10% of Dogs Suffering With Hayfever This Spring - Expert Weighs Breaks Down Pet Allergies and How To Help Your Pet

Daniela Vogl and Antioxi who have provided a comment detailing concerned dog owners how to handle pet allergies. Dogs can suffer from hayfever and pollen allergies, and spring is when pollen is at its highest, with up to 10% of dogs suffering with hayfever.

We all want our furry friends to be healthy, but if they’re beginning to show signs of allergy, how can we help them? Daniela has weighed in and provided expert commentary on the following topics:

• What is an Allergy?

• Why Has My Dog Developed an Allergy?

• How Do I Know if My Dog Has Allergies?

• How Can I Help My Dog With Their Allergies?

• How Are Medicinal Mushrooms Helpful for My Dog’s Allergy?

“What is an Allergy?

Allergies can be a range of severities and can affect various parts of the dog's body, including the skin, eyes, nose, throat, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. Some common types of allergies include seasonal allergies (hay fever), food allergies, medication allergies, and insect allergies.

Why Has My Dog Developed an Allergy?

Unfortunately, there are many different reasons an allergy can make an appearance. The most common are:

A diet that doesn’t agree with your pet or if your dog has a poor diet can result in itching, redness and even regular infections. A good, balanced diet is so important for the overall health and well-being of your pet.

Changing your dog's diet to a good quality food or changing the food to determine what does not agree with your pet may be beneficial. Be careful not to change food too quickly as this could make the issues worse and cause stomach upsets. A vet can also conduct an allergy test to determine which ingredients or products your dog has an intolerance to. Using food supplements to help your pet’s oversensitive immune system would be beneficial to calm your dog's reactions. They contain powerful antioxidants that reduce inflammation and improve the immune system.

Reactions

Just like us humans, dogs can react to their surrounding environment. Below are some possible instances that could cause a reaction.

• Grass or pollen - Dogs can have reactions to pollen and dust. This can make an appearance on your dog’s feet, or if your dog likes to roll, redness and sore spots can appear on the body and this tends to be a seasonal reaction.

• Fleas - Fleas can cause serious skin infections but a bite from a flea can affect dogs in different ways and it is the saliva from the flea that causes this. Some dogs may not show any reactions other than a quick scratch, some dogs can suffer and experience a reaction all over the body, which may be present for some time.

• Swimming - Swimming is great exercise for dogs, however, you need to be selective about where you let your dog swim. Dirty ponds or rivers harbour dangerous bacteria that can cause a reaction and can also increase your dog's risk of developing a skin infection and it could be dangerous if water is ingested. Always ensure that your dog has been rinsed off or washed properly after swimming.

• Allergic reactions - This is probably one of the most serious reactions a dog could endure. Although rare, severe reactions to bee stings, vaccines or other factors could happen. If your dog is suffering and showing any of the below symptoms, you need to contact the vet straight away as it is a matter of urgency.

• Difficulty breathing or fast breathing

• Swelling of the face lips or throat

• Collapse

• Hives on the skin

• Seizures

• Pale gums or tongue

It is important to consider that if your dog is chewing, biting or scratching whilst suffering from a skin reaction, it could result in a secondary skin infection by opening the wound and this would need veterinary treatment.

Genetics and Breed

Any dog can develop an allergy regardless of gender or breed and can be caused by a variety of factors. However, some dog breeds may be more prone to reactions to allergens than others due to their genetic makeup.

Stress, Boredom and Anxiety

Some dogs can be very sensitive to changes that are happening in your life and whatever happens to you can affect them. This isn’t necessarily a reaction however, it is possible that if dogs are feeling stressed, nervous or anxious, which can show by them chewing or licking themselves, which can cause a reaction if the skin becomes irritated.

This can also become a behavioral habit, so if a dog is used to chewing or licking in a certain place, they may continue, even though there are no symptoms or visual signs there. If you notice this behaviour, try and distract your dog with play or walking.

However, excessive licking and chewing could also be a result of an underlying issue that may need veterinary treatment.

Speak to your vet if you are unsure what you think could be causing your dog's allergies. A vet can conduct allergy tests to determine the cause and then advise on a suitable course of action to relieve your dog.

How Do I Know if My Dog Has Allergies?

There are a range of symptoms that can appear when your dog has developed an allergy.

• Food allergies - Often, certain ingredients can upset your dog’s immune system. This can show itself in many different ways such as:

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Itching

• Bald patches

• Skin redness

• Recurring ear or foot infections/ itchy ears and feet

• Pollen and dust - The symptoms for this usually occur seasonally. The symptoms can appear in these common areas:

• Itchy/red feet, toes and ears

• Redness/ sensitivity around the groin, underarms and mouth

• Redness around the eyes

• Sneezing and runny nose

Parasite allergy - Some dogs can experience an immediate hypersensitivity to flea saliva, whilst some dogs may not show any reaction until 24-48 hours. A vet can conduct skin and blood tests to determine if your dog's allergy is a result of flea infestation. Some common signs are:

• Hair loss

• Discomfort when trying to settle

• Licking, excessive scratching and chewing

• Skin redness or rashes

If you notice any of these symptoms, it is best to try to deter your dog from licking itself as this can cause open sores and lead to yeast or bacterial infections.

Some of these symptoms can also be the result of an underlying health condition.

How Can I Help My Dog With Their Allergies?

Depending on the severity and type of allergy, there are numerous routes you can take to improve your dog’s health long-term and protect their immune system every day.

Food Allergies

Combined with a good quality, balanced diet, adding medicinal supplements can help fight off allergies, reduce swelling and improve immunity.

Whilst not necessarily an immediate medication for a flare-up, using supplements for dog allergies can protect them long-term and improve their immunity, happiness and overall well-being!

Flea Allergies

Whether your dog has been bitten by a flea whilst strolling out and about, or you have a flea infestation in the home, fleas can, unfortunately, cause an issue. These parasites are difficult to get rid of and can lay dormant in your house until they sense movement.

If you think that you have a flea infestation at home, it will take plenty of vacuuming, washing of bedding and sofa cushions and some good quality flea-killing products to get rid of them.

Treating your pet with good quality flea products will also be beneficial to your pet. Some products can kill fleas in a matter of hours.

Washing and Grooming

If your dog is recovering from a skin allergy, it’s a good idea to help along the process by keeping them fresh and clean! This helps remove dirt, dead skin and loose hair. Take care or seek advice on which products to use and when to start washing. You may need to use veterinary-prescribed products.

If the products are too harsh this could irritate the allergy and you could make the issue worse. Also, bathing too regularly will have the same effect.

How Are Medicinal Mushrooms Helpful for My Dog’s Allergy?

Sometimes, our dogs need a helping paw to combat issues that they may be struggling with. Medicinal mushrooms are 100% organic and are designed to bring the best defence to your dog’s health and well-being.

Many types of mushroom supplements are safe for dogs and they have powerful properties to provide relief and:

• Improve digestion

• Improve energy levels

• Reduce sensitivity

• Improve skin and coat

• Improve immune function

• Reduce anxiety

• Reduce inflammation

Protect your dogs' immune system every day and support their overall health.” n For further information visit Antioxi www.antioxi.co.uk article written by Daniela Vogl, founder.

Antioxi are experts in mushrooms and utilising them for the health benefits, with a wealth of experience and understanding of holistic healing.