for years before his allergy had come out!

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I told the vet this and he said maybe a fleajumped on, bit him andjumped off and the dog had an allergic reaction. I almost laughed but didnt.

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yeah that's kinda what he suggested..but surely where there is one flea there would be more..and if it had free access to a dog why would it jump on then jump off again..just doesn't seem to make sense to me!
They shaved the area and I have some cream to put on it to try and stop the itching. Have to go pick up some flea tablets on Tuesday, there goes another $100!

Thanks Anila, it could be mozzies, there have so so many of them around lately. Would they be able to get to his skin through all his fur though?

I dunno hun, I suppose a mozzie could if it wanted to? You said he swims in the river everyday, maybe something in there bit him?

We hardly ever (read never) :hide: flea our animals and they don't really have any issues. I have an issue with the expensive, smelly and strong flea control products that vets sell. I have found that some essential oils work just as well and don't have any side effects.

I would suggest that maybe something in the river got to him or maybe one of the bugs that are thriving in the current weather conditions? Also sometimes dogs do get nervous or stressed when away from their owners and pick up a bad habit of licking the same place. Could it have been that?

Give your puppy cuddles from us and hope he gets better really soon.

We used to have a dog that had this kind of problem - but the vet (once they saw there was no fleas on her) told us if it wasn't a flea problem, it was likely a dermatitis problem or and alergy. If we could figure out what was setting her off, we could solve the problem. Unfortunately we never had the chance as she was hit by a car soon after.

Thats why I almost laughed. I just couldnt see a flea being that fussy about what dog it wanted to use for its new home! :rofl: Surely it would stay? :)

Hun, I have you on FB, PM me your address and I will send you some capstar tablets. I seriously have 3 boxes as my mum gave them to me. She works for a company called novartis and is a vetinary sales rep so we get some freebies (her company makes them). I know how often you have had to take your dog to the vet lately and vets cost heaps of money and if it can save you a bit then I am more than happy to help.

my cat is hypersensitive to flea bites so once she gets one she will itch it and itch it for ages.. then needs steroids .. all if i dont keep up with the flea treatments