Just like humans, dogs, cats and horses can be allergic. The immunological mechanisms underlying allergy in dogs, cats and horses are essentially the same as in humans. Allergy is a genetically predisposed condition of hypersensitivity to substances which are common and harmless to most animals. The hypersensitivity is caused by a dysfunction in the pet’s immune system. The substances that cause allergy – allergens – include pollens, dust mites, molds, dander, insects and foods.

Canine allergic disease (atopy) often presents as a skin disease, known as canine atopic dermatitis. Up to 15% of dogs suffer from an atopic condition and accounts for 25% of animals referred for pruritus. Atopy is a hereditary form of allergy to pollen of plants (for example grasses, weeds, trees), fungi or various dust and storage mites.

The first symptoms typically occur between 1-3 years of age (around 75% of all cases). Sporadically, symptoms occur in animals under 6 months of age.

Just like dogs and cats, horses too can be allergic. Allergies in horses are often caused by insects, weeds, grasses and trees pollens. Other allergic triggers are mites, foods and moulds contained in damp hay or straw. One of the most common allergy in horses is the Summer Dermatitis, a seasonal skin problem, caused by the bite of insect Culicoides. The symptomatology is very typical, with lesions in the neck, face and tail during summer period.