Dog owners told ‘seek vet immediately’ for 6 symptoms this week | UK | News
Dog owners have been told to look out for six key signs as temperatures rise this week. Parts of Britain have seen scorching temperatures in a welcome burst of spring heat over the past few days, with the mercury in London’s Kew Gardens rising as high as 26.6C.
But when the temperature dial comes into play, it can have a big impact on the amount of pollen in the air. according to British Allergy ClinicWarmer weather “usually leads to higher pollen counts, especially in the spring and summer when trees, grasses, and flowers release large amounts of pollen,” triggering symptoms in people with hay fever. The Met Office said cooler, showerier weather will continue to move south-east across the UK following rain on Thursday, while it is expected to remain dry and warm across the south-east until later.
Meanwhile, the outlook for Friday-Sunday shows conditions will be unsettled “with further rain and showers expected throughout Friday and the weekend.”
“Some drier, brighter interludes develop in between with temperatures near or occasionally slightly below average,” the national weather agency adds.
However, as we saw on Tuesday and Wednesday, the pollination effect of hot days can last for days. The Met Office has issued high and very high pollen count warnings across much of the UK for today.
High and Very High warnings will also remain in place across England until Sunday.
While hay fever sufferers will be acutely aware of increased pollen in the air, the Met Office is also urging dog owners to be aware of how this may affect their pets.
Although the cause of allergy in dogs is the same, the symptoms may be different. Symptoms of hay fever in humans include a runny nose, watery eyes and feeling short of breath, but it is much rarer for pets to exhibit these, even if they are suffering from an allergic reaction, the Met Office said.
The government agency spoke to PDSA Vet Olivia Anderson-Nathan to get some expert advice for dog owners, and she highlighted six signs your dog might be allergic to pollen.
These include:
- Licking or biting their paws
- excessive scratching
- Skin rash, especially around the eyes and ears and between the paws
- shaking their heads
- Rubbing their ears or mouth
- Tired or lethargic, especially on days when pollen counts are high
He said that owners who notice their pets showing any of these symptoms, especially during the summer months, should take them to the veterinarian.
Some of these symptoms may also be signs of other health problems, so your veterinarian may want to rule these out as other potential problems before treating your pet for allergies, the expert said.
He explained that even if an allergy is diagnosed, vets don’t always know what the cause is.
But if the allergic reaction is seasonal (i.e. worse in the summer and better in the winter), this usually means it is at least partially due to pollen.
Olivia gave several tips on how to reduce the impact of high pollen counts, including washing and grooming tips for avoiding and limiting walks in certain areas. Find out more at: Met Office website.
