THE PET ALLERGY EPIDEMIC: SCRATCHING MORE THAN JUST THE SURFACE
DR. MARLENE SIEGEL DVM
APRIL 2025
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Skin issues and ear infections rank among the top 5 health challenges that concerned pet parents seek solutions for. Having to listen to a dog incessantly chewing and scratching sends pet parents into anxiety.
The pet allergy “treatment market” is focused on symptom management and symptom suppression. As pet health declines, this industry is experiencing significant growth, reflecting the increasing prevalence of pet allergies and the rising demand for effective treatments. According to Fairfield Market Research, the global pet allergy treatment market was projected to expand from $2.2 billion in 2024 to $3.8 billion by 2031, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.12% during this period.
Pet owners are seeking solutions for their pets’ allergies. They are becoming aware of the dangerous side effects the conventional veterinary care offers (Flea and tick preventatives, antihistamines, corticosteroids, immunotherapy, and antibiotics). Pet parents are frustrated with relapses and are becoming more conscious of the fact that the underlying root causes of allergies are not being identified and resolved, and they are seeking safer and more effective approaches.
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The Root Cause Of Allergies - Leaky Gut
Leaky gut, also known as increased intestinal permeability, occurs when the gut lining becomes damaged, allowing toxins, undigested food particles, and harmful pathogens to pass through into the bloodstream, where they are transported to the liver. The liver recognizes these substances as foreign material and mounts an inflammatory response to destroy them.
This inflammation targets the weakest “link” in the body. In dogs and cats, the skin and ears are frequently the first area to display disease.
Causes Of Leaky Gut In Pets
There are several key contributors to leaky gut syndrome in pets, many of which are linked to modern lifestyles and feeding habits:
Processed Foods: Highly processed pet foods (Commercial kibble and canned diets) are enzymatically dead, are often filled with fillers, preservatives, GMOs, synthetic vitamins, and low-quality proteins, all of which can damage the gut lining and disrupt the gut microbiome.
Overuse of Antibiotics: While antibiotics can be lifesaving, their overuse kills beneficial gut bacteria, leading to dysbiosis (an imbalance of gut bacteria), which compromises the gut’s integrity.
Steroids and immune suppressive drugs: These drugs disrupt the natural balance of the gut flora, cause long-term damage to the immune system, and damage to the tight junctions of the gut lining, leading to more leaky gut and inflammation.
Stress: Stress affects pets just as much as it does humans. Elevated stress hormones like cortisol damage the gut lining and suppress the immune system.
Environmental Toxins: Exposure to toxins such as pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, and chemicals in household cleaners can contribute to the degradation of the gut lining.
Parasites: Millions of animals experience parasites like fleas, but they don’t develop an “allergic response”. Flea bite dermatitis is a condition where the pet develops a hypersensitivity to the antigen in the flea saliva, resulting in an exaggerated state of itchy skin. These animals are exceedingly itchy from 1-2 flea bites. They often have red/raw skin areas with hair loss and yeasty odor.
Genetic Predisposition: Only 5% of gene expression is related to genetic predisposition. 95% of genetic expression is caused by epigenetics, lifestyle, and environmental pressures that contribute to the expression of the genes.
Pet Allergies
Pet owners are seeking solutions for their pets’ allergies.
The Illusion Of Quick Fixes: Steroids And Immune Suppressive Drugs Are Harmful And Can Result In:
Weakened immune function
Increased risk of infections
Liver damage
Increased cancer risk
Medications that carry additional warnings:
Zenrelia: This medication includes a boxed warning advising against vaccinating dogs for at least 28 days before or after treatment. Studies show risks such as immunosuppression, poor vaccine response, and potential fatal vaccine-related diseases in some puppies treated with Zenrelia during vaccination periods (fda.gov).
Apoquel: According to its product insert, side effects may include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, anorexia, skin masses, decreased leukocytes, infections (skin, ear, and urinary tract), neoplasia, pneumonia, and bloody diarrhea (petdermatologyclinic.com).
Cetirizine (Zyrtec®): Though generally safe, cetirizine can cause vomiting and excess salivation. At high doses, small dogs and cats may experience sleepiness. Products like Zyrtec-D®, which contain pseudoephedrine, are unsafe for pets (vcahospitals.com, petmd.com).
These medications work by mimicking cortisol, a hormone that suppresses the immune response. While these drugs temporarily alleviate symptoms, they do not address the root cause of allergies, Leaky Gut.
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Does Hypoallergenic Kibble Resolve Skin Allergies?
Switching to hypoallergenic kibble is a common recommendation for pets with food allergies. However, research shows their effectiveness varies, and relapses are common over time. A study in the Journal of Veterinary Medical Science found that hydrolyzed diets can still contain proteins capable of stimulating helper T-lymphocytes, potentially making them ineffective for some dogs with food sensitivities. This highlights the importance of addressing the root causes of allergies rather than relying solely on diet changes.
Additionally, a case report in the journal Animals highlighted that hypoallergenic diets based on hydrolyzed proteins might only minimize allergic conditions when combined with medication during the initial stages of treatment. This suggests that relying solely on such diets may not provide comprehensive long-term management of allergies.
Furthermore, a study from Cornell University indicated that restricting the number of ingredients in a diet can lessen signs of disease in dogs with persistent gastrointestinal issues. However, this approach does not address the root causes of allergies and leaves the pet at risk for allergic relapses.
Leaky Gut
Leaky gut lets toxins enter the bloodstream.
Healing from the Inside Out:
The integrative solution to resolving pet allergies is to identify the lifestyle factors that are causing the leaky gut and inflammation, eliminate the problems, and adopt behaviors that support gut health and reduce inflammation.
This includes:
Testing for Deficiencies and Toxicities – Test, don’t guess
Feeding a Species-Appropriate Diet – A raw, nutrient-dense, grass-fed/grass-finished diet that eliminates harmful additives and focuses on biologically appropriate nutrition strengthens the gut and the immune system.
Parasite prevention- Recommendations may vary depending on the part of the country a person lives in. Environmental control, along with pet protection, should be specific for each pet’s circumstances.
Repairing Leaky Gut – Supplementing with prebiotics, probiotics, and other gut-repairing nutrients can restore gut balance and reduce inflammation.
Once pet parents understand their pets’ “biology” and learn how to support them, pets thrive. Join my family of pet parents who have successfully followed the step-by-step Empowered Pet Parent program, implementing what they’ve learned and transforming their pets’ health. Become an Empowered Pet Parent now!
Take the course today and give your pet the vibrant, itch-free life they deserve!
Go to www.transformingvetmedicine.com
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