Finally!
The snow has melted and we can put away those heavy coats, sweaters and boots, no more ploughing through belly high snow to find a potty spot.
Spring is here and that calls for longer walks, going to the park, laying in the sun and rolling in the grass!
Unfortunately this time of year brings more than birds, bees, flowers and long days lounging on our garden chairs. For some it’s a time for licking, scratching and constant skin itch, very uncomfortable indeed.
What causes your dog to itch? For me it’s the fresh cut grass, but most of all the enormous pine trees in my yard. Although these trees house the squirrels that I so love to chase, they also drop pine needles and these cause me to itch and scratch. Fortunately, I am able to get relief through regular baths with a shampoo that my humom gets at my vets office.
Even though dogs can be allergic to the same things as our humans, we show signs differently. My humom suffers from allergies and she sneezes, her nose runs and her eyes get very itchy and watery, dogs show signs of discomfort in other ways, excessive licking or chewing of paws, pawing at our ears, scratching more often, rolling around or rubbing on things to get that itch out, sometimes we can be so uncomfortable that we lick or scratch excessively causing loss of hair, redness in our skin, even skin lesions. Dogs allergens are mostly absorbed through the skin, not their respiratory system.
For signs of allergies in dogs remember ESP: Ears, Skin, Paws
Of course if you have an Itchy Pet See Your Vet to get a proper diagnoses. Options your vet may suggest could be something as simple as shampoo, or oral medications, allergy shots, even a veterinary pet food that addresses environmental allergies.
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Disclaimer: Opinions are my own. I have been compensated to post for the ItchyPetSeeYourVet campaign.
May 14, 2015
I had no idea that all those different plants could cause problems for pets. You’d think I would have thought of something like that considering they walk through fields and such.