Allergies in Pets

Spring is Here

At long last, spring is here. After what always seems like a long winter, we’re ready to go outdoors with our families and enjoy the nicer weather. You may be doing yardwork or simply outside enjoying a nice day. Of course, your beloved pet may accompany you on whatever escapade you undertake. While you’re out and about together, you might have symptoms of seasonal allergies. Your pet might, too. Understanding the signs, triggers, and management of seasonal allergies in pets is crucial for ensuring their health and well-being.

Symptoms of Allergies in Pets

You know you’re allergic to something that’s blooming because you sniffle, sneeze, and are congested. Your pet may have that reaction to an environmental allergen, too, or their symptoms might look completely different than that. If your pet has an allergic reaction to something, they might:

• Develop watery or red eyes
• Sneeze or cough
• Have a runny nose or swollen muzzle
• Vomit
• Have diarrhea
• Develop an ear infection

Your pet may or may not have these symptoms because pet allergies often present through skin symptoms. Your pet might scratch themselves frequently and seem really itchy. It can be harder to tell that your cat has itchy skin because they hide it better than dogs. Your cat might hide their itchiness by scratching in somewhere more obscure like under a bed or behind a couch. They also may simply appear to groom more than usual, so their itchiness might be harder to catch.

Dogs are more obvious in displaying their itchiness. They may:

• Have an itchy face or neck
• Have a patch of red or flaky skin
• Bite themselves
• Lick their paws obsessively

Paw licking is a very strong sign that your dog may be experiencing an allergic reaction to something. If that happens, it’s important to examine your dog’s paws carefully, including in between their toes. The skin on their paw pads (or bottoms of their paws) often becomes red and/or inflamed when they’re having an allergic reaction to something.

 Common Seasonal Allergies

Your pet may experience an allergic reaction to the same kinds of things you do – food or environment, for example. In the springtime, your pet may develop an allergy to:

Whether your pet is solely an indoor pet or not, they can be exposed to all of these allergens. In the spring, pollen can come into the house on your clothing and shoes, causing them to have an allergic reaction to something from the outdoors.

Keep in mind that your pet may be in contact with new or unfamiliar pets outdoors, too. Even pets can be allergic to other pets.

South Hyland Pet Hospital

South Hyland Pet Hospital in Minneapolis, MN is available to help you and your pet navigate their seasonal allergies. We might suggest:

• Allergy medications
• More frequent baths or grooming
• Wiping off your pet’s paws and coat when they come inside
• A flea and tick preventive medication
• Omega-3 fatty acids

There are other courses of treatment available, too, depending on the severity of your pet’s allergies. Contact us so we can help your pet enjoy the beautiful spring weather.

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