Now that the weather has warmed up and nature is in full bloom, it’s a joy to let Fido run free in the park and roll around in the grass. But these days, more pet parents are seeing their furry friends have adverse reactions to the environment, such as skin rashes, increased itching and scratching, panting, and sneezing. Climate change has increased levels of pollen and other allergens in the air and prolonged the length of allergy season, leading to an increase in allergy cases in pets, just as in humans. According to a report from Banfield Pet Hospital, over the past 10 years, there has been a 30.7% increase in environmental allergies in dogs and an 11.5% increase in cats.
It’s hard to watch our pals struggle through discomfort, but there are ways to help pets find relief. In my experience, the allergy and immune response are closely related, in dogs especially. If you tackle the immune response, you can also bring down the allergy symptoms. (It’s worth noting that allergy symptoms can look different in dogs than humans. Dogs may show an increase in licking or chewing, scratching behind the ears, red spots or bumps or hair loss.)
To reduce allergy symptoms, I always recommend products that contain Epicor, a branded postbiotic that works to modulate the immune response and bring down inflammation. At Zesty Paws, one of the companies I founded, we combine Epicor with omega-3 rich salmon oil to reduce inflammation and colostrum to help balance the immune system in our Allergy & Immune Bites and they continue to be one of the brand’s top sellers. Prebiotics, probiotics, and apple cider vinegar can also be helpful.
Natural health retailers are in an ideal position to point pet parents toward natural anti-inflammatory ingredients that can provide long-term relief. During prime allergy season (now through the fall), I would advise setting up an endcap of allergy-friendly supplements, such as fish oil, treats and food brands that contain Epicor as well probiotics and colostrum supplements. You might also consider showcasing other allergy relief items, such as ingredients for a soothing oatmeal or coconut bath to relieve itchy skin and natural anti-itch creams or sprays. Having a vet or other pet expert come into your store for an education session on allergy relief strategies can also be a great way to drive sales.
It’s worth noting that the rise in environmental allergies has also been correlated with an increase in food allergies in pets. Heightened immune response can increase reactivity to certain allergens in food, especially ingredients like soy, dairy, gluten, and mold.
If allergy symptoms aren’t abated with anti-inflammatory measures and standard antihistamines, it may be a good idea to look at the pet’s food and change course. Similar to humans, vets recommend the dogs follow an elimination diet and slowly reintroduce common allergens and watch for reactions. Retailers would be smart to stock a wide variety of clean label pet foods from trusted brands for pet parents to try when they’re working to figure out what their pet is reactive to. In fact, a growing number of vets, including the authors of The Forever Dog, are recommending that pet parents change up their pets’ food every few weeks or months to help reduce reactivity to foods and improve overall wellbeing.
Another potential cause of allergy-like symptoms can be a reaction to mycotoxins—chemical byproducts of mold and fungi that grow on grain crops. Mycotoxins have unfortunately become very prevalent in pet food, and can cause health issues, such as eczema, nausea, vomiting and liver disease, but mycotoxins aren’t getting talked about enough in my opinion.
Studies show grain-free pet food is less likely to be contaminated by mycotoxins, so I would recommend that retailers stock plenty of high quality grain-free pet food. For additional mycotoxin management support, my company Carson and Bear also offers our Superfood Dog Food Topper, which contains proprietary ingredients that help neutralize these harmful toxins, plus offers omega-3s and probiotics for joint and gut support.
