10 Common Reasons Why Your Dog Has Allergies In The Fall
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Fall brings many beautiful colors, sceneries, and relief from the heat of summer however, it comes with dog fall allergies.
Regarding some beliefs, seasonal allergies are not limited to the spring season but they also spread during fall and winter.
Pets, especially dogs and cats, are often allergic to weeds that pollinate in autumn.
Some pets have to endure this the whole year because of the environmental debris such as mold and dust mites which are present all year round.
However, if your pet has been scratching, licking, or chewing on its skin resulting in hair loss and rashed, it most probably has some kind of allergic reaction.
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10 Common Reasons Why Your Dog Has Allergies In The Fall
For people, we only breathe in the allergens but for dogs or cats, the poor things have to walk, eat, and run in the allergens polluting the air.
Here are ten common reasons your dog has allergies in the fall.
1. Ragweeds
Ragweeds start to pollinate during August and it can last up till October or in some areas up till November.
Even if it doesn’t grow in your area, the pollen can travel hundreds of miles through the wind.
Ragweed is the most common pollen in fall pollutants and the reaction to ragweed is termed as hay fever.
This type of allergy is fairly common in both people and dogs.
But a dog shows the symptoms of allergic reaction through its whole body as the poor chap basically runs, breathes, and lives in the pollen.
Symptoms
The major symptoms of allergies in dogs occur in the form of a skin infection, rash, or excessive hair fall.
Still, uncommon symptoms such as sneezes and runny eyes appear sometimes.
Scratching and biting the skin or excessive itching in the ears points toward ragweed allergy.
Similarly scooting or licking the anal region might also be a sign of ragweed allergy.
Ragweed allergy also causes inflammation and infection on different parts of the skin especially on the ears and pads of the paws.
Pungent smell in the ears and hair loss over the whole body is also an indication.
The allergy usually wears off as the season passes but it’s still important to contact your vet to manage them in a better way.
Prolonged symptoms are very unhealthy and can be dangerous which’s why it’s important to care for your pets properly.
2. Fleas
It is a fairly common misconception that springtime is when the fleas become a nuisance but in reality, the fall is the worst time for the fleas.
Fall is a humid season and the temperature stays at 70° Fahrenheit which is the perfect condition for the flees to thrive in.
It is also the reason why fleas are 70% more widespread in the fall as compared to spring.
And like ragweed, flea allergy is also very common in dogs.
The doctors call it Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) and it is in fact the most common skin disease in dogs in the USA.
It occurs when a dog’s immune system overreacts to the saliva from the fleas which aggravates the skin.
Symptoms
If a flea bites your dog, it injects saliva into its skin which causes irritation in all cases but in pets prone to FAD it triggers an allergic reaction.
It is true that the dogs scratch at the common itches or the itches from flea bites.
Yet, scratching at the itch from a flea allergy is much more intense and lasts longer and it can even damage the skin of your pet.
A few other signs of FAD include rashes, rawness, and in some cases bleeding on your pet’s body especially in the areas near the back legs, tails, and stomach.
Hair loss is also a sign of FAD particularly in the areas where the flea bit your pet.
Small red-ish or pink-ish bumps that resemble pimples might also be signs of flea allergy.
Contact Allergies(Dermatitis)
Contact allergies, also known as Contact Dermatitis, usually occur in dogs when physical contact with allergens or damaging substances.
Therefore, that causes inflammation or irritation in the skin.
Contact allergies usually affect dogs in spring or summer but the allergens in fall also cause allergies.
Aged dogs or dogs with a weakened immune system are more likely to catch these allergies than others.
Contact with the seemingly innocent grass, mold spores, or other substances might result in an allergic reaction.
Contact dermatitis is further divided into two types:
- Occurs when the immune system reacts badly or overacts to an apparently harmless substance resulting in inflammation
- Occurs when a substance such as a chemical or a plant comes in contact with the skin and causes direct damage
Though it is difficult to tell both the conditions apart and because the symptoms are the same.
So, it is important to contact your vet and receive guidelines to manage dermatitis.
Symptoms
Any type of dermatitis can cause a great amount of discomfort and even pain depending on the severity.
Here are some of the signs that your dog has contact dermatitis.
Patches of sore and blistered skin appear in the affected areas.
The most common symptoms of allergies such as inflammation, irritation, itchiness, and hair loss (Alopecia) are also present in the case of contact allergy.
Change in the color of the skin (redness) or the texture (dry, scaly, and thickened) also indicates contact dermatitis.
In a severe case, your dog might have ulcers and lesions which might result in discharge from the affected areas.
3. Mold
Mold can be present anywhere; wood surfaces, plants, basement, air ducts, soil, decaying leaves, and any area which is damp and humid and even in the air.
Under the right conditions, they can grow exponentially and form spores which then become airborne and cause allergies in both humans and pets alike.
The ideal conditions for mold growth are met in the fall season when the temperature is fairly warm and the air is exceedingly humid.
In a small amount, mold is very harmless however, if your pet is prone to allergies, exposure to small amounts can still be dangerous.
Dogs under the age of three years are more likely to show allergic reactions which always result in irritated skin and sometimes in breathing issues.
Mold allergy has the risk of becoming chronic and if left unmanaged, it can cause a lot of health issues.
Symptoms
The symptoms of mold allergy are very similar to any other allergic symptoms such as scratching of ears and paws, hair loss, redness, and scaliness in the skin.
Mold allergy also causes chronic ear and skin infections which are very painful.
In most cases, mold allergy also causes a pungent odor in the dogs, especially in the ears.
Certain breeds of dogs such as Golden Retrievers, Poodles, Pugs, Miniature Schnauzers, Lhasa Apsos, Shih Tzus, Irish Setters, German Shepherds, and Terriers are more likely to be affected by the Mold spores.
Prolonged mold exposure can cause serious health hazards such as Lung and respiratory issues.
Also, damage to the gastrointestinal tract, serious digestive problems, neurological issues, including tremors and seizures, etc.
4. Dust Mites
Dust mites are present all year round but during a changing season especially fall.
When the heating is turned on after a long time and warm clothes are groped the dust mites are stirred causing allergies.
A dust mite is a small spider-like creature that is invisible to the human eye.
These tiny creatures are present in our houses and eat skin and hair flakes (dander).
Then produce waste that floats around in the air and gets into everything.
Killing the mites is not a solution as the debris and waste still linger in the air that you and your pets breathe in.
Dust mites are a fairly common cause of allergies in people and pets all year round.
In dogs dust, mite allergies are often misdiagnosed because the symptoms are similar to other conditions.
However, along with the common symptoms your dog will also have uncommon symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, and even wheezing.
The reason for that is, an allergic reaction to dust mites in the dogs causes inflammation in their airways which makes it harder for them to breathe.
If this ever happens to your dog contact your vet right away and go to the nearest vet clinic.
Getting rid of dust mites is impossible as of now, but there are a few ways in which you can get rid of as many dust mites as possible.
Baring the floors and using tiles, vinyl, or hardwood instead of carpet is the best step as the carpets are home to many allergens.
If your pet is allergic to dust mites, using synthetic materials in your pet’s bedding and washing it frequently with hot water prevents allergies as well.
Vacuuming and mopping the floors and proper ventilation in the room can also prevent dust mite allergies.
5. Food Allergies
Food allergies are not as common and widespread in pets as they are in humans.
Despite what the dog food companies which produce”allergy-free dog food” want you to believe.
But some dogs are affected by the food and plants that they ingest in a negative way causing digestive problems, allergies, and skin problems.
Many of the domesticated dogs have inherited a typical wild dog behavior of eating plants and leaves.
Some dogs especially pups love the texture and taste of leaves and plants.
Such as oleander which blooms in late summer and early fall and causes allergic reactions in the dogs when ingested or touched.
While it is not harmful in small amounts munching on leaves, which is especially common in the fall.
Intake of large quantities of leaves can cause allergic reactions and blockage.
If your pup is prone to allergies a simple house plant when ingested can also trigger a serious reaction.
Allergic reaction from ingestion occurs when the immune system of your digest identifies a protein in their food.
Symptoms
Therefore, threats resulting in itchiness and irritation on the skin and ears of your pet.
In other cases, the allergy can also cause vomiting and diarrhea and some poor guys have to go through both the symptoms.
Some of the main causes of gastrointestinal in your loyal friend are parasites, viruses, bacterial infections, pancreatitis, eating something they shouldn’t.
If you find your dog, particularly a young one, vomiting after ingestion it might be a sign of gastrointestinal.
In such a case it is very important to contact your vet.
6. Contact Allergies – Indoor surfaces
It is essential to know that there is a certain house item that can trigger allergies in your loyal companions.
Especially in the changing season when the heating is stirred, and clothes are shuffled.
Dust mites, molds, and pollen from ragweed are present in a saturated amount inside our houses.
Especially in humid air and moderate temperature.
All these allergens reside in your carpets and pet’s bedding causing irritation and itching.
Beddings of wool and feather based material when littered with dust mites or when damp can also cause an allergic reaction in your pet.
There are many types of indoor plants that can trigger your best friend’s allergies and there’s also a chance that the soil is housing mold spores.
Other than the natural allergens detergents such as laundry soap and dishwasher and even cloth softeners can sometimes trigger allergies in your pet.
Some dog breeds are very sensitive to any type of smoke and cooking smoke is no different.
The smoke especially from cigarettes or chemicals can cause severe reactions and can even cause asthma.
7. Dry Air Allergies
Toward the end of fall, and at the beginning of winter when the temperature is again changing some pets have to go through another cycle of allergies.
To keep their loyal friends warm many owners keep them indoor which is a good thing.
Yet, as a result, the pups come into contact with many household items.
Contact with a household item or with airborne allergens affects the skin and coat of your pet.
Being inside the homes at almost all times also exposes the dogs to dry air from the heaters and also to the allergens and mold spores, which reside there for the rest of the year.
It is very sad for owners who watch their friends suffer in such conditions and here are a few tips on how to keep their loved ones safe from the buggers.
Install proper ventilation in your house to keep the air as clean as possible.
Wash the furnace filters on a regular basis and keep the humidifiers clean.
Vacuum regularly and thoroughly and keep the humidity at 40%.
Symptoms
Dark pigmentation under the eyes or clear discharge from the eyes, runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, and itchy skin are the common symptoms of allergies near the winter or even in the winter.
If you see any of the above symptoms you should contact your vet.
8. Leaves Allergies
Springtime is usually blamed for pets allergies however, many allergies occur in autumn as well.
A pile of leaves on humid weather is a perfect hub for all the fall allergens which threaten to trigger your loyal friends.
These piles of leaves provide a hiding spot to many insects, molds, and mites that cause an allergic reaction in sensitive pets.
There are three types of allergen found in the leaves.
- Nuts: acorns and nuts are sometimes hidden in these piles of leaves and can cause an allergic reaction if your puppy is sensitive to the protein present in those nuts.
- Pollen: pollen from ragweed, sagebrush, tumbleweed, plantain, cocklebur, and even from the trees themselves is often stuck on the leaves.
- Insects: the large piles of leaves in autumn are home to a vast number of insects that can cause skin infection and rashes when they bite and some fleas and ticks can even cause anaphylactic shock.
Symptoms
Difficulty in breathing and constriction and swelling of the air track and shortness of breath are all signs of leaf allergy.
Bumps, ulceration, and thickened skin also point toward the above-mentioned allergy.
Itching, redness in the skin, coughing, obsessive licking, hair loss, red and itchy eyes, ear infection, and nasal congestion are all the symptoms of leaf allergy.
Pup between the ages of one and three are mostly affected by these allergies and the sensitivity increases with every exposure.
9. Allergy To Other Pets
We all know that people are sometimes allergic to dogs but you might be surprised to find out that dogs can be allergic to other animals, even other dogs.
Especially the new ones that are introduced in homes.
Some dogs and cats shed their fur twice a year, once in spring and once in fall.
But most of the time the allergic reaction towards other animals is not because of the fur or hair but rather toward the dander.
Dander is the skin and hair flakes that humans and animals shed all the time.
And if your dog is allergic to dander, it is entirely possible that your best friend might be allergic to you.
Luckily allergy to dander is not common and the symptoms aren’t usually severe.
Symptoms
The symptoms from this allergy vary but the most recurring that appear can be many.
Bald spots on the skin from scratching, diarrhea, excessive licking, hives, moist or crusty skin, runny nose.
Also, scratching areas such as anus, ears, eyes, groin, muzzle, paws, underarms, sneezing, and watery eyes.
While this type of allergy is not common, it still occurs, and it is best to talk to your vet to sort them out.
10. Pyoderma
It is a fairly superficial skin infection often caused by bacteria, this is another dog fall allergy that is among us.
Pyo literally means “pus” and derma means “skin.”
Pyoderma is often triggered when there’s an underlying condition such as a trauma or a wound, motes.
Or hypersensitivity towards other environmental or seasonal allergens, or the presence of a foreign object such as grass seed under the skin.
Symptoms
This allergy affects the hair follicles causing baldness.
Red bumps, pustules, flaking skin, hair loss, skin discoloration, excessive shedding, and redness in the skin are the main symptoms of pyoderma.
Usually, a visit to your vet and well-balanced nutrition can fix your pup.
Final Thoughts
For an owner, dog fall allergies present a big problem if his/her loved friend has some allergy.
Seasonal allergies are very common in both humans and pets, but it does not make it easy for any individual suffering from sensitivity.
And it is even difficult to watch your companions go through suffering that doesn’t have a permanent solution, we can help them and manage them.
This is why it is very important to know and recognize the symptoms of allergic reactions however subtle they may be.
Especially for the loved ones who aren’t able to express their pain through any language and can only convey their suffering through action.
Visiting your vet regularly is also a good step in taking care of your partner and best friends.
If you know anything else about the fall allergies which is not mentioned in the loss above, feel free to let us know in the comments below.
