Summer has arrived, and tipuanas and jacarandas paint many streets across Spain. For pollen allergy sufferers, flowering plants release their blooms and share the air with pollution, while rain remains scarce to cleanse and refresh the environment.
New research confirms it is peak allergy season. It began about twenty days ago, longer than ten days previously, with pollen levels about 21% higher than in 1990.
Amid this scene, it’s important to remember that our pets—especially dogs and cats—also grapple with pollen allergies. These pets experience the same family of allergic reactions as humans and tend to fall into three major categories based on the allergen group involved.
Environmental or atopic allergy
This is the best known and most common allergy in dogs and cats. Broadly, it splits into pollen allergens and dust mite allergens. Just as in people, pollen-induced symptoms can appear sporadically throughout the year, depending on the plant producing the pollen, typically in spring or autumn. Mites are nearly universal in homes, so animals allergic to them may suffer continuously. Unless mites or pollen are vaccinated, they act as autovaccines, provoking the immune system to mount defenses against these allergens, explains Dr. Xavier Roura of the Small Animal Internal Medicine service at the UAB Veterinary Clinic Hospital. The most frequent signs of pollen or mite allergies are itching and redness of the skin. What is often observed are lesions caused by scratching or secondary infections from fungi or bacteria exploiting the inflamed skin, leading to further epithelial damage and intensified itching (burning or itching) in the animal.
Bite allergy
Cats and dogs frequently develop strong reactions to bites or saliva from certain insects. Fleas and ticks are major enemies of our pets. If a tick or flea infests a dog or cat and transmits a disease, the blood they draw can carry the virus or bacteria that caused the illness to another host. In other words, fleas and ticks can spread serious diseases, as scientists explain. Ana Ríos, Dr., head of the dermatology service at Puchol Veterinary Hospital, notes that it is wise to deworm pets properly to prevent systemic diseases linked to ectoparasites. Unlike pollen and mite allergies, these reactions are not typically chronic, with fleas being the most common cause because they persist year-round, according to Dr. Roura.
Food allergy
Some animals may have a food allergy, though it is the least common and most challenging to detect. When a dog or cat has a food allergy, it often targets certain proteins such as dairy, beef or chicken, wheat, eggs, fish, and even soy. Generally, foods high in protein and consumed frequently are more likely to trigger reactions. Blood tests can be informative but are not 100% reliable for diagnosing these allergies. The diagnostic approach often involves trial and error: switching to a hydrolyzed diet for two or three weeks to see if symptoms improve, then gradually reintroducing the original diet to confirm the allergy, or trying an exclusion diet—for example, feeding fish and potatoes to identify the problematic protein. The clinical signs mirror those in humans: vomiting or diarrhea in severe cases, and itching or redness of the skin. Gastrointestinal symptoms accompany skin reactions in roughly 10% of dogs and up to 30% of cats with allergies or intolerances.
Multifactorial allergies
Most allergic responses are multifactorial, meaning they are triggered by multiple allergens from different groups. A dog or cat diagnosed with environmental allergies should also be mindful of diet and internal parasites to avoid adding other sensitivities.
Summer has arrived, and tipuanas and jacarandas color much of Spain’s streets. Pollen allergy sufferers face blooms and pollination, all mixed with pollution, and limited rainfall that would otherwise help cleanse the air.
Recent studies show pollen seasons have lengthened. It began about twenty days ago, extending longer than ten days before, with pollen levels about 21% higher than in 1990.
In this context, it is essential to remember that pets, especially dogs and cats, also suffer from pollen allergies. These animals experience allergies similar to humans and can be grouped into three main categories depending on the allergens involved.
Environmental or atopic allergy
This is the most recognized and common allergy in dogs and cats. It divides into pollen allergens and dust mite allergens. Like humans, pollen-related symptoms can appear intermittently throughout the year, depending on the plant producing the pollen, usually in spring or autumn. Mites are ubiquitous in homes, so animals allergic to them will suffer constantly. Unless mites or pollen are vaccinated, they act as autovaccines, triggering the immune system to defend against these allergens, says Dr. Xavier Roura of the Small Animal Internal Medicine service at the UAB Veterinary Clinic Hospital. The typical signs of pollen or mite allergies include itching and skin redness. Often, the observed lesions result from scratching and from secondary fungal or bacterial infections exploiting the inflamed skin, causing epithelial damage and intensified itching (burning or itching) in the animal.
Bite allergy
Cats and dogs are frequently highly sensitive to bites or saliva from certain insects. Fleas and ticks are major adversaries of our pets. If a tick or flea parasitizes a dog or cat and transmits a disease, the host’s blood can carry the virus or bacteria that caused the illness to the next animal. In short, fleas and ticks can transmit serious diseases, as described by patients and researchers. Ana Ríos, Dr., head of the dermatology service at Puchol Veterinary Hospital, emphasizes the importance of proper deworming to prevent systemic diseases linked to ectoparasites. Unlike pollen and mite allergies, these are not typically chronic. The most common issue is flea-bite allergy because fleas persist year-round, notes Dr. Roura.
Food allergy
Some animals may have a food allergy, though it is the least common and most difficult to detect. If a dog or cat has a food allergy, it is often directed at certain food proteins such as milk, beef or chicken, wheat, eggs, fish, and even soy. Generally, proteins consumed frequently and in high amounts are more likely to provoke allergies or intolerances. Blood tests, while helpful, are not perfectly reliable for diagnosing these allergies, explains Dr. Roura. The diagnostic method usually involves a dietary trial: a hydrolyzed diet for a couple of weeks, then a return to the original diet to confirm the reaction, or an exclusion diet to identify the offending protein. The allergy typically manifests in the same ways as in humans: vomiting or diarrhea in severe cases, and itching or redness of the skin. Gastrointestinal symptoms accompany cutaneous signs in about 10% of dogs and up to 30% of cats with allergies or intolerances.
Multifactorial allergies
Most allergic reactions are multifactorial, meaning they stem from different allergens across groups. A dog or cat diagnosed with environmental allergies should consider both diet and external parasites to prevent additional allergies from developing.