Can pollen make your pets sick?

The answer to that question is yes! Pollen allergies can present with similar symptoms in your pets as it does in you: runny eyes and nose, skin itching and sneezing. When you think about it, pets, especially dogs, are out in the yard and rolling around in the grass and are in direct contact with the pollen. So that constant itching in the spring may or may not be fleas. It could be pollen allergies! Pets also carry the pollen in to your home on their coats and ingest the pollen when grooming themselves.

Treatment for pollen allergies is similar in pets as it is in humans: allergy shots, antihistamines and other allergy medicines. However, since pets are very sensitive to medicines, ALWAYS consult with your vet before starting any medications, especially when giving human meds to your pets. Some of them react very differently in pets than they do in humans and the toxicity levels are different for pets than for humans as well.

So if you pet is showing signs during pollen season of potential allergies, please make an appointment with your veterinarian to design a treatment program specifically for your pet! Your pet will thank you!

For more information on pollen and pets, click the link below:

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/03/23/allergies-how-pollen-is-affecting-your-pet/