Does having a dog help with allergies
Seasonal Allergies in Dogs
What Are Seasonal Allergies in Dogs?
Dogs can be allergic to various things in the environment, such as pollen from trees and grass. If a dog displays allergy symptoms only during certain seasons, such as spring and fall, a seasonal allergy rather than a year-round allergy is suspected. This means that the dog is allergic to allergens that are in the environment only during certain times of the year.
Dogs with seasonal allergies can be itchy in specific areas, such as their paws, or be itchy all over. They can also have recurring ear infections and skin infections when they are exposed to various environmental allergens at certain times during the year.
Seasonal allergies are different from year-round environmental allergies and food allergies because symptoms are observed only during specific times of the year, depending on what the dog is allergic to and when the specific allergens are prevalent in the environment. In contrast, dogs with year-round allergies will have skin issues all year long.
Most dogs with seasonal allergies have symptoms during the spring (March through May) and fall (September through November), but this can vary based on weather and location.
Types of Seasonal Allergies in Dogs
The following allergens commonly cause seasonal allergies in dogs:
Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies in Dogs
Symptoms will vary depending upon the dog, but may include:
Excessive licking, usually of the paws, but the licking can be anywhere on the body
Saliva staining of the fur where the dog is licking the skin excessively
Chewing/gnawing
Scratching
Hair loss
Redness of the skin
Crusts
Moist skin
Darkening of the skin (black pigmented skin)
Thickening of the skin (elephant skin)
Odor to the skin or ears
Head shaking
Pawing at the ears, eyes, or face
Recurring scooting or licking of the anus due to anal sacs becoming problematic secondary to allergies
Watery eyes
Reverse sneezing
The most common areas of a dogs body that are affected by seasonal allergies are the paws (especially between the digits), limbs, mouth, ears, abdomen, groin, armpits, tail, and around the eyes.
Causes of Seasonal Allergies in Dogs
A dog that suffers from seasonal allergies has an immune system that is hypersensitive to specific allergens in the environment. When the levels of the allergens become high, the dogs immune system becomes triggered, leading to an allergic response and the development of symptoms.
How Veterinarians Diagnose Seasonal Allergies in Dogs
Seasonal allergies are diagnosed based on physical exam findings, symptoms, and a history of having recurring symptoms and infections during the same seasons annually.
Other skin conditions that can cause similar symptoms must also be ruled out, such as skin mites, fleas, or a food allergy, to reach a diagnosis of seasonal allergies. If fleas are found on a dog with symptoms of severe itchiness, redness, and hair loss, then a flea allergy is diagnosed and the dog is started on effective flea and tick prevention and anti-itch medication to see if symptoms resolve.
Treatment of Seasonal Allergies in Dogs
Seasonal allergies are a chronic condition, which means there is no cure. However, there are ways to treat and manage symptoms to keep your dog comfortable, including:
Year-round flea and tick prevention such as NexGard, Simparica, Bravecto, Seresto collar,and K9 Advantix II
Anti-itch medications such as Apoquel, Cytopoint, and prednisone are prescribed to alleviate any current itchiness and to manage the itch during flare-ups. If the itch can be controlled, the dog will remain comfortable and be at less risk for secondary skin infections.
Once the allergy seasons are determined for a dog based on prior history, the anti-itch medication is started one month prior to the start of the allergy season and continued one month past when the allergy season ends.
An omega-3 fatty acid (fish oil) supplement, such as Welactin, Vetoquinol, or Dermaquin, will protect the skin barrier and minimize allergy symptoms.
An omega-3 fatty acid supplement can also help with anal gland issues for dogs that tend to need their anal glands expressed more frequently during allergy season. It takes four to sixweeks for an omega-3 fatty acid supplement to become effective, so it is best for a dog with seasonal allergies to be on this supplement year-round.
Routine ear cleaning can help clear a current ear infection and reduce the frequency of future ear infections. If an ear infection is present, treat the infection and clean the ears based on recommendations from your veterinarian. When there is no infection, clean the dogs ears with a routine ear cleaner, like EpiOtic Advanced, on a routine basis throughout the year (typically every two to threeweeks for maintenance).
Ear medications, such as Mometamax, Posatex, and Tresaderm, are prescribed to treat bacterial and/or yeast infections in a dogs ears. After treatment, make sure to schedule a follow-up appointment with your veterinarian to recheck that the infection has resolved.
Oral medications are often needed when a dog has a skin infection on multiple areas of the body. Antibiotics, such as clindamycin and cephalexin, are prescribed to treat bacterial skin infections, and anti-fungal medication, such as ketoconazole, is prescribed to treat fungal skin infections, such as yeast infections.
Topical therapy can be used to soothe the skin and help with treatment of skin infections. There are many topical therapy options, including anti-bacterial and anti-fungal ointments, shampoos, conditioners, mousses, sprays, and wipes. Ask your veterinarian which topical therapy would work best based on your dogs allergy symptoms and current skin condition.
Immunotherapy for Dogs With Seasonal Allergies
Immunotherapy consists of either allergy shots or allergy oral drops that are formulated based on allergy test results. To determine what environmental allergens a dog is most allergic to based on where the dog lives, a blood test can be performed by your veterinarian using a specific blood test (Heskas Allercept or Nextmunes Pet Allergy Xplorer) to screen a dog for environmental allergies.
In addition to the allergy blood test, a veterinary dermatologist will also perform intradermal testing, which involves injecting small amounts of various environmental allergens into a dogs skin in specific locations. The injection sites are then monitored over a period of time for signs of a skin reaction. If a reaction is seen, then the dog is likely allergic to the allergen that was injected at that site.
It is important to note that the allergy (blood) testing and the intradermal testing are not performed to provide a diagnosis of seasonal allergies. Rather, they are used to aid in creating immunotherapy treatment for a dog that has been diagnosed with seasonal allergies. The goal with immunotherapy is to desensitize a dog to the environmental allergens that trigger the allergy symptoms. Immunotherapy is usually given long-term at a maintenance dose.
It is difficult to limit a dogs exposure to certain allergens. Pollen from trees, grass, or weeds can be tracked into the house easily. Wiping a pups paws when they come inside can sometimes be helpful.
Recovery and Management of Seasonal Allergies in Dogs
Seasonal allergies are not only frustrating for dogs but also for pet parents, because they are not curable. Fortunately, though, with seasonal allergies, symptoms can be managed by knowing what seasons trigger a dogs symptoms and initiating treatment prior to the start of each allergy season. Anti-itch medication should manage the itch throughout each season so that the dog is not scratching, licking, or chewing at the skin, which can lead to secondary skin infections.
Cleaning your dogs ears every two to three weeks year-round with a routine ear cleaner is important to minimize the risk of an ear infection to develop. The ears should also be cleaned after your dog has a bath or partakes in a water activity, such as swimming, to remove any water from within the ear canals. Giving an omega-3 fatty acid supplement daily year-round can provide skin support as well. Management of seasonal allergies is usually lifelong unless a dog is able to move to an area where the allergen that is causing the reaction is no longer present.
Monitor your pet for the following symptoms throughout the year:
Itchiness (scratching, licking, gnawing, chewing)
Head shaking or pawing at the ears or eyes
Any skin lesions (such as redness, crusts, thickened or black pigmented skin)
Odor to the skin or ears
If you see any of these symptoms, schedule a vet appointment as soon as possible. Your dogs skin condition can worsen quickly if allergy symptoms are not controlled. If your dog is licking or chewing, have them wear an e-collar until the appointment to prevent further worsening of the skin. Your veterinarian will prescribe treatment to make your dog more comfortable and treat for any skin or ear infection, if present. Managing a dogs allergy symptoms with therapy and reporting to your veterinarian any skin issues as they arise are the most effective ways to help a dog with seasonal allergies.
WRITTEN BY
Michelle Diener, DVMVeterinarian
I live in Raleigh, North Carolina. I obtained by BS degree in Biology at UNC-Chapel Hill in 2000 and my DVM degree at NCSU in 2006. I have...
Wondering how to help a dog with allergies? Heres what to do, according to a vet
If you suspect your dog has an allergy, you are no doubt wondering how to help a dog with allergies. You might see your dog itching, chewing their paws, or they might have loose stool or red skin. They may also have recurrent ear or eye infections, and be losing fur.
Allergies can be sparked by many things, including changing seasons, pollens, dust, fragranced products around the home, or the food the dog is eating. As someone living with a dog with allergies, you may need to take practical measures such as changing the products you use in your home or swapping your dogs diet over to one of the best dog foods for allergies.
Dog scooting can also be a sign that your pooch is suffering from allergies.
While certain breeds are more prone to allergic reactions, all dogs are susceptible to them. We spoke to vet Dr Katie Ford to find out how to tackle the problem and help a dog with allergies.
Dr Katie Ford BVSc CertAVP(SAM) PgCert MRCVSDr Katie Ford is an experienced small animal vet with a medicine certificate. She qualified from the University of Liverpool in 2012 and has worked across first opinion, emergency, and media work. Following her own experiences and interest in personal development, she trained as a coach and completed a master's in Emotional Well-being. Dr Ford now runs multiple businesses within the veterinary industry, supporting her colleagues. In 2020, she wrote a series of short books named "To An Amazing Vet", designed to gift to members of the profession to thank them for their hard work and care.
Allergic conditions can manifest in various forms. Katie says the most common allergic conditions she encounters include skin allergies (atopic dermatitis), food allergies, and flea allergies.
She says: Environmental factors such as pollen, dust mites, storage mites or molds can trigger atopic dermatitis. Allergies to certain foods can also cause skin or gastrointestinal signs. Flea allergies, as the name suggests, result from a hypersensitivity to flea bites. Some patients will have multiple allergies and need a multimodal approach to treatment.
Here are some steps you might want to take:
Get the best advice, tips and top tech for your beloved Pets
1. Get a professional diagnosis
When you first notice any signs of an allergy in your dog, you may want to start making changes yourself before visiting a vet. However, as Dr Ford says: Allergies can be complex, and can be flared up by a number of factors.
Vets can delve into the reason behind your dogs allergies so you can get on top of it quickly.
Katie notes that as veterinary teams, we have the ability to perform further tests and work with clients to ensure we are treating their dogs in the most effective way and for the right thing.
It can be really beneficial to form a partnership with your veterinary surgeon, getting to know what helps your dog in the longer term in times of management, and when additional support might be required.
2. Get an allergy test
Once a vet has considered the dogs individual situation - including their medical history, age, breed, and the environment they live in - initial investigation might be taking samples of the skin, and checking for bacteria, fungi, and parasites.
As Katie notes: Identifying the exact allergen can be challenging, but tests include intradermal skin testing or blood (serum) testing. Your vet will be able to explain the pros and cons of each test, and what is on offer at their clinic or at specialist centers.
It can be worth checking with your insurance company that they cover any tests before theyre carried out.
3. Is it time to change your dogs food?
What our dogs eat is an increasing area of interest. There are now so many choices, not only in the type of food you are feeding (for example, kibble, home-cooked, or raw) but also in the specific ingredients these contain. If you think your dogs allergies are linked to food, its important to consider whether changing dog food is the right first choice for your dog.
Katie says that if food is suspected as a cause of allergy, then an elimination diet is a great place to start. There are a few different options that your veterinary team will explain and help you to understand the options. This may involve feeding a new protein and carbohydrate source for a set time period, often eight to 12 weeks.
Ideally, this would be food types your dog hasnt eaten previously, and without treats or extras along the way. This might be a commercial food or home-cooked.
Alongside a change in food, Katie says: Veterinary fatty acid supplements can help support skin health [...]. There are many available that are balanced and specifically for dogs with skin allergies."
However, she notes that its crucial to consult your vet before adding any supplements or making significant changes to your dog's diet (especially if theyre on a diet trial or have sensitive stomachs).
If you want to level up your nutrition knowledge, here are six nutrition myths busted by a vet.
5. Bath or wash your dogs paws
Washing your dog can be especially useful when seasonal allergies are suspected or you know your dog is allergic to certain pollen.
Unfortunately, many dogs hate baths but you can work on slowly building up your dogs confidence getting into the tub and how comfortable they feel in the water. Wondering why do dogs hate baths? Our guide is here to help.
In the short term, rinsing paws after walks can remove pollen particles attached to the skin, says Katie.
Minimizing contact with any known allergens can also be useful. So, if you know that your dog struggles in the grass during particular months, you might swap your regular walk route out for different locations, such as sidewalk-only walks or a hike in the forest.
6. Clean your home
For dogs with allergies related to dust mites, keeping your home as free from dust as possible is going to be really important.
Katie says: You can minimize dust mite allergen exposure by regularly cleaning your dog's living environment (dont forget the car!)
Vacuum regularly and wash any bedding with mild detergent. Air purifying machines might also be worth investing in if your dog really struggles with dust.
Katie reminds us to be especially aware of times that disturb dusty areas, and keep pets out of the way if this is the case. For example, bringing seasonal decorations down out of the attic or when having any renovations.
7. Avoid bulk-buying dry food
Storage mites can be cause for concern for some itchy dogs - this can be especially problematic if you feed a kibble-based diet and buy it in large quantities.
Katie says: Storage mite exposure can be reduced by avoiding stockpiling food, as they can live in dry food, particularly in the dust at the bottom of the bag. Storing dry food in airtight containers can be valuable, and some find benefit from freezing portions of dry food before use.
8. Keep things natural when it comes to home fragrance
While as pet parents were always keen to avoid doggy odor in our homes, if your dog has signs of allergies, youll want to avoid any harsh cleaning products or unnatural fragrances.
Carpet cleaners or freshening powders should be avoided, alongside plug-in or spray odor-fighting room fresheners. These can not only irritate the skin but may settle on your dogs fur or paws and be ingested during self-grooming sessions. If your dog is highly allergic, it is worthwhile avoiding any form of scented products - even candles.
9. Use natural grooming products
When bathing or grooming your dog, make sure the products you are using are pet-safe and soothing for the skin. Katie suggests that we should make sure grooming products arent heavily fragranced and that they are suitable for sensitive skin.
Speak to your groomer to make sure theyre not using any sprays or shampoos that might irritate your dogs skin or cause a flare-up of their allergies.
10. Dont forget your dogs emotional well-being
Whilst we can get focused on the physical impact of allergies, many itchy dogs can also be struggling emotionally. As a behaviorist, I see many of my anxious dog clients also complain of allergic conditions. Whether theyre in pain, feeling fed up, or the inflammation from the allergic condition is causing their body overall stress - make sure you are helping them feel as comfortable and confident as possible.
We can work with vets to help suppress the physical response, but you may need some support from a force-free positive reinforcement trainer or behaviorist to guide you through ways to boost your dogs mood. Try and add activities that your dog really loves to do throughout your week together - be that sniffing, playing, or having cuddles with you.
If your dog is showing signs of an allergic condition its important to get help as soon as you can. Ultimately, when youre looking for the best ways to help a dog with allergies, make sure you are utilizing professionals for support and delve into every area of your dogs lifestyle and environment to find the cause quickly.
Want more tips like this? Here are the five signs of dog allergies and the three common food allergies in pets. Weve also collated a further nine tips for coping with allergic pets.
