The trees are starting to sprout small blooms, the grass is looking greener, and the days are looking brighter. You know what that means? Allergy season is here! Allergy season doesn’t only impact you and your sinuses. Our pets can suffer from allergies just as much as us, if not more. But because our pets can’t talk it can be difficult to understand just how much they’re suffering from allergies. For some pets, their tells may be pretty easy… itchy spots, sneezing, etc. For others, the tells can be much more difficult to differentiate between their regular behavior and behavior while experiencing allergies. Here’s how you can tell your pet might be suffering from allergies even if they don’t seem to be all that bothered.

Itchy in Specific Spots

An itch now and again is pretty normal. However, it’s when your pet seems to be itching incessantly is when it could be an indicator of a problem. Constant scratching, especially in specific spots, can be a high indicator that your pet is currently experiencing an allergic reaction to pollens. Specific spots like the face, paws, hind legs, and belly are very common areas for pets to experience allergy discomfort. Contact your vet if you begin to notice your pet itching these areas more than usual.

Redness

If your pet has itchiness, they likely have accompanying red spots. This can manifest as a traditional rash in one specific area or can be spread across your pet’s body. Redness, also known as hot spots, can be extremely painful for your pet. They often show in areas that can get irritated easily like their hips and paws. Typically, your vet will provide a steroid or allergy medicine like Apoquel or a combination of the two to fight the allergic reaction. It’s important you catch the redness as soon as possible as it can lead to other medical issues in your pet. Additionally, it is both painful and unsightly.

Patchy fur

So your pet has been itching and licking themselves raw in private and you just noticed missing fur patches. Don’t stress, you’re not a bad pet parent. It’s not uncommon for pets to hide when experiencing painful issues. Not only that, but allergies can pop up seemingly out of nowhere and go from nothing to serious in a matter of hours. If you’re noticing patchy fur on your pet, it’s likely that they are itching or licking irritated areas raw. You will need to contact your vet for an allergy prescription to remedy this issue. The sooner you call, the better.

Spring Chewies

Spring Chewies is another term for when your pet cannot stop gnawing on themselves. Spring Chewies may be accompanied by redness or itchiness but not always. However, Spring Chewies will always lead to redness and patchy fur. Some pets like to gnaw on their toenails out of anxiety so you will need to pay close attention to see if your pet is chewing more than normal. Your pet may also become obsessed with licking their toes and in between their toes. Whether your pet is doing one or the other or both, Spring Chewies are definitive indicators of allergies.