Spotting Seasonal Pet Allergies in Springtime
It’s that time of year again. The snow is melting, and the temperatures are rising. Springtime is a beautiful time of renewal and growth, but it can also be a time for allergies to develop in our furry friends. If your pet is sneezing, coughing, or rubbing their eyes and ears more than usual, it could be due to seasonal allergies. Here’s how to identify seasonal pet allergy symptoms this spring.
Common Symptoms of Pet Allergies
One of the most common signs that your pet may have an allergy is itching and scratching skin. This symptom can manifest itself through licking, chewing, pawing at the skin and ears, or rubbing against furniture or other objects in order to soothe the itchiness. This could indicate that your pet is trying to relieve an irritation caused by allergies. You may also notice redness, inflammation, and/or bald patches on their skin where they have been scratching excessively. In addition to itching, pet owners should also watch out for redness or bumps on the skin, as well as excessive ear wax or a foul odor coming from the ears. Other symptoms include sneezing, coughing, wheezing, watery eyes, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Identifying Allergy Triggers
The first step towards treating your pet’s seasonal allergies is identifying what allergens they are reacting to. Allergens can come from pollen in the air from trees, flowers, and grasses; mold spores; dust mites; food ingredients; certain fabrics such as wool; fleas; smoke; household cleaning products; and other environmental pollutants. It can be difficult to narrow down exactly which allergen your pet may be reacting to since they often come into contact with multiple potential triggers each day. This makes visiting a veterinarian even more important when trying to pinpoint an allergy source so that proper treatment can begin as soon as possible.
Treating Seasonal Pet Allergies
Once you have identified what allergens may be causing your pets’ reactions, you can start formulating a plan for helping them lead a comfortable life despite their allergies. Depending on the severity of their symptoms, medications like antihistamines or corticosteroids may help alleviate their discomfort temporarily while more long-term solutions are explored like changing diets or implementing avoidance strategies for specific allergens if possible (i.e., keeping cats indoors if they are allergic to grass).
Additionally, supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids and probiotics may help ease inflammation caused by allergies while strengthening your pet's immune system overall at the same time. A vet may also recommend an antihistamine like Benadryl to reduce allergy symptoms such as itching and sneezing. If these treatments don’t work, your vet may recommend allergy shots or even a special shampoo that helps soothe skin irritations due to pollen exposure.
No one wants their pet suffering during any season, but especially not during springtime when there are plenty of outdoor activities and fun things to do! By recognizing some common seasonal allergy symptoms in pets early on, you will be able to set them up with effective treatments, so they can get back outside enjoying all that nature has to offer. To learn more about pet allergies and treatment or to make an appointment, call Fetch A Vet Mobile Veterinary Services in Bluffton today at (843) 580-6209. We look forward to hearing from you!
