Spring Allergies in Dogs: What to Look For, How to Prevent Them and What to Do If Your Dog Shows Symptoms

Spring is a great time to get outdoors with your dog. Warmer weather, longer days and fresh green growth mean more walks, camping trips and adventures.

Unfortunately, spring also brings a range of problems that can affect dogs. Rising pollen levels, flowering plants, grass, fleas, ticks, insects and grass seeds can all create health problems for dogs spending more time outside.

The tricky part is that spring allergies in dogs don't always look like allergies in people. Instead of sneezing and watery eyes, many dogs develop itchy skin, irritated paws, recurring ear problems or excessive licking.

Here's what every dog owner should know before heading into spring.

1. Seasonal Allergies and Pollen

Tree, grass and weed pollens are among the environmental allergens that can trigger allergic reactions in dogs. Mould and other environmental allergens can also contribute to symptoms.

While humans commonly experience hay-fever symptoms such as sneezing and watery eyes, dogs often react to environmental allergens through their skin. This condition is commonly referred to as atopic dermatitis or atopy.

What to Look For

Keep an eye out for:

• Excessive scratching
• Constant licking or chewing of paws
• Red or irritated skin
• Rubbing the face
• Itchy ears or recurring ear infections
• Hair loss or thinning patches
• Redness around the belly, groin or armpits
• Excessive shedding
• Skin that develops an unpleasant odour
• Secondary sores or infections caused by scratching

Some dogs can also sneeze, cough or develop eye or nasal discharge, but skin irritation is often the more obvious sign of environmental allergies.

How to Reduce Exposure

You can't completely eliminate pollen exposure, particularly if your dog loves exploring outdoors. However, you can reduce the amount of pollen that stays on their body.

After walks or outdoor adventures, consider:

• Wiping your dog's paws with a damp cloth.
• Wiping down their belly and legs.
• Regularly brushing their coat.
• Washing bedding regularly.
• Keeping your home clean and reducing accumulated dust.
• Using a veterinarian-recommended dog shampoo when bathing is appropriate.

Don't use human shampoo on your dog. Dog skin has different characteristics from human skin, and human shampoos can be too harsh.

2. Fleas and Flea Allergy Dermatitis

Spring also means increased activity from many parasites.

Fleas are particularly troublesome because some dogs develop flea allergy dermatitis (FAD). These dogs can have an intense allergic reaction to proteins in flea saliva. In a sensitive dog, even a single flea bite can cause itching that lasts for days.

What to Look For

Pay particular attention to:

• Persistent scratching
• Biting or chewing at the skin
• Hair loss around the tail base and hindquarters
• Small scabs
• Red or inflamed skin
• Excessive licking
• Recurring skin infections

Don't assume your dog doesn't have fleas simply because you can't find any. Fleas may only spend a short period on the dog while feeding, making them difficult to spot.

Prevention Is Better Than Treatment

Talk to your veterinarian about an appropriate flea-control program for your dog. If there are multiple pets in the household, they may all need appropriate parasite protection.

If there is an established infestation, your dog's bedding and environment may also need attention.

3. Grass Seeds and Spring Vegetation

For dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors, spring brings another potential problem: grass seeds and grass awns.

Seeds can become trapped between toes, in fur or around other parts of the body. They can also enter the ear canal, where they may cause significant irritation.

After walks through long grass, particularly when grass is producing seeds, check your dog carefully.

Check These Areas

Run your hands over your dog's:

• Paws and between the toes
• Legs
• Belly
• Armpits
• Ears
• Face
• Tail and rear end

If your dog suddenly starts shaking its head, scratching one ear, limping, licking one paw excessively or showing obvious discomfort after running through grass, contact your veterinarian.

Don't attempt to dig deeply into an ear or wound to remove something you cannot easily see.

4. Insect Bites and Stings

Spring means more bees, wasps, ants, mosquitoes and other insects.

Most bites cause only temporary irritation, but some dogs can experience significant allergic reactions. Allergic reactions can potentially cause swelling, vomiting, diarrhoea, breathing difficulties or, in severe cases, shock.

Watch for Sudden Symptoms

If your dog suddenly develops:

• Facial or muzzle swelling
• Hives
• Severe vomiting or diarrhoea
• Difficulty breathing
• Weakness or collapse
• Pale gums
• Rapidly worsening symptoms

Treat it as an emergency and contact a veterinarian immediately.

Don't wait to see whether severe symptoms disappear on their own.

5. Spring Can Also Mean More Parasites and Outdoor Hazards

As temperatures rise, dogs generally spend more time outside and may have increased exposure to fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. Parasites can cause irritation and can also transmit disease.

This makes spring an excellent time to review your dog's parasite-prevention plan with your veterinarian.

This is particularly important if you regularly take your dog camping, hiking, bushwalking or exploring remote areas.

What Should You Do If Your Dog Develops Allergy Symptoms?

The first step is don't automatically assume it's an allergy.

Itching, redness, hair loss and irritated skin can also be caused by fleas, mites, fungal or bacterial infections and other medical conditions. Allergies can also occur at the same time as another problem.

Start by making a note of the following.

When Did the Symptoms Begin?

Was it after a particular walk, camping trip, change in environment or exposure to long grass?

Where Is Your Dog Itching?

Paws, ears, belly, armpits and face can provide useful clues.

Is It Seasonal?

If symptoms repeatedly appear during particular times of the year, environmental allergies may be worth discussing with your veterinarian.

Are There Signs of Infection?

Open sores, discharge, strong odour, significant redness or painful skin should be assessed by a veterinarian.

Best Practice: Don't Self-Medicate

It can be tempting to reach for medication from your own bathroom cabinet when your dog is scratching constantly.

That's not a good idea.

Some human medications can be dangerous to dogs, and even medications that are sometimes used in veterinary medicine need to be given at the appropriate dose and formulation.

Your veterinarian can determine whether your dog's problem is caused by environmental allergies, fleas, food allergies, infection or another condition and recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

Treatment may involve parasite control, topical treatments, prescription anti-itch medication, treatment for secondary infections or, in suitable cases, longer-term allergy management such as allergen-specific immunotherapy.

A Simple Spring Health Check for Your Dog

Before Heading Out

1. Make sure parasite prevention is current.
2. Check your dog's collar, harness and identification.
3. Avoid areas with excessive long grass or visible grass seeds.
4. Take fresh water on longer adventures.
5. Know where your nearest veterinary clinic is when travelling.

After Coming Home

1. Check paws and between the toes.
2. Check ears.
3. Look through the coat for fleas, ticks, seeds and debris.
4. Wipe down paws and legs.
5. Check for cuts, swelling, redness or unusual irritation.
6. Wash bedding regularly.

Enjoy Spring — But Keep an Eye on the Small Signs

Spring doesn't have to mean keeping your dog indoors. In fact, it's one of the best times of year to enjoy the outdoors together.

The key is recognising that small changes can be early warning signs.

A dog that suddenly starts licking its paws every evening, scratching more than usual, shaking its head or developing red skin may be telling you something is wrong.

Early attention can prevent a minor irritation from becoming a much bigger problem.

And if your dog's symptoms are severe, persistent, recurring or rapidly getting worse, don't try to diagnose the cause yourself — speak with your veterinarian.

Disclaimer

This article is intended for general educational purposes and isn't a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment. If your dog is experiencing severe breathing difficulty, collapse, facial swelling or another rapidly developing reaction, seek emergency veterinary care immediately.