5 Ways To Help Your Pet's Seasonal Allergies

Spring has sprung and the summer time is nearby, you know what which means – allergy season!

Now some may think your dog rolling around in the grass sniffing the flowers would be a fun time, before you and your pet BOTH get itchy and therefore are sneezing! Let’s take a look at some choices for respite from those allergen symptoms, so you can both enjoy summertime.

1. Wash It Off

Removing any pollen, dirt, dander from your cat or dog’s skin is pivotal to assisting you keep those allergies in check this year! 

There are a variety of options depending on how engulfed in nature you were. You may just went for a walk-in-the-park and want a fast pat having a pet wipe. Make sure you wipe off their nose first after which move to their feet (don’t forget in between their toes!).

If you enjoyed an attractive trip to the park, rolled around in many grass, and sniffed ALL the flowers – it’s bathtime! We suggest spraying them down first before you apply any pet soap and rubbing their bodies down together with your fingers. This provides a great opportunity to check their body to be certain they don't have any growths hidden under their fur. Spraying your pet down first, and moving your hands along their fur will help loosen any dirt hiding within their fur.

2. Brush It Out

Brushing your pet not just removes excess hair and detangles knots, but it also brushes out environmental irritants that were acquired in their fur! 

Depending on your dog there are various kinds of brushes that may be needed; long-haired vs. short haired, wiry vs. smooth. Connect with your groomer or veterinarian if you aren't sure which brush to use in your pet. 

Brush time is also bonding time with your floof. Working this right into a normal routine, depending on the breed (my floofy floofs require it every second day!), will help you and your pet with seasonal allergies this season and every year! 

Brushing techniques usually follow this flow; brush down and out NOT backwards, be gentle to ensure that you as well as your dog are enjoying this time around together, and don't forget to apply conditioner should you stumbled upon a matted and tangled area. 

Overall, this is an easy step within the right direction to battling seasonal allergies – continue keeping on!

3. Paw Booties On

This has come about as an unexpected to you, but paw booties are not just for the gram! Around I love  watching stylish dog videos, booties are often built for function and never fashion.  

Putting paw booties in your pet might help protect and canopy up their paws so that they don't trap allergens in between toes, or track the allergens inside. Think about it – those cute little feet step on a whole lot and they'll be tracking everything inside if they posess zero barrier. With paw booties, you are taking them off in the door and your animal's paws are clean, even while not tracking in pollen and getting it on the bed, floor, blankets, hooman's clothes, toys, etc. You wouldn't board your pillow together with your shoes you simply wore outside and neither should your dog.

There are many different types of paw booties, and it might need some trial and error…listed here are two I've tried and have available — reusable and disposable!

4. Allergy Shots

Humans which have allergies may also be aware of the choices of allergy shots or immunotherapy. Are you aware that this was an option for your pet too?! It has been proven to supply allergy relief for four to eight weeks depending on your pet as well as their conditions. 

A specific allergy shot which i schedule appointments with my vet in my pups is called, CYTOPOINT. Based on Zoetis, “CYTOPOINT can work for that treatment of dogs against allergic dermatitis and atopic dermatitis.” 

Every animal is different, there may be different results for you personally – but for me it has been a great tool to add to my arsenal against allergies in my floofs. I would definitely recommend talking to the vet relating to this option to see if this could help obtain some skin itching and scratching allergy relief. It's been a game changer and I believe it truly helps when heading into this year of blooming!

5. Antihistamines & Benadryl

Wait..what?! I can give Benadryl to my pets? Yep! You should discuss this together with your veterinarian for proper dosage and when they advise it for your pet, however this can help to alleviate the itch, just like it would for humans. Same goes for along side it effects in humans as well though – your dog can become a little drowsy, so you need to be aware of this change in behavior and negative effects to concentrate on.

While this might seem like an “easy” option for you, particularly if you already have it inside your medicine cabinet – but the difficult part may be coming. You've got to get your pet to eat it. Some suggestions to get your animal to eat it without regret; wrapping it in a treat, stuffing it in a Greenies Pill Pocket, or smashing it up and mixing it in with their food. Have a surefire method in which you get your pet to consider their medicine? Tell us within the comments.

While seasonal allergies may come around every… single… year… these pointers and tricks might help alleviate symptoms using the proper treatment and active prevention measures. Remember that while these may work for my floofs, not every approaches will be suitable for all pets. “Do or do not, there isn't any try” — keep going with it, both you and your pet will appreciate checking up on an allergic reaction routine so that you can enjoy the nicer weather!

If your dog ever includes a severe allergic attack, the safest bet is to take them for an emergency veterinary hospital as soon as possible.

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