When the plant comes in touch with the skin, it produces the all-too-familiar red, itching rash. The plant’s oils are irritatingly resilient, clinging to your clothing and your pet’s fur. Have you ever considered whether poison ivy affects dogs in the same manner that it affects humans?
Although the plant’s oil is not as harmful to dogs as it is to humans, it can cause similar reactions if it comes into touch with their skin. The majority of dogs are fortunate to have thick coats.
Is my dog allergic to poison ivy or poison oak?
Even minor touches with the deadly oils of poison oak or ivy leaves, off-white berries, and hairy stems cause skin irritation. But thanks to your pet’s fur, which is a significant barrier to protecting your dog against hazardous plants.
However, if one of the deadly plants comes into contact with your dog’s belly, the urushiol will immediately penetrate the skin and can induce an allergic reaction.
What does poison ivy look like on a dog?
While it’s rare that your pet is allergic to poison oak or ivy, it can cause concern. A dog’s symptoms of an unfavorable reaction to Toxicodendron are identical to those of a human:
- Skin discoloration
- Uncontrollable itching (dogs will do this by scratching, licking, and biting at their skin)
- Rash and red skin
- Inflammation, which includes swelling
- Bumpy terrain
- Pimples in the affected area
Severe symptoms may include:
- Fever (indicated by a dry, warm nose)
- Lethargy
- Skin inflammatory disease
- Infection from shattered pustules is also a possibility.
If your dog ate poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac, they may vomit or have diarrhea.
How Do I Treat Irritated Skin on My Dog?
Other than contact with poison oak, ivy, or sumac, various factors can induce skin rashes. Always see a veterinarian before treating your dog’s rash caused by a toxic plant.
Itching is the most critical thing to keep under control, and it is not only unpleasant for your pet but also the most dangerous to their health. Itching that is both intense and constant may result in an infection.
Biting and itching cause loose skin, which is vulnerable to bacterial infection from pustules on the skin, as well as contamination from other foreign elements such as dirt. To assist, try the following strategies:
- Bathe your dog regularly with a non-scented dog shampoo.
- To lessen the effectiveness of itching, secure socks or booties on the back of two paws or cut the nails.
- To relieve itching, use a veterinarian-recommended topical cream or oral medication.
- Request a cone from your veterinarian, so your dog does not nibble at their skin.
- Wear gloves when stroking or bathing your afflicted dog to avoid spreading the poison oak.
- Itching is a sign of poison oak or ivy discomfort, but it is also the body’s way of mending the skin. If excessive scratching of the skin is avoided, the skin will heal in one to three weeks.
Also, check if you can get poison ivy from a dog.
Featured Img Src: Cramyourspam, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.