Pet Allergies

Spring is in the air and with the days getting longer we are able to spend that much needed time outdoors with our pets. However for some of us spring means itching and we are not alone, dogs and cats can also suffer as a result of the increased pollen in the air at this time of year.

Although itching can strike at any time of year and can be caused by a number of things including food, cleaning chemicals and dust mites, spring is a time when pet allergies can be at their worst and these allergies tend to be caused by outdoor triggers such as grasses, tree shrub, pollens, farm crops such as cereals, oil seed rape, mould spores and ragweed.

Unlike humans whose allergy symptoms are usually respiratory, symptoms to watch out for in dogs and cats are most often skin-related including itchiness and irritation. Excessive licking can also be a sign there is some skin irritation.

The area's most common for itching include paws, ears and face. Pets may also try and rub themselves against carpets

Allergies in dogs and cats are common with an array of symptoms; so what causes these symptoms and what changes could you make?

Allergies in dogs and cats are an abnormally intense / overreaction of the immune system to something that is normally harmless to the body, known as an allergen. Your pet may be born with sensitivities or for other pets, allergies are acquired over several years of continual exposure to the allergen.

Your pet, each day will also come across hundreds of harmless substances or particles, which are all part of the normal environment and which are not harmful. Under normal circumstances your pet’s immune system will recognise these and not see them as unwelcome invaders. However, in pets with allergies, the pet’s immune system will believe these common day-to-day substances as invaders that it must get rid of and therefore will mount an immune response. As the pet’s body tries to fight the “invaders” reactions in the form of allergy symptoms will appear.

So what

Help Make Your Dog More Comfortable

Canine atopic allergies are becoming increasingly common. They are especially prevalent in younger dogs, but unfortunately can develop into a life-long chronic condition. This is because canine atopic allergies are often caused by environmental and seasonal allergen.

As a result, many dogs are constantly surrounded by the allergens that trigger their symptoms. These include dust mites, pollen, trees, flea bites, mould, grass and chemical cleaning products.

These allergens can all cause skin symptoms (allergic skin disease or atopic dermatitis), ranging from mild irritation to unbearable itching. Moreover, the dog’s attempts to alleviate the itching by licking and scratching often makes things worse. It can lead to severe rashes, sores, redness, flaky skin, loss of fur – and even infected wounds.

Although treatments such as antihistamines, antibiotics and antifungals are available, these help alleviate symptoms rather than tackle the root cause. As a

 Itchy Dog - A Case Study LUCAA+ Pet Allergy-Free Spray

Constant Itching and Scratching is a concern for many dog owners. There are many possible causes – from seasonal and environmental allergies, to flea bites and sensitivity to chemical shampoo. It makes life miserable for your beloved pet – and for you!

This news post shows how Provilan ‘itchy dog spray’ (better known as LUCAA+ Probiotic Pet Allergen-Free Spray) significantly improved Molly’s itchy, red and flaky skin in a natural way.

“I’m just so pleased about the results and keen to share – having an ‘itchy’ dog can feel like you’re fighting an endless battle; quite often what you might think will help can actually make things so much worse!” LISA MORTIMORE

THE PROBLEM

Molly the rescue dog was really suffering from red, sore patches of dry itchy skin and a rash on her back and around her tail. Her hair was thinning and she was constantly itching and scratching.

Lisa, Molly’s owner, believed the symptoms were caused by an