If You Want To Give Your Dog An Antihistamine Like Benadryl Here Are Some Things To Consider:
- While typically safe, every dog reacts differently to antihistamines, according to the VCA. They may cause drowsiness in some dogs and hyperactivity in others.
- If you purchase an over the counter medicine for your dog, check the label to make sure it doesnt contain any other ingredients like decongestants or pseudoephedrine, which are NOT safe for dogs.
- Its also important to note that dosage for humans and dogs will not be the same.
We recommend talking to your veterinarian before giving your dog any over-the-counter medication to ensure the dose is accurate and that there are no adverse reactions with any other medications they may be taking.
Why Are My Allergies Worse In The Morning
Why get up early if you can enjoy your morning routine? If pollen counts are higher in the mornings, then it may be worth taking precautions to protect yourself from allergies. When exercising or walking dogs first thing on a Tuesday morning theres an increased risk of exposure that could lead someone into having hay fever later than usual!
How Vaccination Myths Can Cause Hesitation
While hearing about allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines can be worrisome, Dr. Lang believes educating patients about the infrequency of adverse reactions and breaking down common vaccination myths can help put more people at ease.
Many times, patients claim they got sick from a vaccine when theyre really referring to a natural immune response from the vaccine. Fever, chills and muscle aches can occur within 36 hours of vaccination because a patients immune system is responding appropriately in developing immunity after receiving the vaccine. Its not an allergic reaction.
He adds that delayed reactions due to immune response, as well as fatigue, soreness at the injection site and vasovagal reactions, are not cause for avoiding COVID-19 vaccines. This is especially important to keep in mind if a reaction occurs after the first dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccination regimen.
You May Like: Cetirizine-pseudoephedrine Side Effects
Diagnosis Of Pollen Allergies
If you have allergic symptoms that seem to appear at certain times of the year, you should visit your doctor, who will ask some questions about your allergic reactions. You can also discuss your record of your symptoms. To diagnose your allergy, your doctor may refer you to a clinical immunology/allergy specialist.
Clinical immunology/allergy specialists can test for allergies using a number of methods depending on the type of potential allergy. To test for an allergy to pollens, the allergist may use a skin prick test or a blood test for allergies. Information about evidence based allergy testing is available on the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy website.
Can Allergic Rhinitis Be Prevented Or Avoided
Allergic rhinitis cannot be prevented. You can help your symptoms by avoiding the things that cause your symptoms, including:
- Keeping windows closed. This is especially important during high-pollen seasons.
- Washing your hands after petting animals.
- Using dust- and mite-proof bedding and mattress covers.
- Wearing glasses outside to protect your eyes.
- Showering before bed to wash off allergens from hair and skin.
You can also avoid things that can make your symptoms worse, such as:
- Aerosol sprays.
- Wood smoke.
Also Check: What Drugs Cause Sneezing
What Are The Types Of Allergic Rhinitis
The two types of allergic rhinitis are seasonal and perennial. Seasonal allergies usually occur during the spring and fall season and are typically in response to outdoor allergens like pollen. Perennial allergies can occur year round, or at any time during the year in response to indoor substances, like dust mites and pet dander.
Allergies can affect anyone, but youre more likely to develop allergic rhinitis if there is a history of allergies in your family. Having asthma or atopic eczema can also increase your risk of allergic rhinitis.
Some external factors can trigger or worsen this condition, including:
How To Help Your Dog Feel Better
If your dog has ongoing symptoms, you notice a change in their behavior and/or you just feel concerned, we always recommend taking your little one to the vet.
With environmental/seasonal allergens it can be difficult if not impossible to identify and remove triggers.
Over the counter antihistamines such as Benadryl , Claritin , Zyrtec have been used. Frequent bathing can help as well, and of course, for severe allergic patients, prescription medication is used for itching like Prednisone, Cytopoint, Apoquel and antibiotics/anti-yeast medication for secondary infections, said Carvalho.
Read Also: What Allergy Medicine Is Stronger Than Zyrtec
How Is Allergic Rhinitis Diagnosed
If you have minor allergies, youll probably only need a physical exam. However, your doctor may perform certain tests to figure out the best treatment and prevention plan for you.
A skin prick test is one of the most common. Your doctor places several substances onto your skin to see how your body reacts to each one. Usually, a small red bump appears if youre allergic to a substance.
A blood test, or radioallergosorbent test , is also common. The RAST measures the amount of immunoglobulin E antibodies to particular allergens in your blood.
You can treat your allergic rhinitis in several ways. These include medications, as well as home remedies and possibly alternative medicines. Talk to your doctor before trying any new treatment measure for allergic rhinitis.
Can Allergies Cause Headaches
When your sinuses get inflamed, it leads to the buildup of fluid, which causes pressure to heighten around your forehead, nose and eyes, resulting in a sinus headache. Its often accompanied by a cough, sore throat or stuffed nasal passages.
Persistent symptoms with purulent and postnasal drainage could be signs of a sinus infection. Your doctor then may prescribe antibiotics.
Don’t Miss: Will Dayquil Help Allergies
Trees Grasses And Weeds Are Often To Blame
Ragweed, which grows throughout most of the U.S., produces pollen in the fall.
Ah, spring. It’s the time of year when the cold starts to wane, and trees and flowers blossom.
But if you’re one of the many people who suffer from seasonal allergies, those pretty trees and plants may make you feel worse, not better.
That’s because of pollen, a powdery substance made by trees, weeds, and grasses.
Pollen is harmless, but if you have seasonal allergies, your body mistakes the pollen for something dangerous and tries to attack it. This reaction causes symptoms like coughing, a runny or stuffy nose, and itchy, watery eyes. You might feel like you have a cold.
It’s Easy To Get The Care You Need
See a Premier Physician Network provider near you.
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, youre not alone. Millions of Americans share your misery, with sneezing, congestion and a runny nose. Symptoms can also include rashes or hives, itchy, watery eyes and a scratchy throat or ears. Seasonal allergies are especially common in southwest Ohio. Your troubles may be limited to spring or fall, but some people struggle with these annoying symptoms all year long.
Don’t Miss: Allergies Cause Tiredness
How Common Are Fall Allergies
An estimated 15% to 30% of the U.S. population is thought to have allergic rhinitis. Youre more likely to have fall allergies if you have:
- Eczema.
- Other seasonal or perennial allergies.
All people are different, but often people with allergies are sensitive to multiple allergens spring, fall and perennial, Dr. Aronica says. Sometimes, though, we do see patients with only a few sensitivities or with symptoms only in one of the seasons.
Other Types Of Allergies In Dogs Beyond Seasonal Allergies
In addition to seasonal allergies, dogs can experience other kinds of allergies. Many kinds of allergies can be challenging for pups and dog owners, and the symptoms of different ones can overlap.
Skin atopy These allergies are the most common. Skin allergies are also known as atopic dermatitis, and are estimated to affect about 10% of dogs, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual.
Food allergies If a dog has food allergies, it tends to be because they are sensitive to more commonly used types of protein sources in dog foods like beef, chicken, and pork.
Environmental allergies Environmental allergies like pollen, dust, or mold can be either seasonal or constant. These cause atopic allergic reactions.
Medical allergies Dogs can be allergic to certain kinds of medications. Its also possible that the symptoms you think are allergies can be attributed to underlying medical concerns.
Recommended Reading: Hives From Keflex
Go A Day Without Showering
Most people have to step outside sometime during their waking hours. It might be to get in or out of the car, or to step into the bank to conduct business but nonetheless if youre not bubble boy, youre usually outside at some point.
And because of this, showering at the end of the day is key when youve got allergies.
Why? Because your clothes collect all that invisible pollen any time youre outside, as do your shoes, your skin and your hair.
Related: Early Skin Exposure Linked With Peanut Allergies
Jump in the shower as soon as you walk in the door and strip yourself of the stuff your nose hates. Dump your pollen-filled clothes in the hamper and change into something fresh.
Personally, Ive even resorted to bullying my family members into changing their clothes too, if they want to eat dinner and watch TV in the same room with me. They might hate me for a month, but it definitely helps.
And I dont care-they can love me again in July, and celebrate the fact that Im still breathing, while waving a flag for independence day.
The Most Common Fall Allergies
Its such a pretty season, but you cant seem to stop sneezing. So what is it that youre actually allergic to?
Fall allergens are generally weeds, Dr. Aronica says. He breaks down some of the most common allergens during this time of year.
Ragweed
The most common fall allergen is ragweed, a member of the daisy family that starts to bloom in North America in late August and lives through autumn.
Ragweeds flowers produce significant amounts of pollen, which makes it an especially potent allergen. A single ragweed plant can release up to a billion grains of pollen!
Other seasonal weeds
Ragweed may be the primary culprit of fall allergies, but it certainly isnt the only one. Other weeds associated with allergic rhinitis include:
- Cocklebur.
- Tumbleweed.
Also Check: Is Zyrtec An Antihistamine
Why Are Allergies Worse In The Morning
Morning is the best time to enjoy a mug of coffee because it doesnt taste as good when youre getting headaches from pollen.A person with allergies will notice an increase in their symptoms during morning hours, which are typically highest concentrations of allergens like grass or tree resin typesthat give us trouble later on throughout our day depending how severe they may be for someone elses lifestyle needs!
Finding Relief From Seasonal Allergies
Changing seasons bring a wide range of symptoms for allergy sufferers. Learn what you need to know about relieving your seasonal allergy symptoms.
The transition between seasons can be a welcome change of scenery. For many people, though, the weather and foliage is not the only major change that comes from shifting from summer to fall. For some, sniffling, sneezing and watery eyes may accompany them as well.
Seasonal allergies are the bodys reaction to airborne substances. Not everyone experiences seasonal allergies, but for those who do, the symptoms can be as predictable as April showers and May flowers.
LISTEN UP: Add the newMichigan Medicine News Breakto your Alexa-enabled device, oriTunes, andStitcher.
Whether youre a long time allergy sufferer or finding yourself new to the seasonal sniffles, , an allergy and immunology specialist at Michigan Medicine, offers answers to some frequently asked questions about seasonal allergies.
Also Check: Can You Take Amoxicillin With Allergy Medicine
Alternative And Complementary Medicine
Due to concerns over possible side effects, more people with allergies are looking at ways to address hay fever symptoms naturally. However, it is important to remember that any medication can have side effects, even if its considered natural. Aside from home remedies, options can also include alternative and complimentary medicine. The downside to these treatments can be that theres little supporting evidence to prove that theyre safe or effective. The correct dosing may also be difficult to determine or achieve.
According to the
- honey
- probiotics
Although these alternative treatments are derived from plants and other natural substances, they can possibly interact with medications, as well as cause reactions. Try these with caution, and ask your doctor before use.
Unfortunately, allergic rhinitis itself cant be prevented. Treatment and management are keys to achieving a good quality of life with allergies. Some complications that can arise from hay fever include:
- inability to sleep from symptoms keeping you up at night
- development or worsening of asthma symptoms
- frequent ear infections
- absences from school or work because of reduced productivity
- frequent headaches
Complications can also arise from antihistamine side effects. Most commonly, drowsiness can occur. Other side effects include headache, anxiety, and insomnia. In rare cases, antihistamines can cause gastrointestinal, urinary, and circulatory effects.
Is It Coronavirus Or Allergies
One of the activities many of us can participate in while social distancing is going outside and enjoying the weather.
After all, from what we know about how the coronavirus spreads, it’s clear that outside is better than inside. However, for many, being outside also bring on the sniffles and sneezes of hay fever.
Unfortunately, novel coronavirus symptoms can look similar to many other conditions, including seasonal allergies.
Seasonal allergies are caused by pollen being released into the air, causing some to have an allergic reaction. For anyone with hay fever, step outside, and you might sneeze or end up with itchy eyes.
This year, many people who are allergic to trees and grasses are worried that they could have the coronavirus.
Learn more: If you care concerned you might get COVID, the best thing to do is to get the vaccine. If you’re not yet sure about the vaccine, see these 7 reasons to get vaccinated.
Recommended Reading: Clarotin
How Can I Prevent An Allergic Reaction To Pollen
There are actions you can take to reduce allergic reactions to pollen:
- Limit your outdoor activities when pollen counts are high. This will lessen the amount of pollen allergen you inhale and reduce your symptoms.
- Keep windows closed during pollen season and use central air conditioning with a CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® filter attachment. This applies to your home and to any vehicle .
- Start taking allergy medicine before pollen season begins. Most allergy medicines work best when taken this way. This allows the medicine to prevent your body from releasing histamine and other chemicals that cause your symptoms.
- Bathe and shampoo your hair daily before going to bed. This will remove pollen from your hair and skin and keep it off your bedding.
- Wash bedding in hot, soapy water once a week.
- Wear sunglasses and a hat. This will help keep pollen out of your eyes and off your hair.
- Limit close contact with pets that spend a lot of time outdoors.
- Change and wash clothes worn during outdoor activities.
- Dry your clothes in a clothes dryer, not on an outdoor line.
Look for this mark to find products proven more suitable for people with asthma and allergies. Find CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® products on our Certification program website.
Can Allergies Cause A Sore Throat
Postnasal drip is the main reason allergies cause a sore throat. When congestion in the sinuses drains down the throat, it can cause tickling or scratchy pain. This can also result in coughing, excessive swallowing, throat irritation and difficulty speaking.
If you tend to suffer from allergy symptoms year-round, you will likely notice your symptoms getting worse during seasons of high airborne irritants.
Read Also: Zyrtec Non Drowsy
Pollen Allergies Are Seasonal
The season for pollen allergies can last for several months and occurs when the plants are flowering. This will vary depending on location and the type of plant. For instance:
- Non-native trees tend to pollinate in late winter and spring.
- In Victoria, winds from the north tend to bring pollen from non-native grasses growing inland between October and December.
- White Cypress pine is the only Australian tree that produces highly allergenic pollen and it flowers between late July and the end of August.
- Species of casuarina or Australian oak trees produce pollen throughout the year and can cause hay fever symptoms at any time.
The medical specialists who diagnose allergies have online calendars showing when common species of pollen cause allergies in the states and territories of Australia.
Recommended Reading: Does Eating Honey Help With Allergies
Your Symptoms Only Show Up At Certain Times
If you have seasonal allergies, your symptoms should arise and go away around the same time each year. For most people, seasonal allergy symptoms begin in the spring and end in the fall. However, depending on your allergy triggers, you may experience allergic rhinitis in any of the four seasons. Here’s a rundown of plants that commonly cause seasonal allergies:
Spring: Tree pollen, particularly that from oak, elm, birch, cedar, willow, poplar, horse chestnut and alder trees.
Summer:Grasses, such as ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, Timothy grass, Bermuda grass and more.
Fall:Pollen from weeds is the main concern in the fall months. Many people are allergic to the pollen in ragweed, tumbleweed, pigweed, sagebrush, Russian thistle and more.
Winter: Most people find that their allergies go dormant during the winter months because most plants don’t pollinate during winter. If you still get watery eyes and a runny nose during cold weather, you might be allergic to indoor allergens, such as dust mites, mold or pet dander.
Read Also: Will Dayquil Help With Allergies
