Seasonal allergies

The good weather is coming and antihistamines are increasingly being used in humans to counter seasonal allergies. Our companions are not safe and can also be “victims” of the summer season.

What is a seasonal allergy?

An allergy is an exaggerated reaction of the immune system to a molecule entering the body, which in this case is pollen (beginning of season) and ragweed (end of season). It occurs mainly during the months of May to October.

Who does it affect?

All animals can be affected by seasonal allergies. However, dogs are particularly affected and some breeds are more at risk.

Owners usually notice the first symptoms in the first few years of their dog's life, between 6 months and 3 years of age.

How does it manifest itself?

Unlike humans, seasonal allergies rarely occur through runny nose, sneezing, and watery eyes, but rather through intense itching that is often localized to the face, paws, hindquarters and belly.

Be careful, just because your animal scratches intensely does not mean that it necessarily suffers from seasonal allergies. Other causes of itching (or pruritus) also include: parasitic infestations, bacterial or yeast infections, food allergies, non-seasonal atopy (dust mites, dust, etc.), contact allergies. If symptoms persist during the winter, then consideration should be given to the possibility that another condition is responsible for the itching.

What are the consequences?

By scratching and biting, your pet can create other problems such as:

- Wounds and skin infections (bacterial and/or yeast)

- Otitis

- Conjunctivitis

What is the treatment?

Unfortunately, seasonal allergies and their symptoms come back year after year. Luckily, your veterinarian can prescribe medications that are effective in controlling allergies in order to relieve your animal on a daily basis.

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It is also advisable to limit contact with allergens in a few ways:

- Avoid walks outside when the weather indicates a high pollen count.

- Bathe your dog with a skin-friendly shampoo when they come back inside to eliminate allergens from their skin. Therapeutic skin care products, such as DouxoCalm products, restore a healthy skin barrier.

Other methods can be used in addition (acupuncture, fatty acids, fatty acids, dermatological food, therapeutic shampoo), discuss them with your veterinarian during your next visit.

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What types of medications are used for seasonal allergies?

Approved and effective veterinary drugs are available, such as Cytopoint^TM , Apoquel^TM and Atopica^TM. Antihistamines and cortisone are also treatment tools for our dogs. Your veterinarian will discuss with you a plan adapted to your animal.

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Can the cause of a patient's environmental allergy be determined?

There are reliable allergy tests carried out in hospital by veterinary dermatologists. These tests are recommended for patients who have symptoms for more than 3 to 6 months per year and who have poor response to standard medications.

Do you want to learn more?

‍_{Canine and feline atopic dermatitis - University Veterinary Hospital Center (umontreal.ca)}

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