Do Dogs Get Seasonal Allergies?

In this article:

• Do dogs get seasonal allergies?
• How do I know if my dog has seasonal allergies?
• How do I treat my dog’s seasonal allergies?

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Springtime is a double-edged sword. It brings longer days, warmer temperatures, and blooming flowers—but the latter can also trigger seasonal allergies. 

And seasonal allergies aren’t just for people; they can impact dogs, too. If environmental allergens are causing your best friend discomfort, you have a plethora of options to help them. Here’s how canine allergies manifest, and how to treat them so you can both get back to using the extended daylight hours for marathon fetch sessions in the park.

Do dogs get seasonal allergies?

Dogs absolutely get seasonal allergies.

Like in humans, allergic reactions in dogs occur when they’re exposed to a typically harmless substance, such as pollen—but their immune system mistakes it for a threat. The immune system responds by going into overdrive, releasing antibodies and inflammatory compounds to destroy the perceived hazard. 

In humans, allergies typically manifest in puffy eyes and runny noses because airborne allergens affect our respiratory systems. But dogs’ seasonal allergies mostly come through contact with the skin.

Dogs can suffer from various types of allergies, including to foods, medicines, and fleas. Environmental allergies encompass reactions to plants and the substances they emit at different times of year—as well as other airborne matter, like dust mites. These allergies may start to manifest between ages 1 and 3.

Seasonal allergies in dogs are called atopic dermatitis. As allergens affect dogs’ skin, they will get very itchy—particularly around their face, belly, paws, armpits, and groin. The scratching can also lead to secondary skin or ear infections. 

Atopic dermatitis is “one of the most common skin diseases that we see in dogs,” said Douglas DeBoer, DVM, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology and professor emeritus of dermatology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine. He continued that environmental allergies—including seasonal ones—are much more common than food allergies in dogs.

According to Fiona Lee, VMD, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology and board-certified veterinary dermatologist at the Animal Dermatology Clinic in New Jersey, there are three big sources of seasonal environmental allergies in dogs: weeds, trees, and grasses. Specifically, dogs may suffer allergies to ragweed in the fall, tree pollen in the spring, and grasses in the summer.

Signs your dog might have seasonal allergies

If your dog is constantly trying to scratch their face, feet, or belly, they may be suffering from allergies. If their paws or ears have swollen to twice their normal size for no obvious reason, atopic dermatitis may be the culprit. If this itch has come on suddenly, pay attention to how the weather may have shifted. If your dog seems itchy during warm weather but does better during the winter, that could be another sign of allergies. The pruritus visual analog scale (PVAS) is one tool that can help you figure out how bad your dog’s itching may be. 

Some breeds are predisposed to allergies, Dr. Lee said, especially French bulldogs, pitbulls, golden and Labrador retrievers, West Highland terriers, Jack Russell terriers, and Boston terriers.

Take your dog to the veterinarian if you notice changes to their skin, especially if reddened skin worsens into raw spots or lesions because they can’t stop scratching or biting themselves. Once you bring your dog in, Dr. DeBoer said the veterinarian will first try to exclude the possibility that the itching is caused by other problems, like fleas. (Dr. DeBoer added that fleas tend to colonize the back rather than the belly, paws, and face, so pay attention to where your dog is trying to scratch.) Once the vet rules out parasites, they will treat any present infection and possibly prescribe medication.

The question of when to escalate from your veterinarian to a veterinary dermatologist hinges on weighing what you’ve already done. Dr. Lee suggested that if you take your dog to the vet three times for the same skin issue, it may be time to see a specialist. While a vet dermatologist can perform an allergy test, Dr. Lee said that’s not typically her first course of action—especially when a test can run between $800 and $1,000. Her approach starts with treating any present secondary infection—infected lesions that opened up because of atopic dermatitis, for instance—before treating itch and inflammation as well as the underlying allergy.

How to help a dog with seasonal allergies

Here are some ways to keep your dog comfortable during allergy season. 

DIY and over-the-counter options

Baths: Frequent bathing is one worthwhile aid “because it helps wash off any allergens from the coat,” said Dr. DeBoer. While dogs with healthy skin can indeed suffer from overbathing, “you can almost never overbathe an allergic dog,” Dr. Lee said. Most dogs’ skin can tolerate a bath and mild shampoo twice a week according to Dr. DeBoer, and Dr. Lee said she may advise clients to bathe their dogs as often as every two days. Your veterinarian may recommend dog-safe shampoos and cleansers medicated with the disinfectant chlorhexidine, which can aid in treating superficial infections. But ultimately, Dr. DeBoer said, “there’s no magic medicated ingredient” that halts itch entirely.

Paw-wiping: Wiping off paws immediately post-walk can be another good option to ease itching. Dr. Lee recommended using unscented, dog-safe wipes at the door, and asking your vet about chlorhexidine wipes if your dog is prone to infections on their feet. If you rinse, cool water is better because warm water may exacerbate an itch. Dry their paws thoroughly afterwards, because an environment that’s too moist can spur bacterial growth. If you soak your dog’s feet in water or a chlorhexidine solution, change the liquid daily.

Lotions: Depending on where the itchiest spots are, you might be able to temporarily relieve discomfort with aloe vera, Dr. Lee said. But Dr. DeBoer also cautioned that lotions and creams aren’t practical if you’re targeting more than one localized spot, since most dogs are covered in fur.

One DIY option to avoid: Keeping your dog inside

Avoiding the outdoors due to allergies would deprive your dog of the joys of going outside, decreasing their enrichment and exposure to healthy stimuli. 

And, Dr. Lee said, this method wouldn’t solve your dog’s allergy problems anyway—because it would require them to live in an isolated room where all incoming people and objects are decontaminated before entering.

Furthermore, if your dog’s environmental allergies include dust, you’ll still find plenty of that indoors. 

What a dog with allergies really needs is medical treatment. 

“The problem is the individual’s immune system’s abnormal excessive response to the normal environment,” Dr. Lee said. “That needs to be suppressed with [prescription] meds—or more ideally, adjusted with immunotherapy.”

Prescription medications

Prescription medications can be fast-acting, and generally work for most dogs, but “you’re not actually fixing the allergy,” Dr. DeBoer said. “You’re just eliminating the itch.” We’ve provided some basic information about several types of drugs below, but the person who’s best qualified to advise you on your own dog’s needs is your veterinarian. Always ask them before giving any medications to your pet.

There are four classes of medication that veterinary dermatologists may prescribe for canine atopic dermatitis: steroids, monoclonal antibodies, JAK/STAT inhibitors, and calciurine inhibitors. Finding the most effective treatment for your dog often takes trial and error. These drugs may cost between $2 and $5 per day depending on the type and dog’s size, and may be covered by some pet-insurance plans.

Steroids go into effect within hours, treating severe inflammation and itch with sweeping, untargeted effects. Dogs who could benefit from steroids, like prednisone, might be scratching their paws or ears so much that they’ve started bleeding. “We really need steroids to put out that fire,” Dr. Lee said. However, steroids often cause short-term side effects such as increased drinking, urination, and appetite. Patients rarely stay on steroids long-term, and often transition to other drugs.

Monoclonal antibody medication can reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, and can last for weeks. These drugs target the molecules that cause itch, which can be helpful for some dogs, but not for those who suffer inflammation and infection.

JAK/STAT inhibitors target the compounds released in an allergic reaction that cause itch. These drugs also can have side effects such as vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy.

Calcineurin inhibitors are anti-itch and anti-inflammatory drugs that can be delivered orally, though Dr. Lee said they may cause some stomach-upset as a side effect. It may take up to four weeks for these drugs to start alleviating the signs of atopic dermatitis.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy can be delivered through injections, as well as through oral and topical routes. While this approach tackles the underlying problem of allergies, it can take months to provide relief. It can cost between $75 and $100 per month depending on the dog’s size and the approach, and may also be covered by pet insurance.

The bottom line is that relief from seasonal allergies is possible for you and your dog. While it might take some time and effort to find the right approach, it’ll be well worth it when you both stroll comfortably through the park, admiring the greenery and blooms as beautiful signs of spring.

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