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Just like humans, some of our furry friends can be more susceptible to skin and environmental allergies compared to other pups — especially during the spring and summer months. According to the American Kennel Club, signs of an allergic reaction in dogs can include itchiness, hives, facial swelling, inflamed skin, diarrhea, vomiting, excessive licking and more.
Learn about how to best care for your four-legged pal with these 4 tips for dogs with allergies:
Most people are surprised when they learn that flea saliva is a common allergen for dogs. Without regular flea treatments, it can feel nearly impossible to keep Fido free of these pesky parasites because of large populations in our natural outdoor environments. If your pup is bitten by one or several fleas, he can develop a reaction triggering flea allergy dermatitis, which can lead to fur loss, scabbed skin and even acute bacterial infection if left untreated.
As a first step, make an immediate appointment with your local vet if you have concerns that your dog may be experiencing an allergic reaction to flea saliva.
During the spring and summer months, plants release tiny particles in order to fertilize other plants. Most of us are probably familiar with how these allergens affect our sinus and respiratory tracks.
Unfortunately, dogs can be sensitive to pollen as well. If your pup is experiencing facial or skin reactions due to environmental allergies, it’s always a best practice to gently wipe your pup’s coat after each visit outdoors. This process shouldn’t take a lot of time, and only involves wiping your dog’s fur and paws with a wet cloth to remove allergens and prevent them from being brought into your home.
Even if you wipe down your pup after each visit outdoors, there’s still a chance that you’ll bring allergens inside your home from traces on your clothing. Properly using and changing air filters will clean the air circulated within your home and ensure that Fido stays away from harmful allergens while indoors. When possible, try to choose air filter options that are certified as high-efficiency particulate absorbent (HEPA).
Always call and make an appointment with your trusted vet if you suspect your pup may be struggling with allergies. This is always a best practice for confirming an accurate diagnosis, getting the latest information and accessing treatment plans that work best for your specific dog. Your vet will initially rule out any other potential conditions that could be affecting your pup. Then, your vet may propose an allergy test to identify the specific allergies if he or she believes you pup’s condition is a result of an allergic reaction.
We hope you and your pup stay allergen-free this allergy season! Remember that ensuring your pup’s indoor and outdoor environments are clean and landmine-free is key for keeping your pup happy and healthy.
Call up our Scoop Soldier troops to do the dirty work of pet ownership and schedule your first free service with us if you live in the Orlando, Tampa, Denver, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Phoenix or Atlanta metro areas.
