Can My Dog Have Allergies?

Oh, Spring. The sun is out, the flowers are in bloom, and children are enjoying the outdoors. Everyone is happy—except for those of us suffering from seasonal allergies. We’re too busy blowing our noses to stop and smell the roses, and our eyes are too itchy and watery for us to see all the greenery and fun. But, hey, at least it’s finally warm enough to take our dogs out for long walks! When you do, do your pup a favor and help them with their allergies, too.

You might be thinking, “Wait, Fido doesn’t have allergies. Just look at him sniffing all those flowers without a care in the world!”

You would be forgiven for thinking that dogs don’t suffer from springtime allergies. After all, they aren’t exactly sneezing every time they sniff at a plant, constantly looking for a tissue, or rubbing their eyes. This is because allergy symptoms for dogs manifest a little differently than in humans. Unlike people, the biggest symptom for dog allergies is typically skin irritation. Runny noses and itchy eyes may also occur but usually aren’t as big of an issue.

Us humans get all sorts of medicines to choose from that help us enjoy the season, but what can we do for our pups? In honor of May being allergy awareness month, we put together some helpful tips to minimize your pet’s symptoms so they can enjoy the warm weather, too.

1. Wipe them down. When your dog is outside, they gather all sorts of dirt and pollen on their paws, legs, and body. If left alone, it could irritate their skin and leave them miserably scratching. To prevent this, wipe them down with a moist cloth or pet-safe cleaning wipe. This will also help keep your house pollen free so everyone can literally breathe easy.

2. Pay attention to the pollen count and avoid walking on extremely high pollen days if you can. Also, try to avoid going out for walks in the early morning or late afternoon—this is typically when the pollen count is highest during the day.

3. Keep the bed and toys clean. It’s a good idea in the springtime to wash your dog’s bed and toys more frequently. Sleeping on a bed of flowers may sound peaceful in a fairytale, but not even Snow White wants to deal with allergies all night long (after all, why do you think sneezy was so…sneezy?). Washing your pup’s bedding (and your own too, while you’re at it) will be a great help in reducing pollen and dust exposure.

4. Give your dog baths with anti-itch dog shampoo. It may help to give your dog a bath a little more often in the springtime. When you do, an anti-itch pet safe shampoo will help alleviate any irritation so Fido can get some relief without scratching too much.

It seems kind of odd to think that our dogs might have allergies. After all, they spend so much time sniffing out plants and rolling around in the grass. You’d think that, if they had issues with the pollen, they would think twice before voluntarily shoving their faces in it. As smart as our dogs can be, they sometimes need a little help from their wise masters. So, use these tips to make sure your furry friends are happy and enjoying spring to the fullest. For more information on how to best care for your pet, book an appointment at Animal Medical Center of Reno today!