As hayfever season grips the UK and rising temperatures push pollen levels higher, pet experts warn dogs may also be quietly struggling with seasonal allergies that often go unnoticed by owners.
While many households are focused on managing their own symptoms with antihistamines and tissues, veterinary professionals say dogs can be affected in a very different way, making their discomfort easier to miss. Recent data shows growing public interest in the issue, with searches for “can dogs get hayfever” increasing by 220% in the past week.
Dr James Greenwood, Media Vet and Brand Ambassador at Forthglade, has outlined the key signs owners should be looking for as pollen counts continue to climb across spring and summer.
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He said: “Signs usually appear either in spring/summer or summer/autumn, depending on what your dog is allergic to. Similar to people, dogs can suffer an allergy to grass, tree, weed and flower pollen.
Though unlike humans, where our symptoms of ‘hayfever’ are typically a blocked nose, runny eyes and sneezing, dogs suffer the symptom of itchy skin. The allergy is the underlying cause of the itchiness, and sometimes the skin can even look visibly normal, despite the dog itching like mad.
Other times, the itchiness leads to secondary bacterial or yeast infections – leading to red, moist, inflamed and crusty areas of skin, a greasy coat and a ‘sweet’ yeasty smell. Other symptoms include paw licking, intense itching, recurrent ear infections, red skin around the groin and belly, face rubbing and bottom scooting.”
Veterinary experts say this means dogs can be experiencing significant discomfort even when outward signs are subtle at first. Because symptoms are often mistaken for general irritation or minor skin issues, seasonal allergies can go undiagnosed until they become more severe.
Certain breeds are also more prone to developing seasonal allergies than others, with some dogs genetically more sensitive to environmental triggers such as pollen.
Dr Greenwood said: “Some breeds are more likely to suffer than others. Labradors, West Highland White Terriers, French bulldogs and English bulldogs are all susceptible to seasonal allergies”.
Treatment, however, is not straightforward and usually requires ongoing management rather than a one time fix. Owners are being advised controlling symptoms is typically a long term process rather than something that can be permanently cured.
Dr Greenwood added: “Treatment focuses on ongoing management rather than achieving a ‘cure’. There are very effective drugs that can help manage the underlying allergy, as well as dietary supplements and topical shampoos to keep the skin calm.
It’s important to note, though, that seasonal atopic dermatitis is a different condition from a food allergy, despite the symptoms being very similar.
“So, whilst diet will play a part, atopic dermatitis due to an environmental or flea saliva allergy cannot be managed through diet alone, and it is important to work closely with your vet to help differentiate the underlying cause of your dog’s symptoms.”
