This is an amazing time of year to be a mobile vet. The stunning oleander blossoms are everywhere, and the spring air feels like champagne. But, as if like clockwork, and in perfect unison with this explosion of flowers and pollen, my patients start to itch.

Every day the appointment lists are filled with dogs with skin issues, hair loss and ear infections as their bodies react to this annual onslaught of allergens.

One of my vets took an ear swab from a dog with an infected ear the other day, and as she looked at it under the microscope, she commented on how she had never seen so much pollen in an ear before.

We all had a look, and she was absolutely right, it was hootching.

These hidden allergens cause mayhem for animals that are sensitive to them, producing a range of symptoms from skin irritation and itching, excessive paw licking, head shaking and ear infections to watery eyes.

So, what can we do as pet owners to help our furry friends through this particularly itchy time of year?

It is so important to eliminate any causes of itching that you can from the skin, so good parasite control is a must for any itching animal.

If your allergic pet gets a flea bite on top of their allergies, the level of itch will dramatically increase even to the point that they will harm their skin through excessive itching.

Bathing your dog regularly in an oatmeal-based shampoo will help to remove allergens from the skin surface and reduce the intensity of itching.

Be particular about the type of shampoo you are using as there is no regulation of these products.

Read the ingredients and watch out for tea tree oil and witch hazel as they are too drying for our pets and will weaken the skin barrier.

If you are unsure, take a photo of the product and its ingredients list and send it to your vet to make sure it is suitable.

Another way to reduce skin allergens is to use a baby wipe on your pets’ paws when they come in from the outdoors.

This will reduce the amount of licking the dog has to do themselves and will prevent skin damage. Use wipes that are gentle on the skin and make sure to get in between the toes and pads thoroughly.

Always clean your pets’ ears regularly with an appropriate cleaning product, and dry them afterwards, to remove the waxy build up that traps allergens in the ears.

Again, there is a lot of variety in these products so check with your vet before buying them.

Despite your best efforts as an owner, you may still need a vet visit to get on top of seasonal itching as we live in a very high allergen environment and the genetics of your pet can also play a part in their reaction to them.

The good news is that vets have a large range of treatment options and can make sure we get the right one for your pet.

Don’t let seasonal itching spoil their fun, get outside and enjoy this beautiful spring weather whilst you can.

• Lucy Richardson graduated from Edinburgh University in 2005. She started CedarTree Vets in August 2012 with her husband, Mark. They live at the practice with their two children, Ray and Stella, and their dog, two cats and two guinea pigs. She is also the FEI national head veterinarian for Bermuda