Dr James Greenwood on BBC Morning Live talking about pets and allergies (Image: BBC)
A vet has issued guidance to pet owners about the red flags that could indicate your pet is suffering from hay fever or another condition that’s easy to overlook. Dr James Greenwood, speaking on Morning Live with co-hosts Gethin Jones and Kimberley Walsh, highlighted symptoms to watch for that suggest your pet may be in distress.
He explained to viewers of the daytime programme that hay fever manifests differently in pets than in humans. Just as people are beginning to grapple with hay fever, as Dr Punam had cautioned on the show days before, pets are also facing issues.
“In pets, it comes out in their skin,” Dr Greenwood noted. “So they often will itch and there’s a few symptoms to look out for. First of all they are going to be licking or biting their paws.
“So if they are suddenly really irritated by their paws, or nibbling, that is something to look out for.”
The show then presented a chart detailing symptoms of pollen allergies in pets, including seasonal changes, head shaking due to ear infections, paw biting, ear rubbing, excessive scratching, lethargy, red skin, and saliva staining, reports .
Dr Greenwood added that dogs with such conditions might also emit an odour, like a sweet, yeasty smell around their ears or feet.
He highlighted the importance of checking for saliva staining, particularly in light-coloured dogs like West Highland White Terriers. He explained that if they have tan-coloured paws, it might be due to their saliva staining the fur.
“That’s a good hint they are finding something itchy,” he said. The vet also cautioned that sometimes, an allergy may not show any visible changes on the skin.
“They are just literally itching all the time, but often itches are the first step. That leads to a scratch.
“That then triggers the damage to the skin that allows the infection to set in, and then causes the itch to worsen. Everything kind of escalates.
“The dogs will physically scratch.”
However, he noted that different animals react differently. “With cats, it can be a bit different. Sometimes they’ll have scabby areas. Almost crystals on the side of the face on the head, sometimes down the back. And sometimes cats will literally just take themselves off and overgroom.
A dog in the garden. (Image: Getty)
“So they come back and they have these big bald bellies or are bald down the back of the legs. Things like that, and that again is a good symptom to look out for that they are having struggles with an allergy as well.”
Gethin commended experts like him for their ability to explain these things.
He added that it was clear from what the vet was saying that while we might think that our pet has hay fever, it could actually be something else.
James remarked: “It is unfortunately quite a complicated area. That’s why it’s so important to have a really clear plan with your dog’s skin issues.”
He also advised: “So there are other things to obviously look out for. First of all is fleas. There’s no point us going down a really expensive skin work-up with medication if ultimately there’s one or two fleas around, so get used to having a look out for fleas.”
The to pet owners for reducing pollen allergy symptoms in their furry companions. According to their website, “Firstly, if you can, try to identify what times of year your pet is most affected.”
This allows pet owners to be proactive and avoid certain areas during peak allergy seasons.
They note that the type of pollen causing the allergy will dictate when symptoms are at their worst: March and April for tree pollens; May, June, and July for grass pollens; and June, July, and August for flowering weeds.
The further advises: “All of these timings can vary depending on the local climate and what grows in your area. It is possible to do tests to try to find out which substances are flaring up your dog’s allergies.”
They highlight that while these tests are specialist and require careful interpretation, they could help in avoiding known allergens for dogs.