ALLERGIES :

We have all seen or experienced the symptoms of hay fever during the summer months - stuffy and runny noses and watery eyes. These symptoms are caused by allergies.

Dogs can also be allergic to the same things as humans, but instead of hay fever they have itchy skin problems and ear infections. If irritation and inflammation become severe, bacterial and fungal infections can also occur. The whole condition is known as atopy. There are a number of different culprits that can cause atopy.

Springtime is often when the start of itchy skin is seen as this coincides with the release of tree pollens. Itching can get worse during the summer depending on the rate at which pollen is released from different plants. As pollens can be carried for many miles on the wind, it may not be the plants in the pet's immediate surroundings that are causing a problem and it is often several different plant species rather than just one that cause the problem.

Allergies to dust mites and fleas tend to cause year round allergies rather than just in the summer months. Food can also sometimes cause allergies. Reducing symptoms by avoiding pollen is virtually impossible, so usually a number of different treatments need to be used, often in combination, to control the symptoms. Sometimes we can even use special immunotherapy vaccines that desensitise the animal to the offending allergens, although they don't work in all cases. Unfortunately, as yet, we are unable to cure an allergy.

If your pet has any skin problems, you should always take them to see one of our vets, as an itchy skin problem can be very distressing and uncomfortable for the pet.