Not everyone loves summer, and for good reason.
Sure, there are lots of things like the lovely sunny weather, BBQs, beach days, and pub gardens to enjoy, but for hay fever sufferers, the season brings with it a whole lot of discomfort.
And it’s not just humans who get hay fever – our dogs can get it too, however, their hay fever presents a bit differently than it does in us…
What are the symptoms of hay fever in dogs?
The experts at hypoallergenic dog food company Tails.com said hay fever presents mainly with itchy skin in dogs.
Known as atopic dermatitis, or atopy, hay fever in dogs is mostly seasonal, like with humans, but in more sensitive canines, it can bother them all year round.
As well as pollen, dust and other allergens are also known to bother some dogs.
Some breeds are more likely to get hay fever, including:
- West Highland Terriers
- Cairn Terriers
- Lhasa Apsos
- Shih Tzus
- Golden Retrievers
- Dalmatians
- Standard Poodles
- Boxers
- Pugs
As for symptoms, the team at Tails.com said we should be looking out for:
- persistent scratching
- recurrent ear infections
- red or inflamed skin
- itchy feet
- hair loss and greasy patches of skin in their armpit or belly areas
They add: ‘If these symptoms persist and your dog’s skin is broken down from scratching too much, they may also suffer bacterial or yeast skin infections.
‘There may be the odd runny nose or eyes, but if your dog keeps sneezing, that’s not hay fever.
‘Sneezing could instead be indicative of a different irritation, like dust, or something being stuck in the nose or throat.’
How to soothe symptoms of hay fever in your dog
If your dog is having a bad time of it, there are plenty of things you can do to help them feel better.
The experts at Tails.com recommend bathing or wiping your hairy buddies down when they come back from playing outside to try and get any pollen off.
‘If their skin is already irritated,’ they added, ‘there are medicated shampoos available to help soothe the inflammation.
‘Preventative measures include keeping your dog indoors as much as possible on high pollen count days, even if they really want to go and play.
‘This brings its own problems, however, as your dog won’t understand why they can’t go out, and it could cause further behavioural problems. So when you do let them out, ensure you follow some of the treatments mentioned above when you let them back in.
‘If your dog is particularly sensitive, you can speak to your vet for other treatment options. They may prescribe steroids or antihistamines to control the itch.
‘In some cases, your vet may carry out blood tests to find out which allergens your dog is reactive to and develop an individual vaccination to desensitise them to these allergens. This treatment is known as immunotherapy.’
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