Signs And Symptoms Of Seasonal Allergies In Dogs

If your pet displays abnormal behaviours like excessive scratching, they could be having an acute reaction triggered by a seasonal allergy, a food allergy, or possibly environmental allergens.

Affected dogs will experience a series of uncomfortable symptoms that you need to be able to recognise to provide the proper treatment. There are many signs that your dog is prone to seasonal allergies, so keep a keen lookout for the following.

Irritated and Itchy Skin

Maybe you’ve noticed that lately when your pet is outside, they are excessively licking, scratching, and biting their skin. You might pass it off as a prickle, a bug or a bit of playful silliness, but it’s a sign that your dog could be suffering from skin irritation.

Environmental allergies attack the skin, and in response, dogs use their teeth and claws to soothe itchy skin. While it may provide temporary relief, this is not a solution, so a simple way to reduce the inflammation is to regularly bathe your dog with recommended shampoo for irritated skin.

If this doesn’t work, it is best to make an appointment with your vet to check over the dog’s skin for the proper treatment. In some cases, Canine Atopic Dermatitis can be the issue; this incurable ailment is caused by allergies and medication is required to reduce the allergic reaction.

Hair Loss

You may notice that small patches of missing hair are popping up on your dog’s skin. These patches are an indication that your dog may be suffering from allergies, and if you do not address them, the patches may get worse. Many different allergies cause hair loss, some more severe than others, including:

1. If your dog is suffering from inflamed skin, they often lick, chew, and scratch their skin to relieve itching. Over time, your pet’s itching can cause their skin allergies to worsen and lead to hair loss.
   
   
2. Dogs with allergies to grass seeds can lose hair. They often lose hair from their paws and gradually lose hair all over their bodies.
   
   
3. Fleas show up during spring and summer and can plague your pup with incessant bites, triggering extensive scratching that leads to hair loss. Some dogs are allergic to fleas, known as Flea Allergy Dermatitis; in this case, you can use specific medication, shampoo and thoroughly clean their bedding to help reduce the reactions.

Sores

Commonly sores are associated with food allergies, but overly irritated skin from dog allergies can also lead to red sores across your pup’s skin. Excessively scratching can break the skin and leave open wounds, making them vulnerable to infection.

A build-up of bacteria around the infected wound can lead to red sores that spread across the body, forming a rash across the skin. In the event of red sores, you should take your dog for a checkup as your vet will be able to diagnose the allergy and prescribe treatment to help your pet.

Ear Infections

You might not expect dogs to suffer from ear infections, but ear infections become increasingly common during allergy season. Pollen, seeds, and dust fly into their ears, causing irritation that can quickly develop into an ear infection if you don’t get the appropriate treatment.

You might notice that your dog:

• Shakes their head
• Scratches their ears excessively
• Has red and flaky skin around their ears

These are all common signs that your dog has an ear infection, so you need to pay attention. If you do notice any symptoms, visit your veterinarian for treatment and advice on how to prevent ear infections.

Runny Nose And Watering Eyes

Dogs get allergies like humans and, funny enough, also display similar symptoms. A runny nose and watery eyes are key indicators of seasonal allergies in both humans and dogs, indicating respiratory issues. Your dog may even start snoring because of its allergies!

None of these symptoms should cause worry as they are the most common signs of allergies. Just keep an eye on their regularity as these symptoms can become chronic in some instances.