Spring Pet Care Tips

Spring brings a lot of new plant growth. Flowering and non-flowering plants, grasses, pollens, and weeds can all cause your pet to itch, scratch, and develop a range of skin conditions. As the weather becomes warmer and your pet spends more time outdoors exploring their environment, they may react to new plants and pollens in the air.

Common Signs of Springtime Allergies:

• Excessive scratching
• Red and irritated skin
• Licking and chewing paws
• Ear infections

'Atopy' is the general term used to describe an allergy to things in the environment like pollen, dustmites, grasses, etc. Some dogs with atopy might only be allergic to one or two things, but others might be allergic to literally dozens of allergens. This is similar to humans - ever noticed how some people who are allergic to cats are often also allergic to dust and pollen too?

Unfortunately, unlike changing your pet's diet or keeping flea control up to date, avoiding pollen and grass is not a feasible task. Unless your pet is kept in a quarantine zone, pollen and dust exposure is inevitable.

Pets with atopic dermatitis can have intradermal skin testing with a veterinary dermatologist to identify the cause of their allergies. This is usually followed by a course of immunisations to desensitise the pet against the cause of the allergy, helping to control symptoms. If intradermal testing and desensitisation are not effective or available, other medications and methods can be used to try and minimise the side effects, or strengthen the skin barrier.

Spring Skin Care Tips

Because it can be difficult (if not impossible!) to reduce your pet's exposure to springtime grass and pollen, your best defence may be to improve the strength of your pet's skin barrier. Stronger, healthier skin means that your pet has a tougher physical barrier to the causative allergen, and also reduces the inflammatory response. This can be achieved by implementing a few easy changes at home.

1. Provide beneficial oils into the diet

Help nourish the skin from the inside out with the addition of Omega Fatty Acids which strengthen the skin layer while soothing dry, itchy skin. This can be achieved by feeding a skin care or a fish-based food, or with the addition of an Omega fatty acid supplement .

2. Soothing shampoo, conditioner or lotion

Some shampoos can provide relief from inflammation or help heal infection. Oatmeal based shampoos are ideal for sensitive pets who suffer from dermatitis by providing gentle cleansing to remove dirt, chemicals and allergens from the skin. Use together with a conditioner to prolong the soothing effect and restore moisture to the skin.High-quality soothing lotions contain beneficial moisturising properties to help nourish inflamed skin. They can also help provide an extra 'barrier' layer on the skin surface, reducing the risk of some allergens penetrating through and causing a reaction.