Canberran Lyndsie Nunn is all too familiar with the sneezing attacks, itchy throats and watery eyes that will sweep over thousands of Canberrans when the pollen season hits.
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And so is her four-legged friend.
The Evatt woman was surprised to learn why her three-year-old Cane Corso Taro was sneezing and itching himself a lot whenever spring rolled around.
"I found out he gets allergic to the grass and pollen in spring and he gets really runny eyes and a runny nose," she said.
"It's really cute."
She was told she'd have to grab enough antihistamines for herself and Taro when she does her pre-spring pharmacy trip.
"The vet said I can give him zyrtec, which I use, as he doesn't need special dog antihistamines," she said.
"He probably needs it even more than I do."
While a new survey done by McCrindle consumer research showed that a quarter of Canberrans suffer from hay fever, vets are warning that Taro is not the only pet sharing his owner's battle with the condition.
Canine atopy, the most common skin disorder that affects dogs other than fleas, is an allergic reaction most commonly to pollen (but can be triggered by other allergens such as mould and dust mites) and impacts about 10 per cent of the canine population.
Dr Eleanor Hall from the Canberra Vet Hospital said symptoms start with runny noses, sneezing, lethargy, rubbing, licking, red skin and scratching, but could lead to difficulty breathing and collapse if not treated correctly.
"Animals often become distressed by constant and persistent itching and respiratory signs; chronic sufferers can be affected by sleep deprivation," she said.
While antihistamines used by humans can provide some relief to itchy dogs, Dr Hall urged owners to consult vets first as animal doses could be very different.
"Vets can prescribe a variety of medication for allergies - anti-histamines and corticosteroids are more commonly used," she said.
"Rinsing feet and body with salty water after a walk can help to remove allergens directly in-contact with the skin."
Of course, it is important for owners to treat their own allergies as well as their furry buddies'.
The McCrindle study found more than half of Australians don't see a doctor about their hay fever symptoms.
This could be dangerous, according to Professor Dr Mimi Tang, group leader of allergy and immune disorders research at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute.
"Many people who have hay fever are often not aware of the fact that they have it and even if they know that they have it they might tend to minimise the importance of their symptoms, so it is important to see advice from their GP or doctor" she said.
"As the disease becomes comes significant, people will get congestion up the nasal passages and this symptom seems to be ignored, they'll mouth breathe and snore at night and end with a sore throat and won't realise it is hay fever."
