Not unlike everyone over the age of 30 or that kid from Hereditary, cats and dogs often struggle with intense allergies. Thanks to dietary causes ranging from certain proteins like chicken or beef to other common pet food ingredients such as dairy or soy, skin issues may start to develop. If you frequently catch your pup gnawing at their pawsopens in a new tab or cat aggressively rubbing their eyesopens in a new tab, there’s a pretty good chance that they’re suffering from untreated allergies. For dogs especially, this can manifest in some other, err, concerning waysopens in a new tab.
Other non-skin-related symptoms can include digestive complications, weight loss, and lowering energy levels. Plus, seasonal and/or environmental factors including pollen, mold, and even grass may also be allergy triggers. To level up on the annoying scale, as the weather gets warmer, these conditions only tend to deepenopens in a new tab.
The founder of Crystal Lotus Veterinary Care recommends therapeutic platters, healing pet foods, electromagnetic flea/tick preventatives, and more personalized pet care options.
For many of my fellow aging millennials who haven’t found success with traditional medicine, aren’t keen on an influx of side effects, or straight up don’t have health insuranceopens in a new tab, holistic options are often the best route for pets struggling with stubborn allergies. These methods look at a pet’s overall health when combatting issues rather than attacking symptoms alone, making for a more organic solution without creating additional side effects. But when trying a new brand of treatments for our pets, it can be difficult to know where to start. So, we reached out to integrative veterinarian and Kinship Collectiveopens in a new tab member Dr. Lindsey Wendt for advice.
Her story is likely a familiar one for those dealing with mulish allergies. In early 2020, when Dr. Wendt’s dog was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, traditional treatments weren’t cutting it. It wasn’t until she turned to holistic options that her pup found lasting relief and ongoing comfort. This then led her to create Crystal Lotus Veterinary Careopens in a new tab, a resource that provides all-encompassing and natural care designed for a pet’s unique needs. Needless to say, she’s an expert both professionally and personally. Below, Dr. Wendt’s recommendations for combatting the nuisance that is lingering pet allergies.
“The most effective flea and tick repellant that I have worked with. In my experience, these are more effective than newer oral flea preventatives and eliminate the risk of toxicity. I recommend the five-year tag because it is sturdy and costs much less than the monthly preventative options over time.”
Note: This product is appropriate for both cats and dogs.
“Allergies are a dysfunction of the immune system, and functional medicinal mushrooms are an excellent way to support a healthy immune response. This is a blend of seven powerhouse mushrooms that help support a healthy histamine response to skin allergies seasonally or year round.”
Note: This product is appropriate for both cats and dogs.
“High-quality omega fatty acidsopens in a new tab are the foundation of managing skin allergies and also provide health benefits to the heart, joints, and brain. Rather than salmon, they use sustainably sourced, wild-caught fish and conduct vigorous testing to ensure safety. I recommend giving this year-round to help keep our dogs and cats in the best condition possible.”
Note: This product is appropriate for both cats and dogs.
“This multi-ingredient supplement helps to support seasonal allergies in a palatable soft chew that easily passes as a treat. It contains blood plasma and nettle root, which naturally decrease inflammation, and quercetin and bromelain that provide natural anti-histamine support.”
“If you have a dog with brown staining on its nail beds, feet that smell like corn chips, or recurrent musty ear infections, they are most likely battling an overgrowth of yeast. This herbal blend helps to cleanse and detoxify gently. And if you are dealing with a chronic or more severe situation, consider their yeast guard plus that helps support the microbiome and targets the yeast biofilm.”
“This is an absolute staple of my practice for patients with itchiness, skin infections, or redness. Ozone has natural antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties that have helped me transition many dogs from prescription-grade alternatives and have led to better results.”
Note: This product is appropriate for both cats and dogs.
“As a holistic veterinarian, I appreciate HICC Pet Ear Rinse for its use of hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a natural antimicrobial agent found in white blood cells. It effectively soothes irritations and relieves itching without causing stinging or irritation. The large soft Q-tips included make it easy to clean your pet’s ears thoroughly and gently.” Note: This product is appropriate for both cats and dogs.
“These hypoallergenic, botanical wipes are great to use on paws after walks to remove allergens that could otherwise create inflammation and secondary infection. I also use them between baths to maintain a clean and fresh hair coat.”
“This utilizes the power of essential oils and botanicals rather than toxic insecticides to repel outdoor pests. I recommend this as a pre-treatment for animals before hikes, and it’s great to use before outdoor time for dogs that may be around bees and other flying insects. It also helps soothe any bites if they do occur and smells great!”
Note: This product is appropriate for dogs and cats.
Sean Zucker is a writer whose work has been featured in Points In Case, The Daily Drunk, Posty, and WellWell. He has an adopted Pit Bull named Banshee whose work has been featured on the kitchen floor and whose behavioral issues rival his own.