Heat, allergens and why some dogs struggle more than others in warmer months.

Summer is good for dogs in a lot of ways. Longer walks, more time outside, the particular pleasure of a garden in the evening. But for a significant number of dogs summer is also the season when the skin becomes a problem and the scratching that was manageable in winter tips into something harder to ignore.

The connection between warmer weather and skin flare-ups is well established but not always well understood by owners. It is not simply heat. It is the combination of higher pollen counts, increased exposure to grass and outdoor allergens, more swimming and contact with treated water and the effect of UV exposure on skin that is already compromised.

Grass pollen is one of the most common environmental allergens in dogs and it peaks between May and August in the UK. Dogs who walk through long grass and then groom themselves are ingesting as well as contacting the allergen which compounds the response. The paws are often the first place owners notice because the dog is licking and chewing at them consistently. Redness between the toes is a classic presentation of grass pollen allergy and it tends to resolve in autumn only to return reliably the following year.

Chlorine and treated water from swimming pools or certain rivers can strip the natural oils from the coat and compromise the skin barrier. Dogs who swim regularly in summer often develop drier, more reactive skin as the season progresses. Rinsing after swimming is more important than most owners realise and it is easy to skip when you are managing everything else.

UV exposure affects dogs more than people tend to assume. Pale-coated dogs, dogs with pink skin on their nose and ears and short-haired breeds are all at higher risk of UV-related skin damage. Solar dermatitis in dogs is a real and underappreciated condition that over time can progress to more serious changes in sun-exposed areas.

The skin barrier becomes the priority in summer. Omega-3 fatty acids from Salmon Oil support the lipid layer that keeps moisture in and allergens out. Vitamin E provides antioxidant protection against oxidative stress including UV-related damage. Vitamin C supports collagen integrity and helps the skin maintain its structural resilience under increased environmental pressure.

RUSKO'S Skin & Coat Chews deliver all three daily in doses that are high enough to be functional. 250mg of Salmon Oil per chew is a meaningful amount. Combined with Vitamin C and E it supports the skin from the inside in a way that topical products alone cannot replicate.

Summer is worth enjoying. It is easier to do that when the skin is not the main event.

If you're looking at skin support for your dog, you can explore our dog skin supplements and what goes into each chew.