The only reaction to flea treatment you want your pet to have, of course, is for the fleas to go away.  If the treatments you are using have any worth at all it will achieve this.  However, you also have to look out for flea treatment reactions which are not intended, especially if you are dealing with chemical products.  Much of this is covered in the section on “flea treatment side effects” but here we will go into what the specific reactions are that you should look out for after applying flea treatment.

One is excessive itching by your pet.  Of course most treatments do not take immediate effect so some amount of scratching by your pet following the application of the treatment is to be expected, from the fleas.  However, if you have an idea of how much your pet was scratching before, then you should be able to get an idea of what the flea treatment reactions are as clearly there should not be a big increase in itchiness once the treatment has been applied.  If there is, then the best thing you can do is put your pet in a bath in order to wash the chemicals off and then be prepared to find another way of getting rid of its fleas.

If your pet does experience itchiness once the treatment has been applied, it will probably be due to an allergic reaction.  Allergic reactions occur when the body overreacts to a perceived threat, and tries to get rid of it with histamines, which cause itchiness and swelling.  You should also, therefore, be watchful for any swelling, possibly arising as hives, as well as swelling on the face, muzzle and lips.

Unfortunately, due to the strength of the chemicals that are used, certain flea treatment reactions can be even more severe.  There have been cases when the pet’s skin has been burnt or they have even lost their whole coat of fur.  Thankfully this is rare, however, although obviously at the first sign of a reaction this strong you should contact your vet immediately.

The best way to avoid these flea treatment reactions is to use non-chemical techniques for tackling flea infestations.  They may not be as fast acting, but nobody wants to put their pet’s health in danger.  Having said that, sometimes the flea infestation is so bad that it is worth the risk.  Each pet owner has to decide the best course of action, preferably after consultation with an animal health professional such as a vet, to choose the best option under the circumstances.