August 18th, 2020 by Becky Calvert

For a lot of us, the summer months bring us endless runny noses and itchy, sometimes streaming eyes, all caused by hay fever – but did you know your pooch could suffer from these problems too? If you’ve ever noticed your beloved pooch suffering from hay fever-type symptoms – this could actually be hay fever, so you’ll want to know how you can help your dog to ease their symptoms and make them as comfortable as possible. Other seasonal issues that can affect pets may include insect bites – which could cause a reaction – and sunburn! Here are our top tips for helping your pet deal with these seasonal allergies.

What are seasonal allergies in dogs?

Seasonal allergies in dogs are allergies our pets get at a certain time of year, just the same as in humans. When the pollen count is high this may affect your pet if they are allergic to it, and will cause them to suffer from hay fever. Some insect bites and stings also only occur in certain months, and if your pet is allergic to them these can also be classed as seasonal allergies!

Hay fever in dogs

It is estimated that one in ten dogs suffer from some type of hay fever, with many displaying symptoms similar to those in humans, however, there are also other symptoms such as itchy skin and rashes. Pollen that gets into your dog’s pores or is inhaled may result in itchy skin, causing your dog to scratch more and possibly bite at their skin to try and stop the itchiness. This can then cause a rash as the constant scratching causes hair to thin so the scratching affects the skin below. If you notice a rash on your dog you should seek veterinary advice to avoid your dog from itching further and making the skin bleed or become infected.

Some dogs may suffer from breathing difficulties from hay fever, due to the spores and pollen that they may inhale. If your dog is allergic to these spores, they will cause your dog’s immune system to produce histamines which create swelling in the respiratory tract – often resulting in excessive panting, wheezing and noticeable trouble breathing. If you suspect your dog is suffering from this you should take them to the vets as soon as possible – especially if it is a particularly hot day.

The classic symptoms we know for hay fever are also present in dogs that suffer from it; such as the runny nose, watery and red eyes and also sneezing. If your dog suffers from any of these things when the pollen count is high it is most likely to be hay fever.

Seasonal insect bites and stings

While the majority of insect bites and stings can affect us and our pooches all year round, many seem to only occur in the warmer, summer months and early autumn. Fleas tend to be much more prolific in the summer months, and when a dog is not protected by a good flea treatment agent, they can easily become infected from coming into contact with fleas. Your dog may be allergic to the saliva of fleas, which can lead to swelling and excessive redness on the area of the bite, making your dog extremely itchy – I’m feeling itchy now just thinking about the pesky little things!

Bee stings can be extremely serious in dogs because a number of dogs suffer from a pronounced reaction to the sting, which sometimes is systemic and may lead to anaphylactic shock. When your dog is stung by a bee, the affected area will be painful, which leads to your dog wanting to itch and paw at it. This often ends up injecting more venom from the venom sack into the skin. These areas will often swell up a significant amount, and if your dog has eaten the bee (which often happens – look on google images!) you must ensure the swelling does not obstruct their breathing. You should contact your vet for advice if you suspect your dog has been stung by a bee, and they should be able to administer anti-histamine medication and possibly anti-inflammatories to help with the swelling!

Mites are also prevalent in summer. I remember when my dog was only a puppy and I got up one morning to find she had sores on her paws and lower legs – a quick check over at the vets and she was found to have tiny little harvest mites (sometimes known as berry bugs) in between her toes, which had caused excessive itching leading to lesions on the skin. Mites can be transmitted very easily – especially from dog to dog and often need a veterinary-approved parasitic agent to resolve.

Mosquitos in the UK can affect our dogs too – although thankfully we don’t have the malaria-carrying mosquitos that some countries face! Mosquito bites become itchy very quickly and appear as a raised bump on the skin, surrounded by redness. These are often easily seen on short-coated breeds but can affect dogs with all coat types, and causes excessive itching which when scratched may cause a break in the skin which could become infected.

How can I help my dog?

If you find your dog is prone to hay fever in summer there are a number of things you can do to keep them happy and healthy. Seeking advice from your vet is always the first thing to do, especially if their symptoms are severe – however, we can also protect our pets by perhaps changing when and where we walk them and keeping them indoors as much as possible. Your vet can prescribe an antihistamine medication for your dog if they feel this will make your dog more comfortable.

Staying indoors is the best way to protect your dog from pollen – but we know it’s not possible to do this all summer! On days where the pollen count is especially high, it may be easier to not take your dog out for a walk, instead play games with your dog in the garden to tire them out mentally and keep them away from areas that are abundant with plants and freshly cut grass.

Walking your dog early in the morning or later in the evening when the pollen count is lower should also help to ease your dog’s symptoms, as will wiping down your dog’s coat when you return from a walk. This will help to remove any pollen that has landed on your dog while they’ve been out. And your dog’s bedding should also be washed more regularly if they suffer from allergies to remove any pollen that may be stuck to it.

To help protect your dog against insect bites and stings, you should ensure your dog is kept up to date with their flea and tick protection treatment – as these often contain repellents that help to keep other insects away, such as some types of mites. Other dog-friendly insect repellents are also available, both in sprays or special collars that your dog can wear – helping to lessen the risk of them being bitten or stung. It is also important that you regularly check your dog for bites or stings, and if you fear your dog has been affected you should keep an eye on the area and seek treatment if a wound appears or the area looks particularly nasty.

Protect your dog from sunburn

It’s a known fact that the heat in the height of summer can affect our pets immensely, with the risk of heatstroke high for dogs, who simply can’t understand that they can overheat – so we as their owners must do what we can to protect them and make them comfortable. The sun not only causes a risk of heatstroke – did you know dogs can suffer from sunburn? Dogs that are white or have white markings are most at risk of this, along with dogs that have fine, short hairs, or dogs with bald spots (or hairless dogs!). Dogs ears are especially at risk of this due to their position on top of the head. To protect your dog’s ears, you can purchase a special doggy sun cream to apply. It’s important not to use human-grade sun cream as the ingredients in it can be toxic to your dog if they were to lick the cream off. You should also monitor how much time your dog spends in the sun, providing them with plenty of shade and keeping them cool inside as much as possible on the hottest of days.

Monitor your dog

Constant monitoring of your dog should help you to keep them happy, healthy and comfortable in the warmer months – so keep a close eye on your pooch and their skin and you should be able to enjoy your time together, even in times of high pollen counts and annoying little bugs!