From the ArcaMax Publishing, Cats & Dogs Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/catsanddogs/s-61800-960767
BREA, Calif. (UPI) -- Pollutants and allergens are at their peak in
the spring and animals can experience allergy symptoms like humans,
says a U.S. company that insures pets.
Veterinary Pet Insurance, a health insurance provider for pets, says
conditions like otitis externa, an ear infection, and atopic
dermatitis, a skin rash due to inhaled allergens, are relatively
common in dogs. VPI based its report on an analysis of claims data
from 2005.
The top allergy-related claim for canines was for otitis externa,
which accounted for 14.2 percent of all claims submitted last year,
while Atopic Dermatitis accounted for 14.1 percent of claims.
Secondary pyoderma -- inflamed, infected skin -- accounted for 5.2
percent of all claims involving dogs.
Cats suffer from fewer allergy conditions, the company said.
Almost 5 percent of the claims for cats were for Atopic Dermatitis,
while 4.7 were for otitis externa and 2.4 percent involved bronchitis
or asthma.