Do dogs suffer from seasonal allergies in the Fall?
Pumpkin Spice season has arrived and that means fall is upon us. That also means that for a lot of us, seasonal allergies are ready to wreak havoc on us. But what about your dog? Do seasonal allergies effect our dogs too?
We were curious about dogs and any seasonal allergies that might be a problem in the Fall. So we asked a few experts about whether or not dogs can suffer from seasonal allergies. And we got some interesting answers.
However, the biggest thing to note is that the answer is a straight up yes. Dogs can in fact suffer from seasonal allergies just like their humans. But what else did the experts have to say about Fall allergies?
Dogs can suffer from seasonal allergies just like their owners
The first expert to answer our question about dogs and seasonal allergies was Nell Ostermeier, who is a veterinary advisor for Figo Pet Insurance. And as she pointed out, dogs can have allergies at any time of the year.
"Dogs are prone to allergies at any time of the year, it just depends on what is triggering the allergy. It can be anything from grasses, weeds, pollens, dust, dust mites, even parasites like flea bites can trigger an allergy. The allergens will also depend on your part of the country. If your dog shows no evidence of itching, scratching licking act their paws, ear inflammation, or eye discharge it is likely they don’t have allergy. But if any of these symptoms are noted, only during the fall, talk with your veterinarian about possible fall allergens are in your area."
- Nell Ostermeier for Figo Pet Insurance
Another expert who answered our question about seasonal allergies was Dr. Gabre Denton. Dr. Denton is veterinarian and pet trainer with TeachMe.to, and he kept things simple and straight forward in his response.
"Yes, dogs can get seasonal allergies in the fall. They might react to things like mold from leaves, pollen, or dust. Look out for itching, sneezing, or watery eyes. If you see these signs, a vet can help you manage their allergies."
- Dr. Gabre Denton for TeachMe.To
Our third expert response is from Dr. Paola Cuevas a Veterinary Consultant with Catster. And her answer really made us think about what those allergies could be and why.
"Dogs that suffer from pollen or mold allergies might experience flare-ups from plants such as ragweeds, that release their pollen during late summer and early fall. The fall winds spread these pollens over large distances, making more hypersensitized dogs susceptible. In areas where it rains during fall, mold reproduces in most piles of leaves."
- Dr. Paola Cuevas with Catster
Honestly, we aren't surprised that our dogs can suffer from seasonal allergies, but it is always nice to get confirmation from the experts about what to pay attention to and how those allergies manifest.
Are you at all surprised by the fact that dogs can suffer from the same seasonal allergies that we do?