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You make it to October, the pollen is gone, and you're expecting some relief. But your dog is still scratching. Maybe even scratching more than before. If you've been waiting for fall to fix things, you're not alone, and you're probably frustrated.
Here's what's actually going on.

Allergy season doesn't stop in the fall

Most people picture spring as peak allergy season. For pets with environmental allergies, spring and summer are genuinely rough. But fall doesn't bring a clean break. It just brings different triggers.

What else changes with the weather

A few things happen in October and November that can make skin conditions worse, even as outdoor pollen drops.

Mold spore levels peak. Fallen leaves pile up and decompose, and mold spores are a common allergen for dogs and cats with environmental allergies. They spike right around the time you'd expect symptoms to ease up.

Dust mites get worse indoors. When you close the windows and run the heat, the indoor environment becomes a much more hospitable place for dust mites. For pets who are sensitized to them, that's a slow-building problem that often doesn't show up on anyone's radar until winter.

The air dries out. Forced-air heating pulls moisture out of indoor air, and that affects your pet's skin directly. Dry, flaky skin doesn’t always mean there’s an allergy, but it can make other skin conditions harder to manage and make them more comfortable for your pet.

How do you know what you're dealing with?

If your pet's symptoms ease up between December and February, seasonal environmental allergens are probably a big part of the picture. If they stay bad all winter, or if they've never really improved at any point in the year, food allergies or dust mite sensitivity may be contributing.

Things worth paying attention to:
•  Paw licking that picks back up after a quiet stretch
•  Ear scratching or head shaking
•  Redness on the belly or in the armpits
•  Skin that looks flaky or dull, even without a lot of visible scratching

These don't automatically mean something serious is going on. But they're worth noting rather than assuming they'll sort themselves out.

When it makes sense to see a specialist

General practice vets handle many common skin problems well. But if the symptoms won't go away, the treatments aren't working, or you just aren't sure what you're dealing with, a veterinary dermatologist can help. They build on the groundwork your vet has already done and add more options, so you can get to the bottom of it faster.

Haartstad Veterinary Dermatology is the first and  only Fear Free CertifiedⓇ veterinary dermatology practice in the country. Appointments are built around reducing stress and anxiety for your pet, not just getting through the exam. For a pet who's already uncomfortable from itching, that matters more than you may realize.

You don't have to wait it out

If your pet is still scratching and you've been putting off making the call, fall is a good time to get ahead of it. Waiting through winter usually means more discomfort for your pet and more guesswork for everyone.

Request an appointment online or reach us by call or text at 612.757.0160.