Could my dog have hay fever?

My dog has very sensitive skin and this is especially worse in spring and early summer. It goes an angry pink colour and he starts chewing and tugging at his fur. This can happen as early as March and continue into the summer. A friend suggested it might be hay fever but it seems to begin so early in the year that I am concerned that it might be something else. Also, although he sneezes from time to time, he doesn’t suffer from ‘traditional’ hay fever symptoms. Does anyone else notice this in their pet and any suggestions please as to what it might be?
Amy Simmonds, by email

Dr John Howie, Co-founder of Lintbells, says...
It is very likely that if your dog is showing these symptoms from March that it is hay fever as dogs are particularly sensitive to tree pollen – which is about much earlier than grass pollen and the early days of spring are when we usually see it.
Dogs suffer from hay fever, just as we do. However it is much more likely that the reaction to the pollen will be in the skin rather than the sneezing and itchy eyes symptoms that humans get.
Like us, dogs may suffer an allergic reaction when they inhale pollen. However, in animals, the histamines released by the body in response to the pollen tend to show themselves in the skin rather than the nose and eyes. Dogs can also suffer a reaction when pollen comes into direct contact with their skin.
If your dog is suffering from hay fever he is likely to scratch and bite his body, possibly to the extent that he will pull some of his coat out. He may also lick his paws, shake his head and rub his face on the floor or furniture. In extreme cases he is likely to be more sensitive to being touched and generally miserable in his demeanour.
In order to prevent these irritating symptoms it is worth ensuring that your dog’s natural skin defences are working as well as they possibly can. Omega 6 and 3 oils increase the essential fatty acids in a dog’s diet to improve their skin health. Adding Yumega Plus to your dog’s diet will ensure they get the correct balance of these oils, helping to calm sensitivity and irritation in his skin, and will make it more difficult for the pollen to penetrate the skin, which should reduce the scratching. Yumega Plus contains added fresh salmon oil and more vitamin E than standard Yumega making it perfect for dogs with itchy and sensitive skin.
Other things that you should try include bathing your dog with a shampoo designed to reduce skin irritation, although not so frequently that it dries out the skin or you could lose those vital oils in their coat. It’s also very important to keep up to date with flea control and brushing the coat to ensure there is no dirt and debris or trapped pollen in matted hair. At peak hay fever times ensure you brush the coat to remove seeds, etc from his coat and wipe him down with a damp towel after his walk to get rid of the pollen. Regularly washing your dog’s grooming brushes and bedding can help too.