Have you noticed your pet has been scratching or sneezing more than usual- you’re not alone. As we approach the fall season, we are also seeing an early uptick of environmental and seasonal allergies. Here are some things to know:
What are environmental or seasonal allergies?
These allergies are typically caused by allergens that exist in your yard, home or places where your pet spends a lot of their time. As the weather changes we see an increase of allergies in our pets due to pollen, grasses and even dust.
Why do pets have allergies?
According to Virginia-Maryland Veterinary College, pet’s develop allergies when an allergen is touched, breathed in or ingested. Your pet’s immune system will go into overdrive to defend their body, which results in an allergic reaction like itching, face rubbing and ear infections.
What are the symptoms of my pet’s seasonal allergies?
Look out for scratching/itchy skin, licking of paws, face rubbing, sneezing, ear infections, red skin and potential loss of fur.
How do you treat seasonal allergies?
In most cases, seasonal allergies are easily treatable with either oral medications like Apoquel, antihistamines like Zrytec or injections like Cytopoint. At your appointment, we will discuss all treatment options with you to curate a plan that alleviates your pet’s allergies.
If your pet is presenting symptoms like above and you think it could be seasonal allergies, please give us a call so that we can help your pet have a happy, enjoyable and adventurous fall season.