An example of what you might see when trying to identify poison ivy.

flickr photo courtesy of blmurch

I woke up with a few red bumps a little over 10 years ago and thought that they were mosquito bites.

As a fairly learned gardener even at that time, a few extra bug bites and sore muscles were par for the course and well worth the minor discomfort if I could make gains in my perennial beds with all of the work that I was able to accomplish. It was no big deal.

It didn't take long for those few red bumps to turn into painful, itchy, red, weepy welts that were widespread — and for me to realize that I had a nasty allergic reaction to getting into poison ivy.

After a couple of weeks of misery, off to the doctor I went for an exam, a steroid shot in the rear end to help begin suppressing the reaction, and a week-long course of prednisone to keep things under control.

You can bet that after that, I was extra mindful about what I was getting into when doing yard work.

I had not displayed any sensitivity to poison ivy prior to that, and it's been all downhill from there, I'm sad to report. I'm hypersensitive, and now, I'm not just careful about not getting it, I'm paranoid.

When I'm working out in the yard, my first line of defense is carefully covering as much exposed skin as possible and applying IvyBlock to anything that can be exposed to that miserable plant. Washing any tools (usually with Tecnu or dish soap) after use and laundering my clothing and footwear has become a must, as the oil secreted by the plants, urushiol, can remain active on clothing and surfaces for a very long time, even years.

In the years since my first reaction, I began scouring the property to see where the noxious weed could be growing, but I soon found that it was impossible to avoid it completely, due to being on a couple of acres that are heavily wooded and overgrown in some places. In earlier years, I didn't recall that it was so widespread — now, it seems that it's everywhere.

I've been hearing some unsettling news from people like Lewis Ziska, plant physiologist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's agricultural research service, who stated in an interview on NPR's All Things Considered that increasing carbon dioxide levels are enabling these woody vines to spread faster, grow larger and crop up in new places. Even worse, they are becoming more toxic.

A Duke University study supports these findings.

Birds help to spread the invasive vines by eating the fruit, as William Gillis, Ph.D. from Michigan State University pointed out years ago. He details more poison ivy facts here.

So it's not my imagination!

At this point, you're probably wondering what this has to do with pets. Well, a lot actually — especially if you're around a lot of animals who spend time outdoors, like I am. And I know that if you're reading this, you can relate.

Thankfully, although the incidence of dogs being hypersensitive to poison ivy is rare and largely undocmented (they are more likely to be hampered by the allergic effects of Wandering Jew, spiderwort and other species of Tradescantia), they can easily transfer the oil from their fur to human skin, causing a reaction within a couple of days just as if we touched the plant ourselves.

And if you're spending a lot of time outdoors with pets like I do, that's bad news. You don't want to alienate yourself from them and fun activities due to the risk of getting the rash that results from contact, right?

Over time, I realized that the pets in my life — both dogs and cats — were the likely catalysts in my developing that unfortunate-looking rash that makes people cringe at the mere sight.

I've learned a few tricks and habits that have minimized my getting poison ivy, thus reducing the need for my needing to be on drugs to suppress the immune response. These tips allow me to be more comfortable and still enjoy time with my three pets and my four-footed clients.

• Wear protective clothing: Even in the warm months, I keep my lower torso protected — and usually wear lightweight yoga pants, socks and washable shoes. Excited dogs like to get close to my legs, and cats love to hop up on my lap, and it's impossible to avoid, or nor would I want to avoid, physical contact with them. I also put a beach towel over the driver's seat in my vehicle so I won't  transfer the oil from my pants to the fabric on the seat. I can take that towel in regularly and launder it.
• Wash exposed skin frequently: My arms and hands get washed frequently with a gentle soap. Wipes and scrubs are available over the counter, and I've used a lot of things, but I swear by Jewelweed Soap made by Dexter's own Amy Lesser, a.k.a. "The Happy Peasant." The soap is also great to cleanse any rash that you might get. Jewelweed, long-used to help soothe the discomfort of rashes, including poison ivy, is also effective in helping to wash away the oil. Technique is important when washing: Lukewarm water, gentle rubbing — but no scrubbing — of the exposed skin (to allow the surfectants in the soap to carry the oil off of the skin), rinsing and patting dry. I have tried poison ivy scrubs, and have found that in those instances, I not only got a rash, but it was worse.
• Wash doggy gear frequently: I wash my leashes and walking harnesses frequently with jewelweed soap or mild laundry detergent. The nylon material could transfer urushiol oil to skin.
• Hands off: Although it's tempting, avoid touching your face, and be sure to wash your hands before visiting the restroom.
  
• Launder promptly: Upon finishing your outdoor activities, get those articles of clothing in the washer in a jiffy.
  
• Clean up: Showers are recommended to remove any missed traces of poison ivy oil, with lukewarm water and gentle soap (I use the Jewelweed Soap, it's gentle and smells divine) — tub baths are not recommended.

My guess is that bathing your pets regularly would help, but with the day-to-day contact that mine have with poison ivy in our yard, it would be a losing battle.

With a little forethought, you can enjoy the warm months with less worry and comfort with your four-legged family members.

The Happy Peasant's Jewelweed Soap can be purchased from Amy Lesser. Contact her at 734-426-0606.

Lorrie Shaw is lead pets blogger for AnnArbor.com and writes about pet health, behavior, pet culture and more. Catch her daily adventures as a dog walker and pet sitter or email her directly.