Seasonal Allergies Aren’t Just for People
By Brooke Sloate
About
10 to 15 percent of all dogs and cats have ‘atopic dermatitis’, also referred
to as ‘seasonal allergies’. What this
means is that your pet may simply have an allergy to something in their
environment.
This
can be roughly comparable to hay fever in humans, except that instead of a
runny nose and sneezing, your dog or cat will itch.
As
a general rule, if your pet is allergic to something inside your home they’ll tend
to have year-round symptoms. If they’re reacting to something outdoors, it
could very well be a seasonal problem.
Pets
may be exposed to these allergens through breathing them in or exposure through
the skin. The most common sites that atopic pets focus on are:
·
their
feet – licking or chewing
·
their
face – which they will rub against carpet or furniture
·
their
tummy, groin and “armpit” area
What
are signs my pet has an allergy?
So
what you would typically see is excessive itching or scratching, chewing their
paws, biting their fur, or red spots known as ‘hot spots’ on their skin.
A
hot spot is a condition which involves an area of the skin which has become
inflamed and infected – it’s a bacterial infection. The affected skin often
appears as a moist, oozing, reddened area that’s painful and very itchy to the
pet. Hair loss may also be seen. Continued licking and chewing at the area by
the pet worsens the condition dramatically. Anything that causes itchiness of
the skin can lead to the development of hot spots on dogs and cats if you can’t
get the itching under control.9
How
can I help my pet get some relief?
·
A
natural supplement rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids can reduce the
severity of chronic dermatitis. It’s best to use one with a 13:1 ratio
(Omega-3’s to Omega-6’s). This is a very good choice to help your pet feel good
from the inside out.
·
To
soothe your dog’s skin at the surface, use a blend of Tea Tree Oil, Chamomile
and Aloe Vera that work synergistically to treat and ease the discomfort of
environmental allergies, scrapes and scratches and other skin issues in dogs. This
will provide gentle, natural and immediate relief of itchy or irritated skin,
to help stop the “itch/scratch cycle”. NOTE: Tea Tree Oil is not to be used on
cats due to their grooming habits, as they should not ingest it.
·
Supplement
with herbs known to support the body’s normal ability to combat skin-related
issues associated with food and seasonal allergies including: Raw Rehmannia
Root, Scuttellaria, Plantago Seed,
Alisma, Gardenia, Gentian, Licorice Root, Bupleurum, Jujube Seed, Angelica Root,
Longan Fruit. This is an INCREDIBLE way to give them relief.
·
Use
an ear cleaning system that both washes and dries your pet’s ears. It should contain
a soothing mix of chamomile, yucca, clove oil and calendula which both controls
odor and itching and soothes raw, red and greasy ears naturally.
·
Feed
a good food, as a proper nutrition plan can be really effective in helping to
fortify overall skin health.
At
pawTree® we are committed to providing pet parents with a line of premium
products to help pets thrive. Look for products from pawTree that include the
recommended ingredients listed above, including Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil, Allergy
Support Plus, Skin Support Plus, and Ear Wash & Ear Dry.
About Brooke…
Brooke
Sloate, Director of Product Development at pawTree LLC, is passionate about
solving problems for pets and creating products that truly make a difference to
pet parents.
With
over 20 years of experience in the pet industry working for a variety of pet
companies prior to pawTree®, including Nature's Variety®, Hill’s®, Mars®,
Petmate®, Applica® and Sergeant's®, Brooke has developed a wide range of
innovative pet products including pet food, treats, and pet accessories.
Brooke
enjoys the unconditional love of her family of Shih Tzus and responds by
spoiling them every chance she gets!
TAGS
Wild
Alaskan Salmon Oil
Allergy
Support Plus
Skin
Support Plus
Ear
Wash & Ear Dry