Not sure about you, but my allergies have been a little worse this year than in the last several years. I don’t know why, since I’ve been on the same nose spray and allergy medication(generic Claritin.) My eyes and skin have been itchy, although the nose hasn’t been too bad. Even Chase’s nose has been running a bit more this year. Marlo sent me a number of blog topic possibilities, and human allergies to pets happened to be listed. But what about pet allergies? I thought this would be a fitting topic, since we’re well into allergy season.
Do you have a pet with allergies? I mentioned Chase’s runny nose, but he also seems to have a light, skin allergy. He has bouts of flakiness, although it doesn’t seem to bother him and doesn’t get out of control. There are ways to tell if your pet has allergies. If your cat tends to overly-groom or your dog is constantly licking his paws, it might be worth asking your vet if they think your furry friend has an allergy. There are allergy medications to help take care of symptoms.
According to a report by CBS News, pet allergies fall under one of four categories: flea allergies; airborne allergies; food allergies; contact allergies(Source: CBS Interactive Inc.) Flea allergies can be quite common, although the allergy is actually to the proteins secreted by a flea’s saliva. Make sure you’re frequently giving your dog or cat baths and use a flea medication prescribed by your vet to alleviate the problem.
Similar to their human companions, a pet can have an allergy to dust, mold, mildew and pollen. If they seem to suffer more this time of year, limit their outdoor activity and give them baths to wash any dust and pollen away. Airborne allergies can also lead to hot spots on dogs, something our thicker coated dogs would end up with when I was growing up. Hot spots are irritated areas of a dog’s body where the skin has been constantly scratched due to an allergy, a bacteria build up has irritated the skin, or an area where matted and tangled hair has created irritation. How many of you have had to deal with hot spots, and how did you treat them?
Finally, pets can also have an allergy to food. If your pet seems to be itching, suffering from a digestive disorder or is experiencing respiratory distress, they may have a food allergy. Again, consult your veterinarian on possible diagnosis and a plan to keep your pet on a healthy track.
Enjoy these comfortable days now because it won’t be long before we’re complaining about summer heat & humidity!
Until next week- Bryan & Chase ^..^
Sam has got skin allergies the same as Dakota had. It must run in the family. We had Dakota on medicine but it caused her to gain so much weight we decided not to put Sam on pills. We comb him a lot and give him baths with special shampoo. He has responded very well to this treatment. We also had a dog that was allergic to fleas.
Thank goodness Lucca doesn’t have allergies. The only time he really reacts to something is whenever I spray any from an aerosol can or my perfume. He immediately starts sneezing. I still haven’t figured that one out.
I have 2 shih tzus and i feel so fortunate that we do not have to deal with allergies!! when our oldest dog was younger he did seem to have some trouble both in the spring and fall, at almost the same time my allergies would start to be miserable. At that time we took Admiral to the vet and found out that otc children’s benedryl can work for dogs too. once we found the correct dosage, he got relief as needed. the otc medicines are so much less expensive, and if they work as well as the prescription everyone is happy.
Sadie doesn’t seem to have any allergies. Especially not any food allergies. LOL
But in the late summer she sometimes gets an odd rash on her belly. Doesn’t seem to bother her that much,but it looks ichy.
My friend’s oldest dog has something called hot spots most of the summer if she isn’t careful. Not sure if it is from flea bites or what. But once they moved out to the country, he doesn’t get them as badly.
We thought Freedom had an allergies as she was licking her paws when she came in from the backyard . After a visit to the Vet we found out that it was the treatment we had sprayed on the yard . We thought we had read the label and got something that would not hurt her — WRONG , if you don’t know what the words are saying Please Please ask someone before you use the product . Lesson well learned .
Stay safe all .
Judy
I’ve been fortunate that I’ve not had to deal with allergies either with the four legs or myself.
I’ve have had friends that have had animals allergic to fleas and of all things grass!
Not just sneezing, but actual contact between them and the grass. Laying in it was sure to lead to itchies.
I also worked at at stable where we had horses allergic to different things. One was fly bites, so always blanketed when she went out, another was sensitive, (I’m not sure allergic would be right) to sunlight. She was very light colored, either a flea bitten gray or an Appaloosa. It’s been since before the ‘93 flood, so the memory is foggy.
Also the dogs with very short hair, and horses with light skin around their noses, ears and eyes can get sunburned, just like we can. They may look funny with sunscreen on, but their owners are taking the proper precautions for their ‘children’. I’m not too sure about cats, since mine stay inside, and all the others I’ve known have either been indoor or barn cats.
Remember to check on the four feet you love for heat stroke, and exhaustion. It’s the time of year I begin to make dogsicles. Frozen beef or chicken broth or stock, into cubes or sticks, and given as a treat. It’s also time to get out the kiddie pool, and let the kids play in the water. No danger of mosquitoes breeding, the water doesn’t stay in the pool that long!
Stay cool all, looks like a noisy night again.
Kim and clan
I once had a dog and all it took to set off her flea allergy was one bite, and it would make all of the hair on her throat fall out. My nieces dog takes benedryl in the summer. I have heard also that some dogs can develop allergies to carpet. No wonder considering all the chemicals that go into them. Thankfully Gracie has none, not so lucky myself, I have allergies all year long. I do put dog sunscreen on the bridge of her nose and other similar places where her fur is light so that she doesn’t get sunburned. Kim awesome idea for dogsicles, I know Gracie will want to say Thank You.
Your welcome Gracie, now you get to gloat to your doggie friends that you get pupsicles!
my Pups had their first pupsicles of the year last night.
They went quickly, not too much danger of melting even in that heat!
Stay cool all
Kim and clan