Hay fever can be a common problem in canines and may be die to different pollens, dust mites or other airborne particles. The hayfever treatment can be made up of different elements including avoiding the hay fever triggers to getting medication treatment.
Isolate the Hay Fever Triggers
The most important step in treating hay fever is to identify the triggers. The dog should have one or several of the following symptoms:
- itchy skin
- skin irritations
- runny nose
- watery eyes
- sneezing
- even coughing
Try to isolate the factor that is causing hay fever in your dog. If the dog’s symptoms are more severe after exposure to grass or the outside environment, the possible trigger may be grass or different pollens. A blood test can show more accurately what your dog is allergic to. The tests may show your pet is allergic to several factors.
Remove Triggers
Once you isolate the hay fever triggers, you should limit the dog’s exposure to these. You may not be able to stop your dog from playing outside or in the grass, but you can reduce his exposure and get rid of dust or mold from your home. Note that mold is not only an allergen but may also cause different respiratory problems and can be harmful in the long run both for the dog and your family.
Frequent Baths
Bathing your dog in lukewarm water will not treat the hay fever, but will soothe the itchiness. The water will also remove the agents that can irritate the dog’s skin.
Don’t use warm water, which will not relieve itchiness.
Use an oatmeal rinse, which will be beneficial for the dog’s skin.
Epsom salts can also be added to the bath water and will soothe the irritated skin and paws. You may opt to bathe only the dog’s paws. Use Epsom salts in the water and soak the dog’s paws for 5 to 15 minutes every day.
Air Purifiers
Air purifiers can be beneficial in reducing the airborne allergens which cause hay fever in your dog. The purifiers will clean the air and reduce the amount of airborne allergens. Typically, hay fever is a seasonal condition and you should keep your dog indoors more, during the hay fever season.
Medication Treatment
Dogs with hay fever may get medication treatment. Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) is the most common medication recommended to reduce symptoms of hay fever. This medication can be obtained as an over the counter medication.
The dog may receive other antihistamines that have similar effects as Benadryl. You should monitor your dog’s reactions, as many antihistamines can cause diarrhea. Also, after 3 months of administering the same antihistamine, you need to switch to a different kind of antihistamines, to prevent the dog from building up immunity to the antihistamines.
Steroids
Steroids can be used in dogs with hay fever. There are steroid creams that are effective in reducing irritation and itchiness. Tablets may be prescribed, but only if the symptoms are severe.