Like hay fever in humans, your dog or cat can suffer from seasonal allergies too. The clue that it’s a seasonal allergy is that their symptoms flare up at a certain time of year, only to disappear outside of that time.

Typically, dogs and cats can be affected by allergies in springtime. That’s thanks to all the pollen, grass seeds, spores and dust that’s around.

Like humans, dogs and cats can experience a range of allergies, not just seasonal ones. These include food allergies.

We might carry around endless packs of tissues to deal with our constantly streaming noses and weeping eyes, but dog and cat allergy symptoms aren’t always quite so obvious.

Symptoms of allergies in dogs and cats include:

• • • Itching and scratching. Allergies can cause your pet to have really itchy skin. They might rub against the furniture to relieve the itch, or even bite or chew their skin, especially their feet or tail. Look for signs of skin irritation, like redness and bumps, around the base of their tail, inside their hind legs and on their tummy, face, neck, ears and feet.
    • Hair loss. Untreated allergies cause your dog or cat to scratch, lick, chew and bite their skin, which can cause hair loss. They’ll start to lose fur on their feet first if they’re allergic to grass seeds. Cats especially are known to over-groom when they’re itchy, so check to see if their coat is thinning.
    • Sores. If your dog or cat is scratching and biting their skin, this can lead to open wounds which can get infected, resulting in weeping red sores.
    • Ear infections. It’s easy for allergens like pollen and seeds to get into your pet’s ear, making them really itchy. Signs of ear infections include shaking their heads and scratching their ears - read more here.
    • Respiratory symptoms. Sometimes, dogs and cats develop human-like symptoms, including a runny nose, watery red eyes, coughing and sneezing.

The first step in treating allergies in your pet is to take them to the vet who can give you a proper diagnosis, and rule out any other conditions. Some pet allergies need prescription medicine and life-long management, but others can be managed at home, under vet supervision. Treatment options include:

• • • Regular bathing and grooming of your pet. This helps remove pollen, dust, spores and seeds from their paws and coat. There’s a range of pet shampoos designed to relieve the itch of allergies.
    • Regular cleaning of their bed and vacuuming of the carpet to remove any allergens.
    • Eye wipes or drops. These can help soothe red, watery, inflamed eyes.
    • Ear wipes. Gently cleaning your pet’s ears can help remove a build up of allergens.
    • Diet changes. Swapping to food that’s specially formulated for sensitivities and allergies can help ease symptoms.

It’s always best to seek help from your vet if you suspect your pet has allergies. If you need any further help or have a question we haven’t answered, contact our friendly Pet Direct Customer Care team on 0800 200 240 or email support@petdirect.co.nz.