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Thanks for that.  Simi the dog sends wags and empathy to Harry.  There's definitely something out there that wasn't there before!  Everybody down here seems to have a second bout of a dry cough and everyone agrees it's an allergen.

Can't really comment on your dog's problems, but... "Every year in spring I now develope a tickly, dry throat that turns into a dry cough, that virtually takes voice away and is actually very uncomfortable for a couple of weeks.   Blamed the yellow, rape like weeds but don't know." The stuff that you think looks like rape is very likely just that. I don't think it's grown much for oil here, but ��������s do use the leaves as a winter salad. In any case, I think it's unlikely that it's to blame for your allergic reactions. Rape is an insect-pollinated plant, so it doesn't throw off loads of pollen. It has been suggested that large fields give off enough aromatic oils that some people nearby might react to them, but I'm not sure if that's ever been established as fact. Far more likely that what you're reacting to is pollen from something that's inconspicuous: plants that rely on wind-pollination - such as trees and grasses - generally have flowers that are not very obvious because they don't need to attract insects. It's also possible that you're reacting to more than one plant, since allergic reactions are cumulative. For example, I'm allergic to cats, but I can cope with them being in close contact for most of the year. During spring and early summer, however, our cats cause me major problems. If you find the reaction annoying, you might consider taking antihistamine tablets. The modern ones are much better than the older drugs which could also be used as a sedative and whose effects often didn't last long. At the moment, the antihistamine available in Italy which works best for me is one called Aerius. You should be able to get it in most chemists. A packet has 20 tablets and one a day is supposed to be sufficient, so a single box should sort out your problems for a year. Al

'The stuff that you think looks like rape is very likely just that. I don't think it's grown much for oil here, but ��������s do use the leaves as a winter salad.' It is probably Cime Di Rape (pronounced rap..eh) which is turnip tops to you and me. I have not seen the English Rape in Italy. You can get alergies from any pollen and this time of year is particularly bad. Re your Labradors, we have 3 and give then Cod liver Oil tablets and Green Lip Mussel extract pills. We get them online from the UK and the results are amazing..

A couple of years ago, I was given Polaramin, both the tablets and the cream, but if you realise that you have an allergy problem it is better to go to a specialist and have some tests done. They can identify the allergen(s) and give you a proper treatment.

We lived in countryside in UK and actually had rape planted in the field right next to our cottage every third year with no problem.   The weed that I assumed was the problem is just that, a weed, not grown in fields, just randomly on side of road and around where we live.  I blamed this purely because of timing and the fact that I had never suffered with anything in UK.  I have a large quanitity of Piriton that my son brought over on his last trip in anticipation of my couple of weeks of discomfort.  Thanks for the tips re arthritis in labrador but we are fully up on all remedies and he has been on various natural remedies for some years, and yes they do help, along with his Bioflow collar.  This new drug though is helping even more.  One tablet a month is all that is needed.  Early days so hopefully the benefits will be continuous.  p.s. in my (ex) part of UK cime di rape was called sprouting broccoli for, in my opinion, very obvious reasons

Hope Harry much better now. Hope you feel bettter soon and yellow weed sets seed soon. Dylano's nose not so angry.....seems to have 2 tiny puncture wounds....not visable before, lost hair above nose but area not looking angry so thats good.... strange times....

sorry if its off topic but as Gala mentioned I have been using Polarmin cream for years but for the dreaded mosquito bites (or the very small similar to midge bites) having tried at least a dozen others. Just a thought if others like myself get regularly eaten alive.