Hop into Spring
April 2011
Walk the Dog Petcare Newsletter
Hop Into Spring!
April 2011
How to help your pets with Spring allergies
By Morieka Johnson
Spring is just around the corner -- a time when many of us simply dust off the neti pot or load up on Benadryl in preparation for allergy season.
It's a little harder for dogs and cats with environmental allergies to avoid the elements. Fortunately, our experts offer cool tips to help keep hot spots and other problems at bay during allergy season.
Itchy pets are hard to ignore. "We'll hear owners say 'they kept me up all night because every five minutes they were chewing, chewing, chewing,'" said Dr. Andrea Dunnings, owner of East Atlanta Animal Clinic, who notes an increase in pets with skin allergies this time of the year.
Allergy symptoms in dogs can include excessive licking, redness ("hot spots") or hair loss.
Dr. Drew Weigner, a board-certified feline veterinary specialist and owner of The Cat Doctor in Atlanta, says that few cats actually suffer from seasonal allergies; they simply sneeze more due to physical irritation from pollen.
But cats with true allergies will typically show signs of hair loss and have scabs or open sores. Discharge in a cat's ears or excessive scratching also are common symptoms.
Allergy season for dogs and cats can mirror that of humans, so bookmark the pollen forecast in your area and monitor your pets for symptoms.
After tiptoeing through the tulips, Dr. Robert O. Schick, a dermatologist with Georgia Veterinary Specialists, suggests wiping your dogs' paws with a cool towel to remove pollen residue or scheduling a weekly cool water bath. Also, help all the animals (and humans) in your house and avoid tracking pollen into the house by removing your shoes at the door.
Do what you can to reduce the amount of dust in your home by vacuuming carpets well. Focus on your pet's favorite spots in the house such as under beds and near windows. Don't forget to clean window treatments regularly. Dunnings also suggests removing bedding and washing it on a regular basis using a gentle detergent that is free of dyes or perfumes.
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