#fall allergies

CW: allergy snz, stuffy talk, mess, female OC’s

Fall, the best time of the year...

She smiled to herself, and she clicked play on one of her all time fall favorites: Coraline. She couldn't resist playing it every year since she was young. She tried to keep the joy of the holidays by keeping up with all her old traditions, it gave her something to look forward to when the holidays came around.

Listening to the familiar opening credits and soundtrack, Mia nuzzled into the couch and sipped on the hot herbal tea she had made to go along with her popcorn. She sighed in content, happy at how perfect the atmosphere was. The weather outside was windy and gray– leaves flying throughout the streets and brushing against the window. The room was lit by a couple of meticulously placed lamps and an incense burning on the corner table next to the couch. She set her cup down, reaching for the bowl of buttery popcorn. She tucked her legs into herself ready to enjoy the movie. 

Mia was halfway through the movie when the door unlocked, instinctively Mia turned her head anticipating to see her new-ish roommate. They had been living together for a month now— Mia was hesitant about moving in with a complete stranger at the time but, unfortunately she didn’t have another option except for moving back home. The past few weeks of living with this person were shockingly amazing! Mia was intrigued at how fast their relationship developed, the two had more in common than she did with anyone she’d met outside of her older sister and brother. Mia’s thoughts disappeared when her roommate, a 5’7, brown skinned woman with beautiful, light brown curly spirals swung the door open. Mia’s heart thudded in her when her roommate burst in—dressed down in business casual. Her roommate shut the door behind her then turned towards the living room, bending down to untie her boots. 

“Hey Bia! Sndrrf!”

Mia’s ears perked up at the congestion lacing her tone and she noticed the crumpled wad that was tightly held in her roommate's hand. 

“Hey Deja! How was your day?”

Mia asked as the other woman pulled off her shoes, sniffling wetly the whole way through. 

“It was lo’g i’b just glad to be back by allergies are goi’g crazy today!” She stood up and Mia got a better view of her face. The poor woman’s nose was an irritated shade of pink with an itchy glow. Her eyes, red and watery and slightly puffy like she’d been rubbing them. 

“Oh wow, yeah I can tell you look–, 

“-like a disgusting sdot rag,i know! sdnrff I’ve bee’d sdeezing by brai’ds  out sindce I left the build’g and I don’d thihhngk byhh SNRDF allergy medication’d is worki’g cause… I keehhp…. Hih? … feelihhng likehh?” She paused and brought the tissue wad up to her face, hovering it near but Mia could still see her itchy pre-sneeze expression. Her nostrils flared wide and her jaw dropped, her watery eyes unfocused as she kept her gaze on Mia. A moment later her nostrils pulsed and her breath hitched and she snapped the tissues to her nose. 

“HIH KNTSCHU ugh SDNRF like i’mb goin’g to sdeeze all the time’b.” She wiped up her nose, the sneeze being a bit messier than she’d liked, then shoved the snotty tissue into her pocket. “SNDRF! Just when’d I thought I was gettin’g a break.” Her voice thinned and quivered, as she slightly shook her head— her nostrils flared once again and she raised a fist turning to the side. 

“HEISHuh-EISHEW-EISH! Sndrgt! … hehh?”

Mia, her tongue heavy as she watched the spray around Deja dispersed into the air from the three rapid sneezes, her abdomen fluttering when she saw a clear strand shoot out from Deja’s allergic nose. She sniffled it back up but was already building up for another sneeze.

“EEIZSH!! unnnhh– HIH TIESH! ugh!”

Deja faced towards Mia, eyes watering and her nostrils flaring— a string of clear snot hanging from both of her flaring nostrils. Her eyes, hazily—swiftly looking for something, she made eye contact with the tissue box that was sitting on the coffee table along with Mia’s tea and popcorn. Mia could hear congested pants as Deja stomped closer, reaching across the table for the tissues, she could only snatch one before she was ducking down and sneezing freely over the table. 

“HUH AKTSCHUHh”

Spray and mess trickled around them. The table was covered in tiny droplets, along with Mia’s popcorn and she was certain in her drink as well. A long strand of snot hung from Deja’s nose, she brought the lonesome tissue to her nose, catching it before it could drip. She looked at Mia with streaming, embarrassed eyes. 

“SNDRF i’b so sorry, it cameb so quickly.” She said as she pinching her nose with the balled tissue. 

Mia stuttered out comforting words, blessing the allergic woman and handing her tissues while telling the woman it was fine—perfectly okay that she had sneezed all over Mia’s snacks, the table, and a bit on the blankets Mia was covered with.

Allergy season can be a miserable time for millions of people worldwide. Sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, and congestion are just some of the symptoms allergy sufferers face during this time. But one of the most common questions people ask is: how long does allergy season last for? The answer isn’t as straightforward as you might hope, as allergy season can vary depending on your location,…

Ah, fall is in the air, and along with that air comes watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, and, most commonly of all, skin problems for your best friend! Dog fall allergies can be as big of a problem for your dog as they can be for you.

Dog allergies can manifest in the form of itchy skin, red eyes, hair loss, or even general itchiness. So what’s causing the problem, and what can you do as a loving pet parent to help?

What Allergens Cause Dog Allergies?

Allergens are basically foreign substances that your pooch can inhale, ingest, or just come into contact with, and when he does, it’s possible for his immune system to overreact.

While the fall season is not associated as much as spring with allergic reactions, there are still several plants, like ragweed and sagebrush, that release pollen in the fall. Fall winds can then spread those substances far and wide.

Mold is also a culprit in fall allergies because increased rain and piles of decaying leaves are great environments for growing mold. Additionally, your good buddy may be more exposed to dust mites in the fall season when your heating system turns on and spreads them throughout the house.

Your pup may also show signs of a flea allergy in the fall since they thrive on the increased moisture in the air.

Your dog’s environmental allergies can then result in itchiness, redness, hives, or swelling. He usually responds by licking or chewing on the affected areas, and that can result in secondary skin infections, which then create even more itching. This allergic reaction on your dog’s skin is known as atopic dermatitis or atopy.

It’s a real catch-22, so what should you look for during allergy season?

Signs of Dog Fall Allergies

Signs of allergies in your dog include:

sneezing

watery eyes

runny nose

skin rashes

hair loss

waxy ear discharge

red paws

odor

excessive scratching

Just like with humans, your dog may suffer from sneezing, watery eyes, and a runny nose. But you might also see him develop rashes and generally irritated skin.

He might also experience hair loss, a waxy discharge from his ears, and red, discolored, smelly feet. Flea allergies can also cause secondary ear infections and other problems like an aural hematoma.

Aural hematomas occur when your dog shakes his head because of an irritated ear. He can shake it so vigorously that the skin of the ear separates from the underlying cartilage. That creates a space where blood can pool. That’s an aural hematoma.

How Can You Be Sure It’s Seasonal Allergies?

While environmental allergies are common in dogs, other problems can cause similar symptoms. It’s vital to determine the cause of your dog’s itchy skin, ear infections, or other symptoms in order to choose the best treatment.

While runny eyes might be due to seasonal allergies, it could also be an eye infection or injury that causes that. Other types of problems include things like dog food allergies and allergic skin lesions resulting from a bacterial infection, among others.

Respiratory symptoms could be seasonal allergies, but it could also be something like kennel cough.

Though environmental allergies are common, there are many other health conditions that cause similar symptoms. It’s important to know which one is causing your dog’s itchy skin or ear infections.

That’s why you’ll want to consult a veterinarian when you notice allergy symptoms in your pooch. They can perform diagnostic tests to determine the exact cause. Since those symptoms can be very uncomfortable and result in more problems, the sooner you visit your DVM, the better.

How Seasonal Allergies Are Diagnosed

There are a number of diagnostic tests your veterinarian might perform, but they usually start with a general physical exam. Your vet will ask about possible allergen exposure, and then they may follow up with some simple skin tests.

For example, they might do a skin scraping and look at the material microscopically to see if there are any skin mites or other identifiable causes. If your pup’s symptoms involve problems with his ears, they will look for evidence of an ear infection.

If your vet thinks that the symptoms are due to something else, they may recommend other types of diagnostic tests. If they suspect food allergies, they may also conduct a food trial, which often involves stopping all foods your dog is eating and instead feeding something hypoallergenic like lamb and rice. Then you reintroduce his old food slowly until the symptoms reappear. That will allow them to identify the specific allergen.

If allergies are determined to be the cause, and your dog has a particularly severe case, they might also recommend allergy testing to determine the specific sensitivity. Once they know the environmental allergens are causing your pup’s symptoms, they can recommend an appropriate treatment.

How are Seasonal Allergies Treated?

You can’t cure allergies, but you can manage the symptoms so that your pooch stays comfortable. There are some over-the-counter medications, like antihistamines (think Benadryl, for example), that can manage those fall allergy symptoms.

Of course, you want to be careful about giving any over-the-counter drugs until you’ve spoken with your vet. Just because you can take a drug like that doesn’t mean it’s safe for your pet.

Your veterinarian might also recommend using a medicated shampoo to help relieve skin irritation or itchiness. For many dogs, those kinds of treatments will be enough to relieve the symptoms, and if fall allergies are to blame, you shouldn’t have to use them year-round.

Dogs with more severe symptoms, however, might need something stronger. In these cases, your dog might need something like a steroidal medication to lessen the strong reaction your dog’s body is having to the allergen.

There are also allergy shots available to help desensitize your pup to the allergen. For these, it will be important to conduct skin testing to determine the specific cause of the reaction.

Of course, it’s also important to treat your pup for any secondary skin or ear infections that develop as a result of the symptoms.

What You Can Do at Home

There are a couple of things you can do at home to help prevent allergic reactions or at least lessen the severity of the reaction. You can wipe your dog’s paws and belly off with a clean, wet cloth after you’ve been on a walk, for example.

It’s also a good idea to bathe your dog once a week. Use a gentle dog shampoo, and pay special attention to areas that might come into contact with plants shedding pollen.

Wash your dog’s bed and any linens he comes into contact with regularly so you can limit his exposure to dust mites. Feeding high-quality dog food and getting him checked regularly for parasites are also important for reducing allergy symptoms.

Final Thoughts on Dog Fall Allergies

While it might be a lovely time of the year, fall can also bring different allergy symptoms that can make you and your pooch really uncomfortable. Take the steps you can to keep your home free of allergens, and see your vet if symptoms develop. You’ll feel as relieved as your pooch when the itching stops!



by Mason Heberling

Fall allergies causing you grief?  

Ragweed is a plant many people are (all too) familiar with.  Or at least their bodies are.  Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) is actually native to North America, but has been introduced across the world.  In many cases, this plant (or other ragweed species) are to blame for seasonal pollen allergies known as “hay fever.”  In summer and early fall, ragweed plants produce copious numbers of pollen grains, which are dispersed in the wind.  Don’t blame those insect-pollinated plants with showy flowers for your allergy troubles.  Wind pollinated plants like ragweed are your culprit.  

This ragweed specimen was collected by Bonnie and Joe Isaac in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania on October 8, 1995.  Bonnie is the collection manager in the Section of Botany at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, an active plant collector and field botanist, and an expert on the plants of Pennsylvania.

Although ragweed is native to the US, historical records (pollen deposited in sediment cores) suggest that this species was far less common in North America before European colonization.  This is perhaps not too surprising considering the species thrives in disturbed habitats that came with European colonization and urbanization.  A study published in 2014 by Martin and colleagues in the journal Molecular Ecology extracted DNA from nearly 500 historic herbarium specimens dating back to the 1800s to measure the genetic makeup prior to widespread changes to the landscape in the late 19th century. Combined with data from recent collections, they found shifts in the genetic makeup of ragweed populations as the species was expanding in the United States.  

Botanists at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History share digital specimens from the herbarium on dates they were collected. They have embarked on a three-year project to digitize nearly 190,000 plant specimens collected in the region, making images and other data publicly available online. This effort is part of the Mid-Atlantic Megalopolis Project (mamdigitization.org), a network of thirteen herbaria spanning the densely populated urban corridor from Washington, D.C. to New York City to achieve a greater understanding of our urban areas, including the unique industrial and environmental history of the greater Pittsburgh region. This project is made possible by the National Science Foundation under grant no. 1801022.  

What better way to spend a nice fall day than to be outside at the park! They also filmed an allergy video while there.

Eye Care Tips for Fall Allergies: Protect Your Eyes from Pollen