Common Signs Your Dog Has Allergies (and when to go to the Pet ER!)

Springtime brings warmer weather, flowers, and dreaded allergies for people and their beloved pups. To help educate pet parents, the Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) has provided a list of common signs of dog allergies and when they need emergency care.  

If a pet parent knows or thinks their pet is having an emergency and their family veterinarian is unavailable, they should call an emergency vet right away. At VEG, a pet parent can speak directly to an emergency veterinarian who will help them with knowing what the next steps are.

Common Signs of Dog Allergies and When You Need to go to the Pet ER

• Itchy or Red Skin: Keep an eye on your dog’s itching and if you notice that they can’t seem to stop this behavior, it’s best to take them to get veterinary care as soon as possible to find out the cause of this problem. If your dog’s itching is creating wounds, that would be considered an emergency. 

• Constant Licking and Facial Rubbing: Rubbing every now and then isn’t necessarily a cause for concern, but if you notice your dog doing this multiple times a day, it’s more than likely that allergies are playing a factor here. If they are doing it excessively it could warrant an emergency visit to the veterinarian. 

• Swelling of the Ears, Eyelids or Face: If you notice that your dog is beginning to develop swollen eyes, ears or muzzle, you should take them to see an emergency vet. There could be multiple reasons why this is happening, but it is likely that your dog is suffering from an allergic reaction to an insect bite or sting, plants, new medications or other environmental factors

• Hair Loss: When your pet starts to lose so much hair that they begin to develop bald spots that this becomes a problem. Hair loss due to allergies can also be triggered by parasites, such as mange, so it’s always best to take your pet to see a veterinarian or emergency vet as soon as you can.

• Ocular Discharge: If you notice ocular discharge coming from your pet, it’s best to not wait to see a vet. If your general veterinarian is closed, take your pet to see an emergency vet so they can rule out other more harmful causes of this condition, such as an eye injury or tear duct problems.

• Scratching and Shaking of the Ears and Ear Infections: If you see that your dog is constantly scratching at or shaking their ears, then this is when you’re going to want to take them to receive immediate veterinary care. If your local veterinarian is unavailable, contact an emergency veterinarian, since untreated ear infections can cause permanent hearing damage.

Learn more about your dog’s allergies and when an allergic reaction is an emergency right here.

About the Veterinary Emergency Group: Established in 2014, Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) is an organization founded on a single mission: helping people and their pets when they need it most. VEG’s rapidly growing group of hospitals has revolutionized pet emergency with a client-centered approach, rapid response times, and a highly trained emergency-focused staff.  VEG currently has 20 hospitals operating in seven states including New York, New Jersey, Florida, Colorado, Texas, Massachusetts and Illinois. To locate a VEG hospital near you or for more information, please visit veg.vet.