Does Your Pet Suffer With Hayfever?

Cats and dogs can suffer from hayfever. However they often display different symptoms to humans, which means they may be suffering without you recognising the symptoms as being hayfever. It often develops over a number of years in pets, starting out small and causing a more severe reaction each time pollen is ingested. So, if you’re able to spot the signs and get a diagnosis from your vet early on, you may be able to alleviate your companion’s symptoms before they worsen

There are different hay fever seasons depending on the type of pollen – for example tree pollen typically occurs from March to mid-May, whilst grass pollen covers from around mid-May until July.

What are the symptoms of hay fever in cats and dogs?

Hay fever usually affects your pet’s’ skin more than their sinuses, and it can cause chronic illness and discomfort. Some of the primary symptoms that you should watch for are:

Excessive scratching that exceeds the degree of grooming you would expect your cat to perform. Allergies to pollen can irritate and itch their skin, ears, and bottom.
Baldness – Allergies may cause your cat to itch continually, which can lead to baldness, or the allergy may cause their hair to fall out.
Snoring – You may notice your pet snoring, which sounds similar to what some humans do. This is often caused by an irritated throat and is another indication that your they may be suffering from hay fever.
Itchy and runny eyes – pay attention to your pets’ eyes to see if there is any kind of discharge that would indicate irritation.
Sensitive paws – your pet may chew at their paws if they are suffering with sensitive paws, so you should look out for this abnormal behaviour in your pet.

If you suspect your pet has hay fever, it is worth taking a trip to the vet to rule out any other health problems. However there are a number of things you can do to help:

Bathing – giving your pet a bath 1-2 times a week can be useful to remove pollen from their coat, which can relieve the itching. Your vet can recommend a good shampoo to use.
Make sure your pet’s bedding is washed and vacuumed weekly as this will help remove any pollen that has built up from their trips outside during the week.
You may find it tempting to create a home remedy when your pet is in pain, but never give them medication without a prescription. This can be dangerous in the wrong doses, or for certain species.
When planning to venture outside, first check the pollen forecast for the day and plan your walks before dawn or early in the evening as the pollen count may be lower at these times.
Dogs love to play in the grass but this can lead to their fur becoming covered in pollen, causing misery later. Keeping your dog on a lead near grass and wiping their fur, particularly their paws and muzzle, after every walk will help remove any tiny traces of pollen.

Subscribe to be kept up to date with the latest information from your South London RSPCA