How allergies affect your pet

IF YOUR dog can't stop chewing at their paws or your cat spends hours grooming the same spot, it might not just be a bad habit it could be an allergy.

- SARENE KLOREN

And while pollen and fleas often take the blame, what's in your pet's food bowl might be the real culprit.

Allergies in cats and dogs are becoming increasingly common, and understanding what's behind the itch is the first step to soothing it.

"Allergies in pets are far more common than many people think," says Dr Guy Fyvie, the Senior Veterinary Affairs Manager at Hill's Pet Nutrition.

"They can be caused by food, fleas, or environmental factors like pollen or dust, and they're one of the leading reasons pet parents visit their vet." Globally, around one in five dogs and one in ten cats suffer from allergic skin conditions during their lifetime often resulting in endless scratching, licking, and discomfort.