Pets who are affected by year-round or seasonal allergies often experience more aggravated symptoms when the weather turns hot and humid. There are many reasons why this may occur. Having studied both eastern and western medicine, I’ve found that the best explanations for why pets and people have more severe allergy symptoms in the summer months are based in Chinese medicine. This system is based in “how” and “why” things happen in the body, and the “common sense” approach that arose from observations about nature and the body’s reaction to foods, weather patterns and development of illness.
In simple terms, signs of allergic reactions include redness, heat and inflammation as reactions to environmental, contactant, inhalant, and food allergens, and summertime heat increases the heat of the body. Less easily understood is the eastern concept of “dampness” - which basically includes most inflammatory conditions, including asthma, diarrhea, swollen membranes, eyes and skin eruptions. Damp conditions in Chinese medicine are worsened in humid conditions.
Now that we know that many allergies worsen in heat and humidity, what can we do about helping your pets?
The first step is to get an accurate diagnosis and recognize the signs of pet allergies.
In dogs, you may see these allergy signs:
- Itchy, red, moist, scabbed skin
- Scratching, rubbing, licking paws, face, legs, back or tail area
- Increased tearing, runny eyes
- Smelly, infected, red or Itchy ears
- Runny nose or sneezing
- Vomiting and or diarrhea, sometimes with mucous/blood
- Scooting
- Snoring or increased respiratory sounds
And in cats, you may see these as allergy signs:
- Signs of a “cold”: sneezing, coughing, wheezing
- Itchy skin or over-grooming tail base or belly
- Missing hair
- Itchy, runny eyes
- Ear infections, redness or discharge
- Vomiting (includes hairballs), diarrhea or spending more in the litter box
- Paw chewing/swollen pads
- Inflamed lips and gingivitis
If your pet has any of these symptoms, they are more than an inconvenience; these signs create discomfort and pain. Chronic illness and inflammation can lead to cancer development. Be sure to get your pet to the veterinarian for a diagnosis, and to help them find both short- and long-term solutions for their allergies.
If the skin, ears, or gingiva (gums) are affected by inflammation, your pet will need an anti-inflammatory. Gone are the days when prednisone was the only options for pet comfort - veterinarians now have the option of prescribing other medications for the treatment of allergy symptoms, including homeopathics and plant steroids (phytosterols) which control allergy patterns, and drugs which regulate immune responses without the side effects of steroids.
Additionally, veterinarians who study Chinese medicine will prescribe foods which counteract “heat” symptoms in the body. Reducing grains and carbohydrates in the diet will greatly benefit many pets with allergies, and increasing healthy gut bacteria through probiotic usage can greatly benefit most pets. I do caution people against the use of yogurt, which has more sugar to feed the bad bowel bacteria, rather than improving the numbers of beneficial bacteria.
What goes into the stomach can really make or break your pet’s allergy relief. An understanding of choosing “cooling” foods, which help reduce heat and inflammation in the body, can go a long way to creating comfort. For example, I would recommend to feed a “cooling” meat like turkey during an allergy outbreak (provided it isn’t an allergen) as a primary protein rather a “heating” meat, like chicken, during the summer months.
Secondary infections and Staphylococcal infections also need to be treated to get good allergy relief. I often recommend short-term antibiotics or herbs which cool the body and create an anti-inflammatory effect in addition to controlling the infection.
Fleas also need to be controlled. Before you go out and buy products that may increase your pet’s allergic reactions, visit your vet for their recommendations on what will be both effective and safe for your pet.
For long-term allergy relief, nothing beats identifying your pet’s allergens and desensitizing them. For this, I rely heavily on cleaning up the diet and using an acupressure treatment known as NAET. This treatment helps the body become more tolerant of foods and prior allergens.
If your pet is troubled with allergies, they will need veterinary care. Remember not to get your pet any vaccines while he is being seen for allergy symptoms, as this will throw their immune system into further havoc.
You can’t always make it to the vet, but luckily, there are ways you can help your pet with their allergies at home. Help them cool down the affected itchy areas with a cool (not cold!) rinse or bath. Do not use flea shampoo, as many allergic pets are sensitive to the permethrin and pyrethrin chemicals they contain. Instead, use plain water or a cool towel to calm the skin. A water-soluble aloe skin cream can also help. But if you have to use these methods for more than a day, it is definitely time to visit the vet.