Flea Bites and Itching

• Flea bites themselves do not cause itching; it is the saliva in the flea's mouth that comes in contact with the dog's skin upon being bitten that causes itching.
  
  

Flea Bite Allergies

• Flea bite allergies are much more severe than the itching caused by standard flea bites and are recognizable by a few obvious signs of an allergic reaction. Common signs of an allergy include hair loss, scratching to the point of bleeding, rashes and hot spots.
  
  

Hot Spots

• Hot spots are raw, red spots that appear on the body of a dog. The fur is missing in these spots, having been licked away by the dog in an attempt to ease the itching in that location. Hot spots typically occur toward the base of a dog's spine, on his hips or on his legs.
  
  

Determining Whether It Is an Allergy

• Not all dogs are allergic to fleas if they itch due to flea bites. To tell the difference, look at the severity of the dog's reaction and for signs such as hair loss and bleeding due to excessive scratching.
  
  

Treatment of Flea Allergies

• Treatment for flea allergies in dogs can be as simple as reducing or eradicating the flea problem. This can be done using bug bombs, flea treatments from your vet and frequent vacuuming. It is also important to treat hot spots in order to prevent them from becoming infected.