I don’t need to look out the window or test the temperature to know that the seasons are changing. I have two dogs with seasonal allergies!
Moose’s allergies are milder. He tends to get itchy all over — I’ll catch him rolling on the floor on his back much more often when the seasons change to spring or fall. That’s when I break out the Benadryl to help ease his symptoms.
Lally is my problem child when it comes to allergies. You may remember the large sore she scratched into her neck last year? She’s up to it again, and has scratched a hot spot into her cheek this time. My poor girl! Her ear problems tend to flare up during spring and fall.
She gets Benadryl too… but that’s not all. I have a liquid medication to help dry up the hot spot and an ear goo that will help get rid of any ear mites that might be hanging out in there. I also have a big bottle of earwash — let me tell you how much she doesn’t love that stuff!
After the fall itchies started, I decided it would be a good time for all the furry family members to have a bath. It could help wash pollen away and soothe itchy skin. I use oatmeal shampoo, which is nice and mild. I even have a leave-in conditioner for after the bath — it smells like strawberries!
Things have been a little less itchy after the baths, I think. Lally’s hot spot is drying up and the hair is starting to grow back in. I’m still cleaning her ears daily — one ear is giving up more gunk than the other, but it’s less every day. I’ve also given both dogs a nice close nail trim, so they won’t hurt themselves too badly with all the scratching.
I’m looking forward to that first frost… the allergies tend to calm down after that point. It’s kind of ironic that I’ve had very little trouble with my allergies since we moved — and the dogs have had more trouble. I guess we’re allergic to different things!