Hey, hoomans! This is George. I’d wave, but I’m too busy scratching and licking my legs.
We don’t know about your pups, but Mozart and I have a hard time when autumn rolls around. Sure, we love the cooler weather. That makes sitting outside in the sun and rolling in the grass a lot more pleasant.
But there’s something about the fall that stresses us, too: allergies. Lots of dogs have them, just like hoomans do. And we’re all allergic to different things, just like hoomans are. That means, if you have more than one pup, each could be bothered by something different—and at different times of the year.
Have no fear! Your doggo needn’t suffer. We’ll cover what to watch for and how to fix it right here so you’ll be ready as the seasons change.
Be Alert
Your first step in helping your big dog fight autumn allergies is to know what to watch for. These are some of the signs your furry friend may show:
- Sneezing
- Licking
- Coughing
- Itching and scratching
- Fur loss
- Change of color on fur
- Nose and eye boogers
Yep, we react pretty much like you do to allergens. Well, I guess you don’t lick your fur, but you probably get itchy sometimes, right?
Keep Things Clean
Lots of little things in the air and on the surfaces in your house can cause allergy issues. This is probably because we bring that stuff inside after our romps outside. Just a few tasks each day can cut down on our misery indoors, like:
- Changing sheets often
- Changing the air conditioner filters
- Cleaning the windows
- Washing our dog beds
- Vacuuming
- Cleaning our bowls daily
We know it’s a lot of work, but our health is worth it!
Change the Diet
One of the easiest first steps you can take if your dog starts showing signs of allergies is a change in diet. You want to make sure we’re getting all the nutrients possible so we can fight off those allergy attacks. And sometimes the food we eat could be what’s causing the allergies, so make sure you’re not buying foods with artificial ingredients or colors. It’s best to make sure meat and meat products are the main ingredients and not grains—but don’t go grain-free without talking to our doctor first!
Then, consider adding in foods that have a lot of potassium, fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins. Believe it or not, we love pumpkins and carrots! A little can go a long way, so start small to make sure we react well to it.
Give Us Medicine
Look, we really do hate taking pills. We’d simply rather not. And in most cases, we think pills should be the last resort. Fortunately, the vet agrees with us. However, sometimes those allergies are just too much for us to bear, and medicine of some sort is the only option to bring us quick, sweet relief.
Again, we beg you not to give us anything without talking to a vet first. Our dog doc might have better ideas in mind. Sometimes half a Benedryl or Zyrtec will be all we need. Other times, we might even need a steroid shot. We really don’t want that one, but we trust the vet to do what’s right.
In most cases, cleaning and changing our diet will help tremendously, and we won’t even need the medicine. Sometimes it can’t be helped, though. We understand. We just want to feel better so we can get outside and enjoy the cooler weather with you.
How do you deal with your pup’s autumn allergies? Let us know when you visit us on Facebook or Instagram
Until next time, expect big things!
