April 6th, 2016
Your Dog and Springtime Allergies
I read an article the other day about how experts are predicting that 
seasonal allergies will be exceptionally bad this spring.
As one who suffers from seasonal allergies, I was thrilled to learn I might be sneezing a lot more this spring!
But it also started me thinking about Yankee and other dogs who experience the symptoms of spring time allergies.
According to an article I read by well-known holistic veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker, many dogs react to seasonal allergens.
How can you tell if it’s a seasonal allergy or something more constant such as a food allergy?
If your dog is like Yankee and gets itchy in the spring and fall, chances are it’s a seasonal allergy. But if he’s itchy year round, it’s more likely to be something he’s constantly exposed to, perhaps something in his food.
Unlike humans whose seasonal allergies typically cause things like sneezing and watery eyes, dogs’ allergies often manifest in the form of skin irritation which causes them to be itchy. To relieve the itchiness, a dog will scratch excessively, or chew on various parts of his body.
Signs that your dog is having an allergic reaction include:
- Chewing at his feet
- Obsessive licking his side or groin area
- Rubbing his face or body on things like carpet, grass, or walls
- Red, inflamed, stinky or infected ears
- Shaking his head
- Reoccurring hot spots or hair loss
- Puffy eyes
What can you do to help ease your dog’s seasonal allergies without drugs? Here are some suggestions.
- Try to keep the areas where your dog spends most of his time as free from allergens as possible. This means cleaning and vacuuming floors and washing his bedding often.
- Brush him frequently.
- Give him more frequent cool water baths to remove the allergens from his coat and skin. Use a shampoo that’s gentle and made for itchy skin, such as an oatmeal shampoo.
- Wipe his paws when he comes in to the house to help prevent him from tracking pollen inside and to help keep him from chewing on them.
- Try allergy fighting supplements such as
- quercetin which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties,
- bromelain which helps absorption of quercetin and also suppresses histamine production
- omega-3 fatty acids which help to decrease inflammation throughout the body, and
- coconut oil which helps decrease the production of yeast.
- If you’re feeding a food with grains in it, try switching to a grain free food. Grains contain carbohydrates which can increase inflammation.
- Make sure his immune system is strong.
There’s nothing worse than watching your beloved furry friend suffer from allergies, seasonal or otherwise. I’m not in favor of medicating dogs since it weakens the immune system so I’m going to give these holistic options a try. What about you?
