Recent from the Bugle
If your dog has been scratching more than usual lately, you're not imagining it. Skin allergies have been the number one reason dogs see a vet for more than a decade, and ragweed in eastern Oklahoma peaks in September. Most dogs feel it before their owners notice.
The early signs
Licking at the paws, which most owners write off as a nervous habit but is usually allergies. A little more scratching. A pink patch on the belly you assumed would clear up on its own. Ragweed is the biggest trigger this time of year, with mold from fallen leaves close behind, which is worth remembering if your dog loves a leaf pile as much as ours do.
What a Tulsa vet actually recommends
We asked Dr. Liz Thomas of Sunshine Mobile Vet, who treats dogs in Tulsa's driveways every week.
"Honestly, most of what I recommend is simple. Wipe your dog's paws and belly after they've been outside. People get confused about what to use, and a baby wipe or any gentle, fragrance-free pet wipe is perfect. Stay on flea prevention year-round. And if the itching hasn't let up in a couple of weeks or the skin is getting red, don't tough it out. Just call. There are really good medications for this now, and I'd much rather see a dog early than after they've scratched themselves raw."
The Bugle rule of thumb
- Wipe paws and belly after every walk. A baby wipe or a fragrance-free grooming wipe takes most of the pollen off before it gets absorbed.
- Stay on flea prevention year-round. Tulsa doesn't get cold enough, for long enough, to kill fleas off. Skipping winter doses is how spring infestations start.
- Give it two weeks. Still itching, or the skin is turning red? That's your cue to call the vet, not your cue to buy another oatmeal shampoo.
What to skip
Human antihistamines without a vet's dosing guidance, tea tree oil (toxic to dogs), and "hot spot" sprays that sting. If the skin is broken, bleeding, or smells, that's an infection and it needs a prescription, not a home remedy.
Dr. Liz is the founder of Sunshine Mobile Vet, which brings wellness care to driveways across Tulsa. Call 918-488-6575 or book online. Have a question for her? Email admin@dogbugle.com and it may be answered in an upcoming Ask the Vet.
Ask the Vet is general education, not a substitute for an exam. If your dog seems unwell, call your veterinarian.
