It's that time of year when many of us will be plagued by runny noses and sore throats as pollen counts rise - but did you know that your dog could be suffering from hay fever too?
Humans aren't the only ones who can be afflicted with the allergy throughout the spring and summer months, although the symptoms may present a little differently in your four-legged friend. The Met Office and vet charity the PDSA have issued advice to households with pets on how to spot the signs that your pooch may have hay fever, and what you can do to help make them more comfortable.
Some of the key symptoms you might spot if your dog is allergic to pollen are excessive scratching, redness of the skin particularly around the eyes, ears and between the paws, and tiredness or lethargy on days when the pollen count is high. Your pooch may also lick or bite their paws, shake their head, or rub their ears or muzzle due to the discomfort.
READ MORE: NHS list of hay fever signs and how you can ease symptoms when pollen is high
The PDSA advises taking your dog to the vet if you notice any of these signs, particularly in the summer. Some of the symptoms of hay fever could also indicate other health problems, so it's important to rule these out before your pet is diagnosed and treated for allergies.
Your vet might also suggest taking some steps to make sure that your dog isn't suffering from a different type of allergy, such as food-elimination trials. If it seems that it's hay fever troubling your pet, the vet may recommend some medication to help reduce or manage their symptoms during the summer months.
Alongside this, there are plenty of things that you can do at home as an owner to help your dog. Firstly, determining exactly what kind of pollen they are particularly affected by can help you when it comes to planning walking routes and avoiding certain spots that is likely to cause them discomfort.
Tree pollens are the main cause of hay fever in March and April, while allergy sufferers are especially affected by grass pollens throughout May, June and July, and flowering weeds are the primary culprit in June, July and August. But of course, at the end of the day you can't just keep your dog cooped up indoors for months on end - so here are some top tips from PDSA Vet Olivia Anderson-Nathan:
- Check the Met Office pollen forecast each day so you know what to expect.
- If you manage to identify which types of pollens your pet is most affected by, try to find find other areas to walk with fewer allergy triggers.
- Try to avoid walking your dog in early morning and late evening, as this is usually when the pollen count is highest. The best time to take dogs out is when the pollen is low, such as before dawn, late afternoon and early evening, though these times vary depending on the weather.
- Keep dogs on a lead near grass – a quick roll in the grass can leave their fur covered in pollen, causing hours or even days of misery.
- Wipe their paws and muzzle after every walk – sensitive baby wipes are ideal for this, or you can use special wipes designed for pets. If your dog is particularly sensitive your vet may advise rinsing them with water, or even shampoo, after walks to reduce their symptoms.
- While dogs usually only need a monthly bath, consider bathing them more often during the pollen season. A weekly bath can help to get rid of any lingering pollen – a specialist hypo-allergenic pet shampoo from your vet is ideal and will have anti-bacterial ingredients to help avoid skin infections if your pet does decide to have a good scratch.
- Keep up with grooming – a good daily brushing might help to remove any pollen that is clinging to your dog's fur. Keeping long-haired dogs' fur trimmed short may also help reduce pollen problems, as well as keeping them cooler in the hot weather.
- Wash their bedding weekly – any bedding that your pet regularly comes into contact needs to be cleaned regularly, otherwise your dog will end up covered in pollen again after every sleep! A weekly wash and vacuum of their bedding and favourite places to lie is recommended.
- A skin supplement or oil added to your pet's food may help to improve the strength of their skin 'barrier' to pollen, and reduce symptoms of the allergy. The essential fats that dogs need for good coat and skin quality can be quite different from a human’s – so it’s important to make sure the product you are getting is appropriate for pets. There's also a lot of variation of quality in available products, so it’s best to check with your vet as to which one is most suitable.
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