Tails from the trail and tips on training your human

Have you ever noticed how your pup starts behaving differently as soon as summer and spring seasons arrive? From itching to licking and scratching, they may present themselves with various reactions as a result of high pollen concentration in the air.

If you’re a pet owner concerned about the onset of certain symptoms in your dog, you may want to consider the possibility of atopic allergies as the primary cause. While humans present with watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, and runny nose when allergies attack, pets are likely to exhibit ear infections, skin infections, and itching.

So what do you do when environmental allergies strike with full force? Here are some ways to identify and manage your dog’s allergies, but before we get there, here’s what atopic dermatitis is.

Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is one of the most common causes of allergic reactions in dogs. They usually appear as hypersensitivity or overreaction to certain substances in the environment like dust mites, soils, pollens, and grasses, to name a few.

How Can You Identify It In Your Dog?

It’s likely for your dog to display certain signs and symptoms, especially between one and three years of age. Here are some of them:

⮚ Scratching
⮚ Licking their paws (especially after being exposed to the outside environment)
⮚ Chewing
⮚ Intense biting
⮚ Ear infections
⮚ Skin damage (because of licking or scratching)
⮚ Hair loss

Which Breeds Are More Likely to Have It?

Some allergies tend to be hereditary, while others are mostly due to the environment. When it comes to breeds that are predisposed to developing them, you can expect the following to be at a higher risk:

⮚ Bulldogs
⮚ Golden Retrievers
⮚ White Terriers
⮚ West Highland
⮚ Labrador Retrievers

However, the list is not only limited to the stated names. Pets in tropical environments are also at a higher risk of developing atopic dermatitis.

Remember, allergies come in all shapes and sizes, and in order to manage them effectively, you must understand the underlying causes.
What Exactly Is Your Dog Sensitive to?

It’s easy to term every allergy brought about by external elements as “environmental.” However, there are many other sources of allergies with their unique set of symptoms. Hence, before you make the mistake of bringing everything under the umbrella of “environmental,” here are some other types of allergies to be aware of.

Flea Allergies

FAD or Flea Allergy Dermatitis appears as infections and skin irritation in dogs. Again, despite what the name suggests, your dog is not allergic to fleas but their saliva.

Again, it’s not the same as normal itching due to bug bites, for example. Dogs with this type of allergy may even go to the extent of scratching and licking compulsively or chewing their skin until it gets raw and what develops, as a result, is an infection.

One of the most tricky parts about it is the diagnosis because you may not even be able to see the flea(s). For instance, if a flea bites your pup and falls off later, that single bite can cause a severe reaction that may even last for weeks to come.

Food Allergies

As much as owners tend to consider it common, food allergies account for just 10% of all allergies. However, it doesn’t mean you should completely discount the possibility that your dog may be sensitive to certain food items. It could either be due to one or several ingredients. There’s no sure way to know until you expose your pup to certain foods.

Again, this doesn’t entail that there’s something wrong with those items. It’s very similar to humans experiencing an allergy to shellfish or peanuts, for instance. Some known food allergens for dogs include proteins found in chicken, lamb, wheat, soy, and beef.

More often than not, you’ll notice some form of digestive problems as the starting point of this allergy, and sometimes it may even result in skin irritation which looks very similar to atopic dermatitis.

Food intolerance is another factor, but it’s not the same as a true allergy because your immune system does not have any role to play here. Hence, in this case, your dog may clearly be going through a problem that regular treatments may not be able to handle.

Is It Possible to Treat Allergies?

When it comes to allergies, treatments cannot cure them but rather help you manage them. However, it’s important to set realistic goals and expectations when it comes to different interventions.

Here are some strategies that have effectively worked over the years.

Environmental Allergies: Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about them since the pollen count isn’t under your control. However, medications or immunotherapy can be prescribed based on your veterinarian’s evaluation. Some treatments are meant to help your pet build up a tolerance for certain allergens, while others are focused on helping your dog manage the symptoms.

Flea Allergies: If you’re sure that your dog has a flea allergy, you may have to take significant steps to have flea-control measures in place all year round. Remember, fleas are hard to grasp and sometimes even harder to see, so never disregard the possibility of their presence as some of them can survive even in winters.

Food Allergies: Sometimes, it only takes a single encounter with a certain food item to realize that it doesn’t suit your furry friend’s body. From that point onwards, make sure to never have those items around. This type of allergy requires personal care rather than treatments.

The Bottom Line

Allergies in pets can be frustrating, especially when you haven’t been able to find a cause. Remember, environmental factors are not the only culprits here. It could even be your dog’s favorite treat that may be causing them this amount of harm without realizing it. Remember, not every symptom requires treatment.

Sometimes all you need to do is incorporate some changes in your and your furry friend’s lifestyle to improve their health. However, when it’s time, don’t hesitate to take the next step and get them treated right away.

by Bobby J Davidson

We are in business to provide great products for the outdoorsy hikers, campers and their dogs; and to help clean our parks, rivers and oceans for a better planet earth for hikers and their dogs.

Parks Clean

Parks are high-traffic areas in most cities. This means that trash is bound to show up in and around your park and playground.

When discussing ways your family can help clean your local park, don’t overlook a literal cleanup! Picking up trash will make a huge difference in the appearance and vibe of your park. A clean area will encourage others to keep the park pristine. When picking up trash and debris, make sure to wear gloves to protect yourself, and put trash in appropriate receptacles or lawn bags. You can also contact your local trash company to schedule a pickup when you are finished.

Rivers Clean

The storm drain on your street collects the water from your roof, driveway, and sidewalk and funnels it directly in your local lake or river. Nutrients from grass and leaves, pet waste, and fertilizers “enrich” our lakes and streams — feeding algae blooms and harming fish. Chemicals from washing your car in the drive and household chemical spills add up, taking a nasty toll on our favorite swimming areas and fishing spots. Soil can also be picked up by runoff, reducing the clarity of water and hurting fish.

So as you prepare your lawn and garden, here are a few helpful tips to keep our lakes and rivers beautiful and safe for all of us.

Use mulch and vegetation to keep soil from washing away.
Sweep or rake grass and leaves away from street curbs.
Mulch and compost grass clippings and leaves.
Keep paved surfaces to a minimum.
Capture water runoff with a rain garden and rain barrels.
Wash your car on the grass, where the water will get filtered.
Keep chemicals away from storm drains.
Collect your pet’s waste.
Aim your rain-gutter downspouts onto grass.

Beaches Clean (do it for the ocean)

In 2007, the United States Senate and House of Representatives passed the National Clean Beaches Week Resolution to recognize the value of beaches to the American way of life and the important contributions of beaches to the economy, recreation, and natural environment of the United States.

Clean Beaches Week, celebrated annually July 1-7, offers the perfect opportunity to encourage stewardship and volunteerism along our coastlines. But where do you even begin? Follow these tips to get started.

Identify a clean-up site. Choose a place that needs some TLC, making sure that volunteers can safely access the site. Get permission, if needed, for your clean-up event, perhaps from the local parks agency.
Choose a site coordinator. (That might be you!) A beach clean-up takes a lot of work and needs an organized person to keep everything on track before, during, and after the event.
Visit the site in advance. The coordinator will need to know where to set up a volunteer check-in station, where to leave trash and recyclables, and what area(s) volunteers will clean.
Gather supplies. Depending on your location, you’ll need supplies such as trash bags, a first aid kit, hand sanitizer, wipes, and large coolers of water. You should also provide (or ask volunteers to bring) items such as reusable work/garden gloves, reusable water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray.
Plan how to handle the recyclables. Reach out to recyclers in your area (and perhaps your community’s solid waste departments) to make arrangements for accepting any glass, plastic, and aluminum that you collect.
Line up event partners. Contact local businesses for donations of drinks, food, and supplies. Ask a local solid waste hauler to donate their services for trash removal.
Plan for handling hazardous waste. Determine how you’ll dispose of any medical and sewage waste you might find. One solution: A wide-mouth container with a tight-fitting lid, such as an empty laundry detergent bottle. Clearly label that it contains hazardous waste.
Get volunteers to help. Recruit friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors. Create an event on Facebook and ask volunteers to sign up online. This will give you an idea of how many people to expect and will help communicate event details.
Stay safe. Be prepared for a variety of health emergencies, from minor cuts and scrapes to heat stroke.
Take photos! Post pics online to share the success of your event and recognize volunteers for their hard work.