Hello Spring, Welcome Allergies and Spring Fever

It's finally happening; the weather is nicer, it's lighter outside, and oh boy does it feel refreshing! However with all of the good that springtime brings, most of us experience springtime allergies, or at least know someone who does. If you aren't one of those people, well consider yourself lucky! Itchy noses, swollen eyes, and spring fever start to set in. As common as it is for us humans, we often forget that our pets also can experience these springtime struggles. This is more typically more common for dogs than cats, but it is important to note that it is something that many cats can suffer from as well. We thought it may be helpful for our fellow pet parents to dig a little deeper into this topic and open up the discussion of little things to keep in mind when tackling this situation.

Let's start by chatting about symptoms; there are physical signs of allergies to look for like sniffling, itching and skin irritation, runny noses and eyes. Signs of spring fever are behavioral; asking to go outside more, having a hard time settling, and our favourite but disruptive zoomies happening at strange times. These are all fairly common worries amongst pet parents, as you know your pet better than anyone. Remember to always ask your veterinarian if you're concerned about anything going on with your little ones; these are just some easy and helpful tips that we have used to navigate seasonal changes if you know your pet struggles with any of these.

🛁 Keep It Clean (But Gentle)
Hygiene is important all of the time, but during seasonal changes we face a little more than just dirty paws. Think about what is in the air when spring hits. Pollen, dust, and other irritants cling to their fur and skin after walks, which can quickly lead to itching and discomfort. Snow mold is one of these irritants. Snow mold is a type of fungus that grows in lawns after long periods of snow cover. Although isn’t usually dangerous, ingesting or sniffing large amounts can sometimes cause mild respiratory irritation or stomach upset. Keeping an eye on your dog during early spring yard time, and discouraging them from digging or rolling in affected patches, can help avoid problems.

We recommend baths using gentle shampoos with soothing ingredients like aloe, coconut, and oatmeal. Natural and calming ingredients can clean our pet's skin and coat while soothing any red/itchy hot spots that may be appearing from irritation or extra licking. The products we use on ourselves matter just as much as our pets, the difference is that they can't tell us what to buy so it's up to us to find the right products for them!

A line that we love is the Probiotic Shampoo & Conditioner from Skout's Honor. This is a little science-y, but simply put, probiotics aid in restoring skin's balance by keeping the good stuff and kicking out the bad stuff. Instead of stripping everything away like some traditional shampoos, it adds live, beneficial probiotics directly onto the skin.

We currently carry Skout's Honor Honeysuckle shampoo, and unscented cat shampoo! For All Things Jill, we carry their mint shampoo, citrus shampoo, and their Fido Freshener which is a hydrating and naturally scented spray.
 
We love these products because of their clean ingredients and their gentle skin soothing abilities, especially during allergy season.
Don't forget to give your pup a good wipe down after every walk (especially on their paws and bellies) to avoid any buildup of dust, pollen, and other irritants in the air.

🦴 Support From Within
This may seem strange but hear us out: diet matters even when it comes to seasonal allergies. Healthy and clean diets with supports like omegas can help stomach and skin irritation, especially when the seasons change. It is always important to pay attention to what you're feeding your pets. But when outside forces like whatever is floating around in the air come in to play, keeping things simple and fresh can actually benefit some of those pesky allergies!
Supporting your dog from the inside out heavily relies on what is in their bowl, and that’s where a high-quality, omega-balanced diet can make a real difference. This is especially important during allergy season, when their immune system is working overtime.

A high-quality and omega-balanced diet like those from Artisan Raw, can help build resilience against common spring triggers like pollen. Omega-3 fatty acids (often sourced from fish), play a key role in reducing inflammation, which can help ease symptoms like itchy skin and excessive scratching. When your dog is getting clean, nutrient-dense food without fillers or artificial additives, their body is better equipped to respond to allergens in a more balanced way.
To put it simply, a balanced diet doesn’t just support overall health but it can help take the edge off seasonal flare-ups, making spring a lot more comfortable for your pup. Artisan Raw (one of our favourite Canadian brands), focuses on feeding dogs completely by using human-grade meats, fresh vegetables, and omega-rich ingredients like wild salmon to help fuel overall health.

Another brand we love for overall health is PetKind Tripe Dry Kibble and canned tripe. Now we know what you're thinking... "how does kibble aid with seasonal allergies?" And the answer is similar to the ones above: immunity and diet go hand and hand.

Tripe-based diets take a more functional approach to nutrition by putting gut health at the center of everything. PetKind Tripe Dry Kibble uses green tripe as the first ingredient, a nutrient-dense superfood that supports digestion, skin health, and overall wellness.

What makes tripe especially valuable is how it supports the digestive system, which is closely tied to immune health. Many pet parents turn to tripe-based diets because they’re often easier on sensitive stomachs and may help dogs dealing with food sensitivities or allergies. The formulas are also free from common fillers like corn, soy, and artificial additives, helping reduce potential triggers that can contribute to flare-ups.

When it comes to seasonal allergies, this connection matters. A healthy gut can help regulate your dog’s immune response, while the natural nutrients and omega fatty acids found in tripe can support skin and coat health, which is often the first place allergy symptoms show up. PetKind even highlights that green tripe may help with things like healthier skin, coat, and allergy support, based on long-term customer feedback.

In simple terms: when digestion is supported, the immune system tends to follow. Which in turn makes tripe-based kibble a great option for dogs who struggle with both sensitive stomachs and seasonal allergies.

If changing up your dog's diet is not in the books for you, adding omega oils like Thrive's Salmon or Herring oil is a great way to boost your dog's diet and immunity! These oils provide multitudes of positive qualities including skin and coat health, joint care, and digestive aids.

Stay tuned for an upcoming blog about gut health! We will dive more into this later.

🐾 Enrichment & Activity
And now the moment we (think) you've been waiting for... Let's talk about spring fever and zoomies.

When the weather changes we all feel it! The air is different, the sun is shining, and it can really bite being stuck inside all day after just spending the last few months hiding from the cold. This is no different for our pets, dogs and cats alike!
Your dog may be asking to go outside more, acting a little more on edge and having trouble settling, and may even start zooming around the living room at unusual times of day. These are behavioral symptoms of what has been called spring fever. Spring fever isn't necessarily bad, but can be alarming for pet parents who aren't used to seeing their furry friends acting so antsy.

Matching their energy with more frequent walks and switching up your usual routes can do wonders for your pup. New smells, new sights, and new environments give your dog mental enrichment just as much as physical exercise! Seriously, we aren't kidding, sometimes a walk with lots of sniffing can stimulate a dog's brain so much that they will be so adorably tired for the rest of the day. Now, we are completely aware that this isn't always possible; life is so busy and sometimes we only have time to do the usual routines. But there are other ways to emulate this for your animals.

Enrichment toys and activities can do the same things! Toys like snuffle mats and enrichment puzzles are a perfect tool for keeping brains active. Our girl Nina Ottoson knows this best! Nina Ottoson Puzzles are designed to tap into your dog’s natural problem solving and foraging instincts, encouraging them to work for their treats by sliding, lifting, and nudging pieces into place. Not only does this help prevent boredom, but stimulates their senses; this means that sometimes a quick puzzle session can help calm that springtime chaos buzzing inside them!

At the end of the day, every pet is different, and what works for one may not work for all. These are simply some helpful tips and tricks that we’ve personally seen success with over time when it comes to managing spring allergies and all that extra seasonal energy. Whether it’s small changes to grooming routines, diet, or adding a bit more enrichment into their day, even the littlest adjustments can make a big difference. If you ever have questions or just want to chat more about what might work best for your pet, we’re always here for you! Feel free to stop by and see us anytime. We love talking all things pets (and meeting your furry friends, of course) 🐾💛