Dogs are Prone to Suffering from Various Types of Seasonal Allergies
Tree and grass pollens that are commonly found during the spring have proven to be problematic for many different dog breeds.
Determining the precise allergen that affect certain dogs, however, can be a very difficult task.
“Our goal is to control the allergy, and we do that by trying to minimize the exposure, which can be very hard,” said Dr. Robert Knapp, a veterinarian at Knapp Veterinary Hospital. “We’re left trying to marriage the symptoms with the complications.”
Finding the specific reason a dog is showing symptoms of an allergic reaction is further complicated by the wide variety of potential dangers that are common during springtime.
“Dogs can be allergic to practically anything,” said Dr. Kelly Kirby, a veterinarian at Mount Vernon Animal Hospital. “Their allergic to the same types of things we are, like ragweed, tree and plant pollens.”
Although the types of allergens that hinder dogs and people are often one and the same, the symptoms are immensely different.
“If we’re referring to seasonal allergies, then the dogs will become very itchy above their feet, near their groin, and between their armpits,” said Knapp. “They’ll chew on their feet and often scratch near their abdomen.”
Dr. Kirby also stressed that the symptoms are often dermatological.
“Most of the time what we see, as far as seasonal allergies in dogs, are itchy skin and skin infections,” said Kirby. “That’s the classic response.”
“Occasionally we’ll see respiratory issues, sneezing and runny eyes,” said Knapp. “But the most common in terms of seasonal allergies are skin issues.”
While dogs can show symptoms of allergies year round, late spring and early fall are generally the most problematic. But why are these two seasons in particular so troublesome?
The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, or AAAAI, has contributed countless hours of research to studying pollen and pollen levels. The research shows that tree and grass pollens are often measurable in large amounts during late March and early April. The research also shows that ragweed and mold spores are most commonly found in measurable amounts from late August to early October.
In fact, the AAAAI Website, www.aaaai.org, contains a pollen and mold report. There are over 75 different locations to choose from across the U.S., Canada, England, and Puerto Rico.
Once a location has been selected, the concentration amounts of pollen that were measured for that area are displayed by their type. The four different types of pollen amounts shown are tree, weed, grass, and mold.
A meter then shows how high the concentrations of that particular pollen is, ranging from absent to very high. The amount of pollens can vary from day to day.
Dinna Otto, a greyhound trainer at Abrahamson Kennel in West Virginia, is all too familiar with caring for a dog when allergy symptoms arise. However, it’s not the greyhounds that need her attention.
“Every summer, my black lab at home, she gets really itchy skin,” said Otto. “Her skin will get really dry, and she’s constantly scratching herself.”
It’s nearly impossible for dogs to avoid all potential allergens. So as the seasons change, what can be done to help a dog handle the situation?
“Well first off it’s very frustrating because there’s no cure for the allergies,” said Knapp. “Dogs with very mild allergy symptoms may need very minimal types of medication.”
“And then there are dogs with year round symptoms who need more aggressive treatments,” said Knapp. “These would typically include certain medications, allergy and steroid injections, and a change in diet with special foods.”
If a dog is having trouble controlling it’s allergic reactions, the best course of action is to seek help from a veterinarian right away. It’s then under the veterinarians discretion to determine which type of treatment would be best suited for that particular problem.
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