Have you noticed your cat or dog has been having congestion, sneezing fits, a runny nose, or watering eyes? If so, your pet might be experiencing seasonal allergies. With spring in full swing and summer rapidly approaching, there is a lot of pollen and dust in the air, and things like mold and fungal spores can also cause your cat or dog to have an allergic reaction.
In addition to the symptoms listed above, signs of seasonal allergies include head shaking, ear scratching, red eyes, coughing, or gagging.
If this is the case, here are 4 ways to treat seasonal allergies in cats and dogs:
Bathe Your Pet Regularly
Having a regularly scheduled bathtime for your cat or dog will help to wash away any potential allergens that cling to its fur or hair. Especially if your cat or dog is an outdoor pet, it probably picks up a lot of spores from its living environment. For tips on how often to bathe your pet, check out this article.
Keep Your Pet’s Living Area Clean
This tip logically follows tip #1. While bathing your pet is important to keep it clean and reduce its contact with allergens, cleaning your pet’s living area regularly by vacuuming or sweeping it and minimizing the allergens in its sleeping and eating areas is essential to reducing the impact of seasonal allergies.
Rinse Its Eyes and Ears
Oftentimes, eye drops designed to relieve human allergies will work fine on your dog or cat as well. Especially if your pet has watery eyes or frequently swims and gets wet, it’s worth looking into flushing out its eyes and cleaning its ears of excess moisture after it takes a splash.
Visit Your Vet
If you’ve tried some of the solutions above but the seasonal allergies don’t seem to be letting up, it’s a good idea to take your cat or dog to the vet. Alternatively, if your pet seems to be experiencing severe allergic reactions to something, take it to the vet right away. Your vet can examine your pet, diagnose its allergies, and prescribe the appropriate solution to minimize their impact on your pet.
While seasonal allergies are never fun–for humans and pets alike–we hope these tips will help you treat seasonal allergies in cats and dogs. If you’d prefer professional advice or your pet just is due for a checkup, please contact Caudle Vet Clinic’s experienced veterinarians at (615) 227-6230 today! We prioritize caring for your pets as if they were our own.