- Jody
Seasonal Allergies in Dogs: What you should do now to prevent or reduce flare ups.
๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ผ๐๐ ๐บ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ผ๐, ๐ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ด... ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ด ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ด๐ป๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ด๐ถ๐ฒ๐, ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ.
Spring can often mean flare ups of runny eyes, scratching/itching and licking.
For dogs who are sensitive to the increase in pollens, molds and dust -their mast cells- primarily the ones in skin, and the respiratory tract -release histamine in response to the โintrudersโ. This increases inflammation in the area as the immune system seeks to help heal and protect.
Quercetin is a natural antihistamine - it is a flavonoid and powerful antioxidant that helps inhibit both the manufacture and release of histamine and is used for many inflammatory and allergic conditions. The enzyme bromelain enhances the absorption of quercetin, so I recommend products that include both. Dm me for a link if interested.
Although quercetin is found naturally in some foods like blueberries, blackberries, apples, broccoli and brussels sprouts - for dogs with significant environmental seasonal allergies, the amount in foods is unlikely to be enough to reduce symptoms.

A proactive approach to implement Before allergy season:
Consider starting quercetin at a dosage of 20-25mg per kg of body weight. Always build up to the amount slowly to ensure itโs tolerated. Divide dose between two meals.
Increase the frequency of dusting and vacuuming,
As tempting as it is to open all the windows when it warms up, know that you are also letting in pollens and dust,
Invest in a high-quality air purifier, I have the Rabbit brand - Dyson is also good but .
Wipe your dogโs paws -even their whole body, with a damp towel after walks outside once the melt begins and the grass is out and there is more exposure to fertilizer and pesticides, trees are budding and sap is dripping.
Quick, cool full body rinses can help reduce pollens and dust in their coats/skin.
One last important tip - keep in mind that mast cells also line the digestive tract and many dogs have both food and environmental allergies.
If you have a dog that has seasonal environmental allergies and they tolerate a food with a long list of ingredients, and/or they can handle higher histamine foods like canned fish- in winters - you might consider a temporary change to a limited ingredient food (a simple ingredient list) during spring (and fall) to reduce their overall allergy threshold.