Springtime Allergies and Your Pet

The air is warming, the sun is shining on the new grass, spring flowers are painting the landscape with splashes of color, trees are pushing out new trinkets as proof of spring, and you’re sneezing and coughing. Your watering eyes prevent you from even enjoying this fresh new scenery. If you can relieve your own symptoms for long enough to properly focus on your pet, you may also see that he or she is suffering right along side of you. Seasonal allergy concerns aren’t reserved for humans. Our feline and canine friends are susceptible, too – they can also be affected by the pollen of grass, trees, plants and flowers.

Animals’ reactions to environmental allergens are similar to that of humans’. When pets inhale mold, pollen, dust, or other seasonal irritants, their systems are likely to react with health issues such as skin irritations that cause them to bite, scratch, or lick – sometimes so severe that open sores, or “hot spots” result, creating the risk of other concerns, like infection. Like you, if your seasonal dog’s or cat’s parents suffered from seasonal allergies, your pet is likely to have the same inherent atopy, or allergic reactions.

Your dog or cat is probably a seasonal allergy sufferer if the symptoms typically last for less than three months out of the year. In cases such as this, the condition can usually be remedied with an oral medication. If your pet is scratching, biting, and licking for most of the year, it would be wise to consult with a veterinarian that can conduct a skin test, in order to compile a list of the specific allergens that affect your pet. Injected medication may be prescribed, to become less sensitive to the allergens, and reduce your pet’s health issues. Some other therapies that your veterinarian may recommend include homeopathy, bioresonnance, immunotherapy, antihistamines, steroids, or medicated shampoo.

Other springtime concerns include heartworm, ticks, and fleas. If you have halted treatment during the colder months, be sure to restart before the end of April, and schedule your pet’s yearly Spring heartworm test. Pet owners in warmer climates should treat for these three threats to pets’ health year-round.

In late Spring, animal shelters see a significant increase in unwanted puppies and kittens. Spaying or neutering your pet not only controls the population of unwanted animals, but also decreases the chances of other health issues arising. If your pet is at least 6 months of age, contact your veterinarian to get more information, or to schedule your pet’s spay or neuter.