Fall allergies?

[Fran27]

It's starting again, every August/September, Tips starts to have allergies... pawing at his eyes and nose a lot, irritating his skin until most of the hair is gone.

Has anyone's dog gone through the same thing? What did you do to fix it? He's seen the vet several times and they've given us meds that haven't helped at all. I'm assuming it's allergies as it only happens at this time of the year, and it happens every year. Not sure what plant could cause it though?

Suggestions?

 

[ErinMC]

Allergies are rough! I don't know what kind of area you are in, but I tend to see allergies flare up in our rural farming community where are changes to the crops - if they are cut, fertilized, especially dry...

Environmental allergies are tough to crack - I've seen dogs allergic from everything from GRASS, trees, dust, etc.

Bathing with oatmeal or hypoallergenic shampoo may help ease some of the itch.

 

[pinkspore]

Brisbane is on Zyrtec for environmental allergies, it makes a big difference. He's 40lbs and gets two a day, I buy the generic Costco brand and get 300+ tablets for $15.

 

[straw]

This year and last year Venice has had allergies in late summer as well. It's not uncommon in the dog community here.

I try to keep it under control with Benadryl twice a day but last year we had to resort to Vanectyl prescribed by the vet. I'm uncomfortable giving steroids unless it's really needed, but they worked fast and extremely well and kept her comfortable for the month, even if she was incontinent.

 

[Fran27]

Ok so totally dumb question, do they make zyrtec and benadryl for dogs? Can I buy it at petsmart or something? Or you just use the human kind?

 

[Beanie]

The human kind is fine. I just use the generic Benedryl I buy at the dollar store. Georgie gets some eye issues when pollen is really high and I have to pop her some, so I always keep some in the first aid bag.

I don't know if I've ever seen any at PetSmart but it wouldn't surprise me if somebody branded it "just for dogs," but the meds are the same.

 

[PuppyInMotion.com]

I'm going through the same issue with my dog. It appears that my garden is now more relatively lush and green and there are new weed plants too. The weeds are hard to keep up, but it appears that the weeds are likely the source of the issue. I'm working hard on trying to eliminate them.

Where is the irritation on your dog's body? I ask b/c I wonder if its the same issue.
For mine it is the eyes, nose, and underside belly and paws. Now that I have most of the weeds cut down, it is mainly just the paws.

 

[pinkspore]

I just use the people zyrtect too, I've never seen it branded for dogs but I have the ok of my vet to use it.

 

[milos_mommy]

My old dog had this and got cortisone shots in May and October. We also have benedryl, and I give it to Milo. Ask your vet for the dosage.

 

[*blackrose]

Doseage for Beandryl is 1mg/pound up to three times a day. So a 25 pound dog would have a 25mg tablet. A 50 pound dog would have two 25mg tablets....and so on and so forth. The dose can change based on some variables, so still ask your vet.

Zyrtec I'm not sure about.