Seasonal allergies are a common issue amongst pet owners. Not only do they cause a great deal of discomfort for your pets, they also create frustration for owners who struggle to find a solution. It is important to remember, seasonal allergies are often a lifelong struggle. They require an understanding of your dog’s triggers, and management during flair ups as you can rarely completely remove the allergen from the environment. It’s important to find products that work for your dog, budget, and schedule. Below are some of our favorite tricks for managing seasonal allergies!
Identify the Allergen
To get to the root cause, consider testing your dog using our 5 Strands Pet Food & Environmental Intolerance Test. This easy to use test can be completed at home, by simply collecting your pet’s hair and mailing it into the lab. Once you have the results, you’ll be able to determine what might be causing your dog’s discomfort and can then remove it from their environment or avoid said triggers as much as possible. If your pet is having seasonal sensitivities, they may not be able to be removed from your pet's life, but boosting the immune system can be a life saver.
Boost Immune Function
The immune system affects the whole body; what it can tolerate, how it reacts to triggers, and the ability to maintain overall health. A strong immune system will have much better success fending off allergens, keeping your pet comfortable throughout the year. Whole foods such as colostrum and (dog friendly) mushrooms provide an immune boost, as well as supplements tailored to allergy support such as Nootie’s Allergy Relief chews or Earth Animal’s Allergy & Skin drops. There are so many immune supplements to choose from!
Omegas
Omegas are a great way to support the skin barrier and help combat seasonal allergies! Not only do omegas help naturally improve skin and coat health, they also aid in reducing the level of inflammation in your dog’s body. There are a variety of easy to use fish oil supplements that boast a strong dosage of omegas from various fish sources. It’s a good idea to use a fish oil supplement that sources its oils from multiple fish, to ensure proper absorption. Feeding whole fish is also a fantastic option! This can be done with toppers such as Primal’s Omega Mussel Fresh Toppers, Northwest Naturals complete and balanced fish (salmon, whitefish, trout) nuggets, or Oma’s Pride whole sardines.
Liver Support
The liver functions as a filter for the body, removing toxins and supporting overall health. Boosting liver function with herbs such as dandelion root and milk thistle can help during allergy season. You could also consider preparing for particularly triggering times of the year by administering a liver detox using Adored Beast’s Liver Tonic to increase its toxin filtering ability.
Feed Cooling Proteins
Inflammation and allergies go hand in hand. When there is a large amount of inflammation throughout the body, your dog’s tolerance to allergens reduces significantly. When their body is over threshold, their ability to stay comfortable when exposed to triggers becomes nearly impossible. Energetics is a belief that there are warming, neutral, and cooling proteins. During the times of the year when environmental allergens are higher, it can be helpful to feed your dog cooling proteins such as duck, whitefish, rabbit, pork or neutral proteins such as beef, quail, or bison to combat inflammation and increase their tolerance to environmental allergens.
Topical Management
One of the most effective, and quickest ways to provide your dog relief during allergy season is with topical management. Medicated baths with Nootie’s antimicrobial formula is a great way to prevent excess itching from becoming secondary skin infections. Foot soaks with diluted iodine and warm water can help remove allergens from the skin and reduce licking. Anti-itch spray can help manage flair ups and calm the skin.
Seasonal allergies are always a battle. If your pet suffers from them, you know first hand how exhausting it can be to try and keep your pet comfortable. What’s most important is finding a management system that works for you and your pup. There are a variety of combinations available, and it will likely take some trial and error to find a system that is effective for your dog and maintainable for your lifestyle. But our team is here to help!
