Can Dogs Get Hayfever?
If you’re new to being a dog owner, you might be asking yourself “Can dogs get hayfever?” While this isn’t the most important thing you need to know about owning a dog, “Can dogs get hayfever?” is still worth asking.
Dogs And Hayfever
Some people are surprised to find that their dogs are capable of getting hayfever. The unfortunate fact of the matter is that they are just as susceptible to it as people can be. Pollens, dust particles, and airborne bacteria can wreck havoc with our senses. They can cause just as much as damage to dogs of all breeds (some breeds suffer from these things more than others).
However, the way in which dogs suffer from hayfever differs from people in one key way: Whereas hayfever in a human being causes them to sniffle and sneeze, hayfever in a dog can cause them to experience itchiness all over. The extent of this can vary, depending on how severe the hayfever attack happens to be. Just like a person’s coughing and sneezing can be anything from very mild to severe, a hayfever attack for a dog can go the same way. The itchiness can be mildly annoying, but in more serious cases, your dog is going is going to be extremely uncomfortable.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that itchiness isn’t the only symptom your canine can experience with a hayfever attack. Although it’s not common, sneezing is a possibility. Other symptoms can include the eyes watering and a running nose.
Treating your dog’s hayfever is not difficult. The most important thing is that you alleviate the dog’s symptoms as quickly as you can:
- The itchy, inflamed skin of your dog can be eased considerably with a nice, cool bath. You don’t want cold water, and warm water can actually make the dog feel worse. If you want, add a handful of oatmeal (the kind used in baths) to the water.
- An antihistamine (think Benadryl) can help a human being feel better. It can also work on your dog. Before trying this, talk to your vet about the dosage. You don’t want to give your pet too much or too little. You should also keep an eye out for diarrhea, as this is a typical side-effect of using the over-the-counter allergy reliever.
- Dust mites are a big contributor to canine hayfever, so consider washing whatever bedding your dog typically uses. Vacuum and dust the area frequently.
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