Your dog has been chewing at their paws for three weeks. Your cat’s coat looks dull and patchy. You’ve tried switching foods, changed their shampoo, and still, the scratching, the licking, the restlessness won’t stop.
Pet allergies are among the most common and frustrating health issues we see over the years of in-home care we provide in Ottawa, Hamilton, and Mississauga. They’re common because the triggers are everywhere: food ingredients, seasonal pollen, dust mites, cleaning products, and even the grass at your local dog park. And they’re frustrating because the symptoms often look the same regardless of the cause, making it genuinely difficult to identify the actual trigger.
Here’s what we’ve learned after nearly 20 years of caring for allergic pets, and what you can actually do to help.
Why Pet Allergies Are Harder to Manage Than Most Owners Expect
The first thing most pet owners try when they notice allergy symptoms is changing the food. Sometimes that helps. Often it doesn’t, because food allergies account for only about 10–15% of pet allergy cases. The majority are environmental pollen, mould, dust, storage mites, and contact allergens like grass or certain fabrics.
What makes this genuinely complicated is that many pets have multiple triggers, and those triggers can shift with the seasons. A dog who seems fine all winter can become miserable every spring when Ottawa’s pollen counts rise. A cat in a Mississauga condo might react to a new cleaning product you’ve been using in the bathroom, not to their food at all.
The other thing worth knowing is that allergies in pets are almost never cured; they’re managed. The goal isn’t to eliminate the immune response, but to reduce it enough that your pet is comfortable and their quality of life is good. That requires consistent monitoring, the right combination of interventions, and in most cases, some patience.
The Most Common Signs of Allergies in Dogs and Cats
Allergy symptoms in pets are easy to miss or attribute to something else, especially in the early stages. Here’s what to watch for.
In dogs, the most common signs are itching and scratching (particularly around the paws, ears, groin, and armpits), recurring ear infections, red or inflamed skin, hair loss from over-grooming or scratching, and gastrointestinal issues like vomiting or loose stool if the trigger is dietary.
In cats, you’ll often see excessive grooming or hair pulling, scabby or crusty skin (a condition called miliary dermatitis), sneezing and watery eyes, and in some cases, vomiting or diarrhea. Cats tend to be more subtle about discomfort than dogs, which means allergy symptoms can be progressing for weeks before they become obvious.
Both species can develop skin infections secondary to allergies, when a pet scratches and breaks the skin repeatedly, bacteria and yeast move in. This is one of the reasons that allergies that go unmanaged tend to get significantly worse over time.
Ontario-Specific Allergy Triggers Worth Knowing
Living in Ontario comes with specific environmental factors that affect allergy-prone pets more than owners often realize.
Ottawa has some of the highest pollen counts in Ontario during spring and early summer. If your dog comes back from a walk around the Rideau River or through Gatineau Park covered in grass pollen, and then spends the afternoon licking their paws, that’s the connection. Wiping your dog’s paws and belly after outdoor walks can make a meaningful difference during peak pollen season.
Hamilton’s humidity, particularly in summer near the escarpment and around Bayfront Park, creates ideal conditions for mould and dust mite proliferation indoors. Both are common allergens for cats and dogs, and both are nearly invisible. If your pet’s symptoms are worse in humid weather or worsen indoors, environmental allergens are worth investigating.
Mississauga pet owners who travel frequently through Pearson Airport often rely on different caregivers and boarding arrangements, which can expose pets to new detergents, cleaning products, and environmental conditions that trigger reactions. We’ve seen more than a few allergy flare-ups that traced back not to food or pollen, but to a different laundry detergent used on bedding at a boarding facility.
Nutritional Supplements That Can Help (And What They Actually Do)
Before reaching for prescription medications, many vets now recommend trying targeted nutritional supplements as a first-line approach for mild to moderate allergies. These don’t replace veterinary care, and they’re not a cure, but the right supplements can meaningfully reduce inflammation, support the immune system, and improve your pet’s comfort level.
Here’s what the evidence supports, and what we’ve seen work in practice.
Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids are the most well-researched supplements for pet allergies. They work as natural anti-inflammatories, reducing the immune system’s overreaction to allergens. Beyond allergy management, they also support healthy skin, a shinier coat, reduced shedding, and improved joint mobility, which makes them worth adding to most pets’ routines regardless of allergy status.
Probiotics and Prebiotics support gut health, which is more connected to immune function than most people realize. A significant portion of your pet’s immune system lives in their gut, and an imbalanced microbiome can make allergic responses more severe. Probiotics are particularly helpful for pets with food sensitivities, senior pets who struggle with absorption, and dogs or cats with recurring GI issues like colitis or pancreatitis.
Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, is a powerful natural anti-inflammatory with a growing body of research behind it. It supports a healthy immune system response, improves digestion, and can help reduce the chronic low-grade inflammation that underlies many allergy conditions. It’s one of the more versatile supplements available for pets.
Bovine Colostrum contains over 90 immune factors that directly address both food and seasonal allergies. What makes it particularly interesting is its dual action; it can stimulate underactive immune systems while simultaneously suppressing overactive immune systems, which is exactly what’s happening in allergic reactions. For pets with autoimmune components to their allergy issues, colostrum is worth discussing with your vet.
Goat Milk functions as a natural probiotic that improves digestion, supports liver function, and boosts immune response. It’s also highly digestible, which makes it a good option for pets who struggle with standard probiotic supplements.
Slippery Elm is primarily used for gastrointestinal symptoms; it soothes and coats the digestive tract, reducing vomiting and diarrhea associated with food allergies or sensitivities. It can also be used preventively during dietary transitions or when you know a trigger exposure has occurred.
Sea Kelp is rich in over 60 minerals, amino acids, and vitamins. For allergy-prone pets, its most relevant benefits are improved skin health, better digestion, and potential support for adrenal and thyroid function, both of which can influence immune response and inflammation levels.
Coconut Oil has antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties that make it useful for pets with skin-based allergy symptoms. It can be applied topically to irritated skin as well as added to food, and it supports overall immune function and digestive health.
One important note: always consult your veterinarian before starting any supplement regimen, particularly if your pet is already on medication. Some supplements interact with common allergy treatments, and dosing matters.
When Supplements Aren’t Enough: Medical Management Options
For moderate to severe allergies, supplements alone usually aren’t sufficient. Your vet may recommend one or more of the following approaches depending on your pet’s specific situation.
Allergy testing, either through blood tests or intradermal skin testing, can identify specific triggers and open the door to allergen-specific immunotherapy (allergy shots), which is one of the most effective long-term treatments available for environmental allergies in pets.
Prescription medications, including antihistamines, corticosteroids, and newer targeted options like Apoquel and Cytopoint for dogs, can provide significant relief, particularly during peak allergy seasons. Your vet will help you weigh the benefits and risks based on your pet’s health history.
Prescription diets using novel proteins or hydrolyzed ingredients are the gold standard for diagnosing and managing food allergies. These require strict adherence — even small amounts of the offending protein can trigger a reaction — but they’re highly effective when the allergy is dietary.
If you’re not sure whether your pet’s symptoms warrant a vet visit or want a professional opinion before committing to an appointment, a virtual veterinary consultation is often the fastest way to get guidance. A licensed vet can assess your pet’s symptoms remotely, recommend initial steps, and advise whether an in-clinic visit or allergy testing is the right next move.
How In-Home Care Helps Allergy-Prone Pets
One of the most consistent things we’ve observed over the years is that allergy-prone pets do better with routine and environmental consistency. Stress worsens immune function. New environments introduce new allergens. Changes in cleaning products, bedding, or food timing can all trigger flare-ups.
This is why boarding is particularly hard on allergic pets. Even a clean, well-run facility uses different products, has different smells, and exposes your pet to other animals and their dander all potential triggers for a pet whose immune system is already overreactive.
When your pet stays home with a consistent caregiver, their environment stays stable. Same bed, same food at the same time, same walk routes, same cleaning products. That consistency is genuinely protective for allergic animals.
Our medical care team is trained to administer medications and treatments as part of regular visits, whether that’s oral allergy medications, eye drops, ear drops, medicated shampoos, or topical treatments. If your pet has a complex allergy management routine and you travel frequently or work long hours, having a trained caregiver maintain that routine daily makes a real difference in outcomes.
We also document what we observe. If a caregiver notices increased scratching, a new skin lesion, or changes in coat quality during a visit, that gets noted in the e-diary and flagged to you immediately, often catching flare-ups before they become full-blown reactions.
Myths vs Facts About Pet Allergies
Myth: If my pet has allergies, I need to rehome them.
Fact: The vast majority of pet allergies are manageable with the right combination of environmental controls, supplements, and medical treatment. Rehoming is rarely necessary.
Myth: My pet can’t have environmental allergies if they’re mostly indoors.
Fact: Dust mites, mould spores, and human dander are all indoor allergens. Indoor pets can absolutely develop environmental allergies, sometimes more severe ones, because of concentrated indoor exposure.
Myth: Allergies only show up as skin problems.
Fact: Allergies can manifest as recurring ear infections, GI issues, respiratory symptoms, and behavioural changes like increased restlessness or irritability. Skin is the most obvious presentation, but it’s not the only one.
Myth: Once you find the trigger, the allergy goes away.
Fact: Identifying and avoiding a trigger helps enormously, but most pets with allergies remain sensitized and need ongoing management. The goal is long-term comfort, not a one-time fix.
FAQs: Pet Allergies, Supplements & In-Home Care
How do I know if my pet’s scratching is an allergy or something else?
Persistent scratching, licking, or chewing, particularly in specific locations like paws, ears, and belly, that continues for more than a week or two, is worth investigating as a potential allergy. Parasites, skin infections, and anxiety can look similar, which is why a vet assessment is important before assuming allergies are the cause.
Can I give my pet human allergy medication?
Some human antihistamines like Benadryl are used in pets, but dosing and safety vary significantly by species, size, and formulation. Never give your pet any medication without consulting your vet first. Some human allergy medications contain xylitol or other ingredients that are toxic to animals.
Should I do allergy testing for my pet?
If your pet has moderate to severe allergy symptoms that haven’t responded to basic management, allergy testing can be worth the investment. It gives you specific information about what to avoid and opens the door to immunotherapy, which is one of the most effective long-term solutions available.
Can a virtual vet help with my pet’s allergies?
Absolutely. A virtual veterinary consultation is an excellent starting point; you can describe your pet’s symptoms, share photos or videos of skin reactions, and get professional guidance on whether supplements, a dietary trial, or an in-clinic visit is the right next step.
How does in-home care help pets with allergies?
Consistency is one of the most important factors in managing allergic pets. Our medical care team can maintain your pet’s supplement and medication schedule, keep their environment stable while you’re away, and flag any changes in symptoms before they escalate. For pets with complex allergy management needs, daily professional attention makes a meaningful difference.
Is my pet’s allergy seasonal or year-round?
It depends on the trigger. Pollen allergies tend to flare in spring and summer, which is why some pets seem perfectly fine in winter and miserable by April. Dust mite and mould allergies tend to be year-round, often worsening in winter when homes are sealed up and less ventilated. Food allergies show no seasonal pattern at all. Tracking when symptoms appear and disappear is one of the most useful things you can do to help your vet identify the cause.
Can stress make my pet’s allergies worse?
Yes, and this is more significant than most owners realize. Stress directly suppresses immune regulation, which can make allergic responses more frequent and more severe. Dogs and cats who experience boarding stress, routine disruption, or separation anxiety often have allergy flare-ups that seem to come out of nowhere. Keeping their environment stable and their routine consistent is genuinely part of allergy management, not just comfort.
Final Thoughts
You’re not imagining it, and you’re not overreacting. Watching your pet scratch relentlessly, lose patches of fur, or deal with recurring ear infections is genuinely distressing, and it’s also genuinely manageable in most cases.
The key is starting with the right information, working with your vet to identify the most likely triggers, and building a consistent management routine that your pet can rely on. Supplements, environmental adjustments, medical treatment, and stable daily care all play a role.
We’ve been helping allergy-prone pets in Ottawa, Hamilton, and Mississauga stay comfortable for nearly 20 years. If you need someone to maintain your pet’s care routine while you’re away, administer medications, or simply keep a trained eye on their symptoms day to day, we’re here to help.
Your pet doesn’t have to be miserable. And you don’t have to figure this out alone.
