Dogs & Seasonal Allergies

Dogs & Seasonal Allergies

Spring has SPRUNG and so have the pollens!  A-choo!  Humans are not the only ones who experience seasonal allergies.  Unfortunately, our four-legged friends experience the same mishaps.  Seasonal and environmental allergies can cause discomfort and be a problem for dogs.  What are allergies?  They are found in everyday environments like dust and pollen.  The immune system views these allergens as harmful and dangerous and responds by releasing histamines that can cause inflammation, swelling, and itching.  Inflammation can lead to other things associated to an allergic reaction.

Just like humans, many substances can be allergens, and each dog can be allergic to different things.  Some of the most common environmental allergens include pollen, weeds, mold, fungus, flea saliva, and grass.  The hard part is that identifying these allergy symptoms is not always easy.  How can you tell if your dog may be suffering from allergies?  Below are some of the most common symptoms:

  • Running nose
  • Watery eyes
  • Itchy skin
  • Shaking their head or scratching ears
  • Respiratory congestion
  • Sneezing
  • Licking certain areas

If your dog continues to have ongoing symptoms, we recommend that you speak to your veterinarian.  Sometimes it is a challenge to identify and remove triggers which cause environmental and seasonal allergies.  It may take trial and error to determine the best ways for relief.  Introducing fatty acid supplements may help soothe itchy and irritated skin.  There are also shampoos which can help remove possible allergens like pollen and grass.  Sadly, there is no cure for allergies.  However, as you can see, there are things which can be done to help aid in relief.  You may also consider your dog’s diet as healthier foods may strengthen the immune system to fight against allergies.