Dogs and Pollen: What Allergy Sufferers Should Know

If you have allergies and a dog, pollen season comes with two twists. Your dog carries pollen into the house on its fur and paws. And your dog can be allergic to pollen too, just in a different way than you are.

Both are easy to manage once you know what is happening. Here is how your dog moves pollen around your home, and how to tell if the pollen is bothering your dog as much as it bothers you.

Your Dog Is a Pollen Delivery Service

A dog spends 20 minutes rolling in the grass and comes back coated. Airborne pollen settles on a dog's skin and coat, and the paws pick up whatever is on the ground. Then that pollen comes inside and spreads onto your floors, your couch, and, if the dog sleeps with you, your bed.

A dog on the bed is a big reason allergies feel worse at night. PetMD suggests wiping a dog's feet and undercarriage with a dog-safe wipe after time outdoors. It is the single most useful habit for keeping their pollen out of your space.

Dogs Get Pollen Allergies Too

Your dog can react to the same tree, grass, and weed pollen you do. But where you get a runny nose and itchy eyes, dogs mostly show it on their skin. The American Kennel Club describes environmental allergies to dust, pollen, and mold as usually seasonal, showing up as itchy, inflamed skin on the paws and ears. Constant paw-licking, scratched ears, and red skin during pollen season are the classic signs.

If that sounds like your dog, talk to your veterinarian. Do not give your dog human allergy medication on your own, since the safe choice and amount are a vet's call, not something to guess from your own medicine cabinet.

Your Allergies vs. Your Dog's

You and your dog can both be miserable in the same pollen season, and it looks different on each of you. You sneeze, your eyes water, your nose runs. Your dog licks its paws raw, shakes its head, and scratches. When both of you flare up in the same weeks every spring or fall, pollen is the common thread. Checking your local count tells you when the load is highest for both of you.

Dogs and Pollen at a Glance

The wipe-down handles your problem. The vet handles your dog's.

How to Live With a Dog During Pollen Season

• Wipe them down after every walk. A damp cloth or pet-safe wipe over the paws, belly, and coat catches most of the pollen before it spreads inside.
• Wash your hands after petting. Otherwise you become the one moving pollen from the dog to your face.
• Bathe the dog about weekly in season. A regular wash keeps the pollen load on their coat low. Ask your vet about a shampoo if their skin is sensitive.
• Keep the dog off your bed during peak weeks. Wash their bedding often too, in hot water.
• Time walks for lower-pollen hours. Late afternoon and evening are usually lower than early morning. Our guide on the best time of day to go outside lays out the cycle.

For your own symptoms that will not settle, see an allergist. For your dog's, see your veterinarian.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do dogs bring pollen into the house?

Yes. Pollen settles on a dog's coat and paws outside, and the dog carries it in and spreads it onto floors, furniture, and your bed. Wiping the paws and coat after walks cuts down how much comes inside.

Can dogs be allergic to pollen?

Yes, usually as a seasonal reaction. Dogs show it on their skin, mainly itchy paws and ears, not as a runny nose. If your dog scratches through pollen season, talk to your vet.

How do I stop my dog from bringing pollen inside?

Wipe their paws and coat when they come in, wash your hands after petting, bathe them weekly, and keep them off the bed during peak season.

Sources

• PetMD. "Pollen Allergies in Dogs: Symptoms and How To Treat Them." petmd.com
• American Kennel Club (AKC). "Allergies in Dogs: Signs, Symptoms, Treatments." akc.org
• Mayo Clinic. "Seasonal allergies: Nip them in the bud." mayoclinic.org

Time the walk around the pollen count

Check today's tree, grass, and weed pollen for your city before you grab the leash.