Fly-Biting Syndrome – A Basic Guide
This section includes quotes and stories from tutors and referents of dogs with fly biting syndrome. These testimonies offer insights of popular experiences managing this condition.
On YouTube, there are many videos where dog owners ask for information, and other users share their experiences—like in the video shown here
Common Causes Mentioned:
Some dogs improved after switching to hypoallergenic diets.
Certain human foods, treats, or bones triggered episodes.
Low B12 levels were linked to brain damage causing symptoms.
Eating food scraps or dead animals outside triggered episodes in some dogs.
Stress, anxiety, or previous trauma may play a role.
Solutions Tried by Dog's reference person:
Diet Changes and adding vitamins (B12, zinc) to balance the diet.
Stopping oral flea/tick medications helped some dogs.
Some vets prescribed anti-seizure meds, but results varied.
Managing food intake outdoors.
Owners emphasize trial and error to find the right solution.
On Redditt there are also people asking the community about flybiting information:
A dog owner describes how their dog shows fly biting behavior only when the husband is at home. The dog seems to be calm otherwise, and the behavior stops when the husband leaves. The couple is confused because the husband has never mistreated the dog and even has a good bond with him. They're looking for advice, wondering if the behavior is triggered by a specific scent, sound, or stress response associated with the husband's presence.
Answers by users:
Possible focal seizures: Several users suggested the behavior could be linked to focal seizures and recommended a neurological evaluation.
Vet check recommended: Many advised taking the dog to a vet to rule out medical causes like ear infections, vision issues, or neurological problems.
Environmental triggers: Some mentioned that the dog's behavior might be stress-related or triggered by something specific in the environment—possibly linked to the husband’s presence or routine.
Not uncommon behavior: A few users shared similar experiences and noted that fly-biting can be seen in dogs with anxiety or obsessive-compulsive tendencies.
In the Reddit thread, the user describes their dog starting to show signs of fly biting—a behavior where the dog snaps at the air as if chasing invisible flies. The episodes have become more frequent and consistent over the past few months.
https://www.reddit.com/r/DogAdvice/comments/119l19l/what_could_be_causing_this_fly_biting_started_a/
Community responses highlight several possibilities:
Focal seizures: Many users suggest the behavior could be linked to focal seizures and recommend consulting a veterinarian or veterinary neurologist for proper diagnosis.
Anxiety or OCD: Others mention that fly biting can also result from anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), especially in dogs experiencing stress or changes in environment.
Veterinary evaluation: Several commenters strongly encourage a full medical check-up to rule out any underlying neurological or behavioral issues.
On Facebook there is a group about the Flybiting syndrome . Here is a typical summary of comments and topics you could find:
Owners sharing videos of their dogs showing fly biting behavior, asking if others have seen similar episodes.
Questions about possible causes (neurological, digestive, behavioral).
Discussions on diet changes (e.g., trying hypoallergenic or low-fat diets) to see if symptoms improve.
Experiences with medications.
Queries about diagnostic tests.
Posts about episodes worsening during stress or specific triggers (arrival of a family member, certain noises).
Discussions of successful cases where behavior stopped after addressing gut issues or anxiety.
Emotional support posts from owners managing the frustration and stress of the condition.
Sharing recommendations for veterinarians and neurologists with experience in fly biting.