SpotOn blog

Allergy testing is the first and most crucial step in treating allergy conditions. While the test can be performed year-round, some seasons are better for testing than others.

Allergies caused by different environmental and barn conditions are becoming increasingly prevalent in horses. Most horses no longer roam the fields and graze on fresh grass; they now spend most of their day in a stable, where there is often poor air circulation. Additionally, the growing use of manufactured diets, instead of freshly-grown grasses, can lead to the development of allergies. Allergies in horses are often cumulative, meaning the symptoms — including hives, coughing, intense itching, and nasal discharge — are the result of a reaction with several different allergens, not one specific allergen.

Although itching may be the most common allergy symptom in dogs, reactions are typically complex and are often manifested in a variety of ways.

Itching is a common allergy symptom in cats and often manifests into other symptoms initiated by a variety of environmental, household, and food triggers. Environmental allergies are caused by allergens such as pollen due to seasonal and climate changes. These factors not only worsen the allergy, they also cause the allergens to fester in cases such as flea bites. Symptoms include sneezing, vomiting, red or scaly skin, hair loss, itchy or runny eyes, snoring caused by an inflamed throat, swollen paws, and constant licking.