Spring time one of the best times of the year for your pup unless they have seasonal allergies.. Aside from the plants and pollen there is also fertilizer to contend with.
Lets look at fertilizer first
- Dogs are exposed to fertilizer through ingestion, inhalation, and through the skin. Their have been studies that have linked some of the chemicals in fertilizer to bladder cancer in certain breeds Breeds with a genetic predisposition to bladder cancer are at particularly high risk. These include Beagles, Scottish Terriers, Shetland Sheepdogs, West Highland White Terriers, and Wire Hair Fox Terriers.
- Aside from that Fertilizer can cause a lot of reactions in dogs ; allergic reaction will show up on the skin; hot spots rashes, reddness and swelling of the skin and paws or in the lungs; sneezing, coughing, trouble breathing etc If this is sudden and severe you should get to your vet asap for treatment.
If you are not sure about chemicals used on lawns in your neighborhood be sure and wash off their paws and towel off their bodies as this may prevent some of the absorption and ingestion. I have a lot clients whose dogs tend to have skin flare ups after being outside so this may be part of the problem…
This is a great article from Pet Wellbeing … There are a lot of great ways to help your pet get through the allergy season.. We have listed a few Acupoints to help with seasonal allergies below so scroll down and check them out.
Allergies and your pet
Pet Wellbeing
Spring is full of warmer weather, beautiful flowers and more time outdoors. Many of us enjoy these signs of spring, but some find them intolerable due to seasonal allergies. The same thing applies to our pets. We often treat our pets the way we treat ourselves when it comes to allergies. Prescription and over-the-counter medications are widely available, but they do nothing to help overall health and come with a host of side effects. Natural remedies such as acupuncture and herbal medicine can clear symptoms of allergies and bring the body to balance thus allowing for a higher state of health and well-being.
Dogs and cats with seasonal allergies react to the pollen of flowers in trees, grasses and weeds with symptoms such as itchy eyes and ears, itchy feet, excessive licking and chewing at arm and leg pits and overall scratching.
Allergies are a sign of an imbalance in the immune system. Balancing and strengthening the body can decrease or even rid your pet of seasonal allergies altogether. Traditional Chinese Medicine, including acupuncture, food therapy and herbal remedies, does just this. The first thing to do is look at diet– a basic homemade single protein diet is key to eliminating allergies. It also strengthens the immune system. Once the diet is well balanced, the body is better able to heal itself.
Acupuncture and herbal therapies are excellent in treating the symptoms of allergies. When the body is in balance, symptoms disappear and health is restored. A holistic veterinarian can help you with these problems with your pet. When treating allergies, herbal remedies such as Nettles Eyebright ( Link is here:http://bit.ly/QCK8ll ) and Immune Sure ( Link is here:http://bit.ly/WI5fR0) can be invaluable.
One food therapy that is very easy to do with your pet or yourself if you have allergies is to add natural local honey to your diet. Natural honey contains bee pollen that can serve to “immunize” your dog against local allergens. The key is this honey must be from a local producer so it contains the pollens in your area. Your pet does not need to suffer from allergies this spring
Here are some great points to use to help your pet feel better and prevent further immune responses
