Managing Your Dog’s Seasonal Allergies
Warmer weather means more time to play outside with your dog but unfortunately, the changes in weather can cause allergies to appear in your furry friend. There can be many different triggers for seasonal allergies in dogs and exposure to pollen is one of them. Much like people, dogs can also be allergic to pollen, grass, weeds and other outdoor elements.
Since spring is in season, your dog is more prone to such seasonal allergies due to their close contact with the ground. Seasonal allergies are characterised by their occurrence at certain times in the year. In this article, we explain how to manage your dog’s seasonal allergies for a happier and healthier springtime.
Why some allergies are seasonal
Just like human allergies, dog allergies can come and go at different times of the year due to many factors. The two main forms are food allergies and seasonal allergies. Food allergies occur over time as a reaction to dog food. On the other hand, seasonal allergies occur due to the weather because certain environmental allergen can grow better when the weather is warm.
While all breeds are susceptible to seasonal allergies but breeds such as terriers, setters, retrievers, pugs and bulldogs are more commonly affected. Senior dogs also have a much bigger chance of being affected by seasonal allergies that may turn into year-round allergic conditions.
Looking for symptoms
The good thing is that if your dog is affected by an allergy, they are likely to show various symptoms which will tell you that something is wrong. Here are some common symptoms exhibited by dogs with a seasonal allergy:
- Excessive scratching in certain areas
- Scabs and hives on the skin
- Irritated, itchy and runny eyes
- Ear infections
- Excessive sneezing
- Shedding too much fur
- Swollen paws and sores around feet
- Continuous licking
Dealing with allergies
When dogs develop allergies they fall into an itch-scratch cycle that makes the situation worse. Fortunately, there are a number of things that you can do as a dog owner to alleviate your dog of seasonal allergies and manage them effectively. Here are a few steps you can take to help your dog recover:
- Try switching their diet to hypoallergenic food such as Hypro Premium made only with natural and nutritious ingredients without any harmful gluten, grains and artificial ingredients.
- Bathe them more frequently with a dog shampoo specific for allergies. The shampoos can soothe their skin and hydrate it to reduce inflammation.
- Flea preventative medicines can be used to avoid fleas that can cause allergic reactions.
- Use anti-itch sprays and creams to reduce discomfort.
- Avoid going outside with your dog on high pollen days to protect them from a reaction.
- If the symptoms persist after all the measures, immediately consult your vet. Vets can prescribe steroids or antibiotics to reduce itching and prevent infections.
Dogs are just as prone to allergies as humans and their allergies are more pronounced in high-pollen seasons such as springtime. If your dog is super active and loves to play outside, keep an eye out for any allergic symptoms and measures you can take to protect their health.
