Dipper’s Doggie Allergies

Shortly after adopting Dipper, I noticed his nose was always wet. Really, wet is an understatement—his nose was always runny. I didn’t think much of it until one day when were sitting outside and he sneezed. In my face. I was covered in more watery dog snot than I care to detail.

It was after that incident that I noticed how much he sneezed in general, as well as how much wetter his nose got when we went outside. Though unusually wet dog kisses were unpleasant, I didn’t really think it was a problem.

That was until he started vomiting mucus on a weekly basis.

After the problem failed to sort itself out, I brought Dipper to the vet, who confirmed my suspicions: seasonal allergies. Unfortunately, his have proven to be allergies that transcend the seasons—it’s more like he’s allergic to everything, be it pollen or dust.

I’ve since found a few ways to better manage his allergies, some of which have had the added benefit of helping my own!

His perspective

I was on the floor playing with Dipper (or more accurately, trying to engage the lazybones in play) when I looked around and noticed how, well, dirty it was. There was a thick layer of dust settled on the bottom of my bookshelf and cobwebs in almost every corner. I felt the sudden urge to sneeze! Crawling around my apartment reminded me that I need to clean his level, too.

Now when I clean, I pay particularly close attention to areas where he sticks his nose the most. The heating element by his food and water bowls was a serious source of dust, and I make sure to scour the area surrounding his crate with the vacuum.

Paying attention

I can and usually do let my own allergies get the better of me. However, when I start to get sniffly, it’s a pretty good sign that Dipper’s nose is running, too. And while I can let myself allergies go with little consequence, the same isn’t true for Dipper. I’ve noticed him start to cough up mucus after a few days of neglecting to give him his allergy medication, so I now have to pay closer attention to things like the weather, indicators that his allergies are going to start up.

On doctor’s orders

Speaking of medication, I maintain Dipper’s allergies largely with over-the-counter allergy medication. As in, the kinds for humans. His veterinarian recommended a fraction of a Zyrtec or Benadryl—contact your pet’s vet for exact dosage. I use Zyrtec to prevent drowsiness, because if Dipper got any lazier, he’d probably stop breathing.

As with humans, medication doesn’t make the allergies go away, it just relieves the symptoms. Taking allergy medication once every few days, or every day if the weather is particularly warm, has essentially stopped those mucus-hacking episodes.