Dogs can suffer hay fever too, warns Ponteland vet

Alnorthumbria Vets is urging dog owners to remember that pets can also suffer from hay fever <i>(Image: Archive)</i>
Alnorthumbria Vets is urging dog owners to remember that pets can also suffer from hay fever (Image: Archive)
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A Ponteland vet has issued a warning as pollen levels start to rise this Spring.

Alnorthumbria Vets is urging dog owners to remember that pets can also suffer from hay fever, though their symptoms often differ from those seen in humans.

The vet is encouraging pet owners to watch for signs such as itchy skin, increased scratching, paw licking, face rubbing, and red or flaky skin.

Jonny Reid, head veterinary surgeon at Alnorthumbria Vets Ponteland, said: "Spring should be a fun season for our pets, not an itchy one.

"While dogs don’t show hay fever in the same way that we do, those little signs like nibbling paws or scratching can tell us a lot.

"The sooner we spot it, the sooner we can help them feel comfortable again."

Skin irritation can also be triggered by other allergies, parasites, or infections.

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