The Pet Allergy Epidemic: Scratching More Than Just the Surface
- The Bioregulatory Medicine Institute
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
Dr. Marlene Siegel, DVM
The Pet Allergy Epidemic: Skin Issues Rank Among the Top
Skin issues and ear infections rank among the top five health challenges pet parents seek
solutions for. Having to listen to a dog incessantly chewing, licking, and scratching sends pet parents into anxiety can be distressing, exhausting, and emotionally overwhelming for families.
The pet allergy “treatment market” is largely focused on symptom management and
suppression, rather than addressing underlying causes. As pet health continues to decline, this industry is experiencing significant growth—reflecting both 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 actively seeking better solutions for their pets’ allergies. Many are becoming
increasingly aware of the potential risks and side effects associated with conventional veterinary interventions, including flea and tick preventatives, antihistamines, corticosteroids, immunotherapy, and antibiotics. Pet parents are frustrated by repeated relapses and are beginning to recognize that the underlying root causes of allergies are often not identified or resolved, prompting them to seek safer, more effective, and biologically supportive approaches.
The Root Cause of Allergies: Leaky Gut
Leaky gut, also known as increased intestinal permeability, occurs when the gut lining
becomes damaged. This damage allows toxins, undigested food particles, and harmful
pathogens to pass through the intestinal barrier and into the bloodstream, where they are
transported to the liver. The liver recognizes these substances as foreign material and mounts an inflammatory immune response in an attempt to neutralize and eliminate them.
This chronic inflammation often targets the body’s weakest “link.” In dogs and cats, the skin and ears are frequently the first areas to display dis-ease, manifesting as itching, redness,
infections, and chronic inflammation.
Causes of Leaky Gut in Pets
There are several key contributors to leaky gut syndrome in pets, many of which are closely
linked to modern lifestyles and feeding practices:
1. Processed Foods: Highly processed pet foods, including commercial kibble and canned
diets, are enzymatically dead and often contain fillers, preservatives, GMOs, synthetic
vitamins, and low-quality protein sources. These ingredients can damage the gut lining
and disrupt the gut microbiome.
2. Overuse of Antibiotics: While antibiotics can be lifesaving when used appropriately,
their overuse destroys beneficial gut bacteria, leading to dysbiosis (an imbalance of gut
microbes) and compromised gut integrity.
3. Steroids and Immune-Suppressive Drugs: These medications disrupt the natural
balance of gut flora, weaken immune resilience, damage tight junctions within the gut
lining, and can worsen intestinal permeability and inflammation over time.
4. Stress: Stress affects pets just as profoundly as it affects humans. Elevated stress
hormones, such as cortisol, damage the gut lining and suppress immune function.
5. Environmental Toxins: Exposure to pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, and
chemicals found in household cleaners can contribute to chronic inflammation and
degradation of the gut lining.
6. Parasites: Millions of animals are exposed to parasites such as fleas, yet not all develop
allergic reactions. Flea bite dermatitis occurs when a pet develops a hypersensitivity to
antigens in flea saliva, resulting in severe itching from as little as one or two bites. These
pets often present with red, raw skin, hair loss, and a characteristic yeasty odor.
7. Genetic Predisposition: Only approximately 5% of gene expression is determined
by genetics alone. The remaining 95% is influenced by epigenetics, including
lifestyle, nutrition, environment, and stress—factors that strongly affect how genes are
expressed.
The Illusion of Quick Fixes: Why Steroids and Immune-Suppressive Drugs Can Be Harmful
Steroids and immune-suppressive medications may provide rapid symptom relief, but they often come at a cost. Long-term use can result in:
● Weakened immune function
● Increased susceptibility to infections
● Liver stress and damage
● Elevated cancer risk
Medications with Notable Safety Concerns
● Zenrelia: This medication carries a boxed warning advising against vaccinating dogs for
at least 28 days before or after treatment. Studies report risks including
immunosuppression, poor vaccine response, and potentially fatal vaccine-related
diseases in some puppies treated during vaccination periods (FDA).
● Apoquel: According to the product insert, reported side effects include vomiting,
diarrhea, lethargy, anorexia, skin masses, decreased leukocytes, infections (skin, ear,
and urinary tract), neoplasia, pneumonia, and bloody diarrhea.
● Cetirizine (Zyrtec®): While generally considered safe, cetirizine may cause vomiting or
excess salivation. At higher doses, small dogs and cats may experience sedation.
Products containing pseudoephedrine (e.g., Zyrtec-D®) are unsafe for pets.
These medications work primarily by mimicking or amplifying cortisol, a hormone that
suppresses immune activity. While symptoms may temporarily improve, the root cause—leaky gut and systemic inflammation—remains unaddressed.
Does Hypoallergenic Kibble Resolve Skin Allergies?
Switching to hypoallergenic kibble is a commonly recommended approach for pets with
suspected food allergies. However, research shows that results vary and relapses are common.
A study published in the Journal of Veterinary Medical Science found that hydrolyzed diets may still contain protein fragments capable of stimulating helper T-lymphocytes, making them ineffective for some dogs with food sensitivities. This underscores the importance of addressing root causes rather than relying solely on dietary protein modification.
Additionally, a case report in the journal Animals suggested that hydrolyzed diets may only
reduce allergic symptoms when combined with medication during early treatment
phases—indicating limited long-term effectiveness when used alone.
Research from Cornell University has shown that limiting dietary ingredients can reduce
symptoms in dogs with chronic gastrointestinal issues. However, this strategy does not repair gut integrity or resolve the underlying drivers of allergy, leaving pets vulnerable to future flare-ups.
Healing from the Inside Out: A Bioregulatory Approach
The most effective long-term strategy for resolving the pet allergy epidemic is to identify and eliminate the lifestyle factors causing leaky gut and chronic inflammation, while actively supporting gut repair and immune balance.
This integrative approach includes:
1. Testing for Deficiencies and Toxicities – Test, don’t guess.
2. Feeding a Species-Appropriate Diet – A raw, nutrient-dense, grass-fed and
grass-finished diet eliminates harmful additives and supports gut and immune health.
3. Individualized Parasite Prevention – Recommendations should be tailored to each
pet’s environment, geography, and health status, combining environmental management
with appropriate protection.
4. Repairing Leaky Gut – Strategic use of prebiotics, probiotics, and gut-supportive
nutrients help restore microbial balance, strengthen the intestinal barrier, and reduce
inflammation.
Empowering Pet Parents, Transforming Pet Health
Once pet parents understand their pets “biology” and learn how to support them, pets thrive. Join my family of pet parents that 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!
References:
3. mdpi.com
Dr. Marlene Siegel DVM
Bioregulatory medicine is a total body (and mind) approach to health and healing that aims to help facilitate and restore natural human biological processes. It is a proven, safe, gentle, highly effective, drugless, and side-effect-free medical model designed to naturally support the body to regulate, adapt, regenerate, and self-heal. BRMI is a non-commercial 501(c)(3) foundation and will expand and flourish with your support. Our goal is to make bioregulatory medicine a household term.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for the direct care of a qualified health practitioner who oversees and provides unique and individualized care. The information provided here is to broaden our different perspectives and should not be construed as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.