Simba, a 1-year-old Boxer with a history of allergies, sits for a check-up with veterinarian Dr. Mark Marks at the Wakarusa Veterinary Hospital, 1825 Wakarusa Drive. Local vets say that pet allergies can usually be treated with a cool bath and medications, but suggest a professional examination rather than trying to diagnose problems online.

Scratch. Scratch. Scratch.

Fall allergies seem to be worse this season for dogs and cats, thanks to the wet weather and cooler temperatures.

Dr. Mark Marks, of Wakarusa Veterinary Hospital in Lawrence, estimates he has seen between 20 percent and 30 percent more allergy cases recently compared with typical seasons.

He said allergies can be caused by a number of things: food, grasses, trees, dust, fibers, detergents and even humans. That’s right — pets can be allergic to humans just as humans can be allergic to pets.

Marks is also seeing an increase in pets that are allergic to flea bites.

“Fleas are starting to be more aggressive about finding a place to overwinter,” Marks said. “So, it’s been amazing to me in the last couple of weeks how many more flea issues we are seeing as related to allergies that we don’t normally see. So, they are being a lot more aggressive.”

Marks and other veterinarians blame it on the wet, cooler weather that’s atypical for Kansas this time of year.

“The climate has been great for the fleas. It’s a bumper year for the fleas, and in the fall is usually when Kansas sees those numbers really start exploding,” said Dr. Susan Nelson, assistant clinical professor at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

She said some pets are allergic to fleas while others are not.

“We will have people who bring their pets in and their pets are loaded with fleas and they have no idea because their pet hasn’t been scratching,” Nelson said. “We have other pets come in that have torn themselves to pieces and they may just have one or two fleas.”

No matter what is causing an allergy, the first symptom is typically itching. Other symptoms may include red and swollen ears or paws, watery eyes, sneezing and red spots on the skin. In extreme cases, pets might shed hair or lose weight.

The veterinarians said little can be done at home to relieve or treat allergy symptoms. Among their suggestions is offering a cool bath, but they strongly encourage pet owners to use appropriate shampoos and conditioners; otherwise, the problems could be further exacerbated. Also, wiping paws after coming in from outdoors can be helpful.

But, veterinarians highly recommend seeking professional help.

“Consult your veterinarian because there are a lot of remedies out there and you are not going to be able to diagnose it online,” Marks said.

Robin Evans, office manager at the Lawrence Humane Society, said her Yorkshire terriers let her know when allergies have hit.

“They get very itchy and whiny,” she said of her indoor pets Skeeter, a 10-year-old male, and Cricket, a 9-year-old female. She said Skeeter, especially, will lie on his back and try to rub it and make a high-pitched noise.

“They itch really hard, so you know instantly when it starts up,” Evans said.

She gives her dogs Benadryl to help ease the itch caused by allergies that are mostly grass-related. Sometimes, they develop problems between the pads of their feet.

Once the weather turns cold, Skeeter, Cricket and other pet allergy sufferers will begin to feel much better — much like their human counterparts.

“After the first freeze, we start seeing a rapid decline in allergies,” Marks said.