While this may surprise you, dogs can have very severe seasonal allergies - just like humans do. In fact, our pets’ rate of seasonal allergies are higher than you might think. As many as 10 to 15 per cent of dogs can have atopy, which is the technical term for allergies.
With dogs, the main symptoms of allergies are slightly different than for humans. Dr Bernie Pukay, an Ottawa veterinarian, says that while your dog may sneeze, the main symptom for pets with allergy is pruritus. Pruritus is the medical term for scratching, licking, biting, chewing and rubbing. While all dogs do this to some degree, it is the extent of this behavior that makes the difference. In some cases, a dog may actually wear away its coat and damage the skin.
The most common body areas for pruritus are the animal’s face, ears, paws, groin and “underarms”.
Your pet can have either seasonal allergies or other kinds of environmental allergies. Environmental allergies will leave your pet with symptoms all year long. However, if your pet’s allergen is seasonal, you will have a pattern of symptoms that ebb and increase, coinciding with pollen season.
How can you prepare for next year’s season? Start now! Dietary changes including the addition of omega 3 fatty acids has been shown to help - even with dogs. Some animals have their symptoms reduced by as much as 30 to 40 per cent with the addition of omega 3 fatty acids to their regular diet.
Don’t discount simple measures like frequent shampooing. Cleaning the coat of allergens helps your dog by reducing allergic symptoms. Another option is colloidal oatmeal baths. Pukay suggest Avena Sativa Oat Shampoo every two to three days to help skin and reduce the need for medications.
Come early spring (and before the allergy season starts), it’s time to consider whether you want to pursue drug or other treatment options.
Dogs can take certain antihistamines. Benadryl may be prescribed for your pet. Another drug for allergies is called Vanectyl, which is a combination of steroid and antihistamine. If these drugs are not effective for your pet, Pukay suggests Cycloporine (known as the brand Atopica), which may also have less side effects than Vanectyl. Keep in mind that Atopica can take four to six weeks to become fully effective, so you must start early!
Dogs, like humans, can also do immunotherapy: in other words, your dog will start on a series of allergy shots. This will mean allergy testing - to determine exactly which allergens are the culprits behind your dog’s allergies - and a series of shots. Again, this is a treatment that should start well before allergy season to be most effective. Unlike immunotherapy for humans, you won’t have to run your pet to the vet’s office all the time: your veterinarian can show you how to administer the shot yourself at home.
Source: Ottawa Citizen
