A vet reveals how you can soothe your pet’s allergies.
By MacKenzie Reagan
Now that spring has sprung, so too has allergy season. But humans aren’t the only ones susceptible to seasonal allergens.
“Dogs can be allergic to pretty much everything a human can,” says Dr. Theresa Hendrickson of Pender Vet Animal Hospital in Fairfax.
Like humans, pets can have both seasonal and chronic allergies.
“With seasonal [allergies], it’s things like pollen, grasses and weeds that are just there at certain times of the year,” Hendrickson says. “When [pets] have chronic allergies, [it could be] something like food. They can [also] be things that are much harder to identify such as dust mites, mold and mildew.”
If your furry friend is plagued by a skin allergy, a telltale sign will be foot-licking. Hendrickson says there are over-the-counter remedies that can soothe itchy pets like essential fatty acid supplements. Hendrickson suggests something similar to fish oil but recommends buying a quality option from a pet store. “Essential fatty acids or a skin supplement with fatty acids in it can be very helpful,” she says.
Sometimes, bathing your pet with oatmeal shampoo or even no shampoo at all can alleviate dry, itchy skin; however, severe allergies may necessitate a medicated shampoo from a vet. If the skin allergies persist, it might be time to try a short-term course of steroids administered under a vet’s supervision.
Other signs of allergies are watery eyes and respiratory problems like coughing and sneezing. For these symptoms, Hendrickson recommends using an over-the-counter antihistamine like Benadryl.
If pets have year-round allergies, they may be caused by a food sensitivity, which requires an eight-week hypoallergenic diet free of common food allergens. If the diet clears up your pets’ allergies, vets can deduce that it was, in fact, a reaction to their food. When a change in diet doesn’t work, vets will perform skin and blood tests to better diagnose the allergy. In such cases, it may be due to endocrine problems or conditions like Cushing’s disease, which causes the overproduction of the hormone cortisol.
However, in some instances, “the skin tests and blood tests may not be 100 percent conclusive because [they only test] for very specific things … but there are so many things a dog can be allergic to,” Hendrickson says. “[The tests] don’t always give you an answer.”
Another source of chronic allergies may be fleas. Even if owners swear their dogs don’t have them, it’s always a good idea to use a flea and tick medication to ensure your pet is pest-free.
Whatever the issue, owners should always consult a vet before administering any medication to make sure it’s safe for their pets.
