.Canine seasonal allergies are not something that most people consider when they decide to bring a dog into their family. But, like humans, some of them do have seasonal allergies. This article will help you torecognize seasonal canine allergies as well as the best ways to deal with them.
Signs and symptoms of canine allergies
Although these indicators of allergies are similar to those in humans, they may also present in slightly different ways as well. These canine allergies can manifest themselves as itchy skin, frequent ear infections, sneezing or red eyes and a clear, runny nose being the most common symptoms.
Your dog may experience different levels of itching, from merely mild to very intense. The areas of his body that are most likely to be involved are the groin, in the armpit, paws and muzzle. If your dog wears a poor fitting collar, that area may be at increased risk as well.
So if you notice them scratching, rubbing on carpet or furniture, chewing or licking themselves more than normal, it’s worth taking them to see a veterinarian. These kind of actions, done excessively, can cause painful infection. If you notice discharge, raw areas of skin or unusual discharge, your dog certainly needs to be seen by a veterinarian.
These kind of behaviors can lead to painful infections — signs of which include unusual odor and discharge — that usually require treatment. Hormonal changes predispose female dogs to these kind of infections occurring.
What Causes Your Dog’s Seasonal Allergies?
Basically, when a dog is exposed to anything to which they are sensitive, they might exhibit signs and symptoms of an allergy. Some of these things are only in their environment during certain seasons, others may be year round.
At the next level, once the dog’s immune system has become increasingly sensitive to the allergen, he is said to have a seasonal allergy. By the time the dog’s immune system has been repeatedly exposed to this allergen, it may take minimal exposure to trigger a strong reaction. The inflammatory response can become quite severe at times.
As previously stated, seasonal allergies are those inflammatory reactions caused by allergens that are only available during identified times of the year. The most commonly occurring seasonal allergies are to:
- grass and tree pollen
- mold and their mites
- dust and associated mites
- flea bites
How Are Seasonal Allergies Diagnosed?
Testing for canine seasonal allergies
If you suspect that your dog has a seasonal allergy, your veterinarian can usually determine if their symptoms are due to a seasonal allergy or something else. The vet will most likely do the following:
- take a careful history
- perform a thorough exam
- run lab tests
- trial of therapy
Sometimes, you might need to take your dog to see veterinarian who is board-certified in dermatology for skin testing. This very accurate way of diagnosing such allergies. They use several different micro-doses of various allergens to see which ones are causing the reaction your dog is experiencing.
They can also use what they learn to create the correct serum for allergy shots. Over time, being injected with these “allergy shots” may decrease your dog’s reaction to the identified allergens over a period of time. Although skin testing is the “gold standard” and provide a more accurate diagnosis, there are blood tests that are sometime performed as well.
Managing Canine Seasonal Allergies
One of the most common ways to manage canine seasonal allergies is the injection of serum that has been prescribed for your dog. The dose of which usually increases over time and can often be given by you at home instead of taking then to the vet each week. The vet or her tech can teach you how to do this safely.
Side effects of the allergy injections are usually minimal if thy occur at all. They are certainly a good choice for dogs experiencing either moderate or severe allergies. Most dogs having only mild symptoms probably do not warrant the effort, money and even a tiny risk of any side effects. As is true for all medical decisions, the risk/benefit ratio should direct your decision in this matter.
Other options for treating canine allergies
Often, oral anti-itch oral prescriptions are successful in treating seasonal canine allergies. If necessary, they can be stopped without a problem. Occasionally, a medication that is designed to alter the dog’s immune response to the allergen is used. They require a prescription from your vet along with an annual exam with associated lab work.
Whether your dog needs OTC or script meds requiring a vet’s involvement, it is good to discuss them. You need to know about any potential side effects with the vet before making any decisions.
Managing Seasonal Allergies With Nutrition
Like many medical conditions for both human and canine patients, nutrition can often play an important role in how the body reacts to seasonal allergies. Some dog foods are considered “therapeutic” and are specifically created to minimize skin allergies in dogs.
Occasionally, for those dogs with milder symptoms, the nutritional approach is all that is needed to keep the seasonal allergies under control. If this works for your dog, it is less expensive is very unlikely to have any negative side effects. Another benefit is that it takes no m ore effort feeding your dog. If this is a reasonable option for your dog, to which food and how best to transition your dog’s food.
Use nutrition to help medical conditions when you can
How to Keep a Dog’s Seasonal Allergies at Bay
Prevention is often better than the cure. Limit your dog’s exposure to allergens whenever you can. If exposed to outside allergens, be sure to use a baby wipe to clean areas on the dog’s paws, legs and underside before taking them back inside. Removing as many allergens as possible from your dog’s skin/fur minimizes exposure to some degree.
Oatmeal shampoos/dog baths are helpful. Be sure to keep the water lukewarm as hotter water can irritate their skin and dry it out as well. Shampoos that contain antihistamines or steroids are exceptionally helpful . Your vet can prescribe sprays and lotions as well.
Seasonal Allergies Are Recurring, But….
Although these allergies are recurring in nature, their impact on your dog can be minimized with adequate prevention and appropriate treatment. No one treatment plan works for every dog. However, you and your vet should be able to find a way to keep your dog happy and healthy.
