Are Allergies More Common Today in Dogs?
Are Allergies More Common Today?
Within hours of hanging a tree stand together, my buddy, Jason, had an annoying irritation breakout on his skin. It was itchy, annoying, and painful. The culprit was poison oak, and Jason was clearly having an allergic breakout. Moments like this make you wonder—are allergies more common today than they used to be?
Even though Jason and I both touched and clung to the same tree as we hung the stand, I didn’t have any reaction to the poison oak. Luck? Maybe. At the time, I must have been in the small window of 10%-15% of people who don’t have an allergic reaction to poison oak. Studies suggest that even if I’m in that small group of people who aren’t affected, that can change over time. I’m going to do my best to try not to find out.
No one would argue that allergies are annoying and can be frustrating. They are puzzling too. They aren’t a one-size-fits-all. Some people seem to have no allergies, and others of us seem to be allergic to seemingly everything under the sun.
Understanding Canine Allergies
These realities are true for our gun dogs, too. Like humans, what affects one dog might not affect another—and it raises an important question for pet owners: are allergies more common today in dogs than they were in the past? Like us, our dog may encounter things in their environment, diet, or season that cause an allergic reaction.
Studies suggest that allergy cases in dogs have increased by 30% over the last decade. The two primary culprits are environmental exposure and diet. This stat might make us ask things like, “Why? Or “Are dogs getting weaker?”
In general, no, dogs are not getting weaker. Sure, there are people who aren’t ethically breeding, and there are people who aren’t researching the breed(s) they buy. Some breeds are simply more susceptible to allergies. These two factors can influence the increased cases. However, if we specifically focus on well-bred gun dogs in attentive homes, we’ll still find cases that are helping the stats increase.
So, What Do We Do?
The first step is to remember that diet matters. When you select or change dog food brands, do your research and listen to the “pros”. Diets that will have fewer issues are formed by companies that have multiple dietitians, scientists, and veterinarians on their team. They will also have choices for ages/stages and dietary/allergy-sensitive needs. They will likely cost a little more. As we all know, we typically get what we pay for.
Remember, our dogs are athletes that we train with, hunt with, and enjoy outdoor adventure with. They are running in fields and swimming through water that increases their exposure to pollen, mold, airborne molecules, and other allergens found in grasses and weeds. Studies suggest that the rise of allergic reactions from environmental exposure is a result of longer, more intense pollen seasons. Not to mention, the impacts of natural disasters like wildfires, droughts, and dust storms.
Besides diet there are several other options to help prevent or even treat symptoms of allergies. For instance, there are several different saves and creams that can be applied topically to stop the itching of rashes or irritants. There are also supplements, probiotics, and prebiotics that can support healthy gut flora and help fight environmental and dietary allergens.
Be Attentive
Allergic reactions in our dogs typically manifest in their skin via dryness/itching, irritation, or infections. These reactions are usually expressed in areas of your dog with sparser hair (paws, muzzle, groin, etc.) Other behaviors our dogs might start doing that should cause us to investigate an allergic reaction are excessive licking or chewing on their paws and/or scratching their ears. Ear build-up and ear infections are typically a result of an allergic reaction.
If you’re seeing potential signs of an allergic reaction, consult your veterinarian. If they deem necessary, they can conduct a skin and/or blood allergy test. When dealing with a potential food allergy, don’t automatically assume that a picky dog is allergic. They simply might not like or have stopped liking their diet. There’s no clear test to identify a food allergy. The best way to identify an allergy is to put your dog on a strict diet, eliminating elements over a course of time.
Here’s my final two cents on this topic. I think the fact that more of us allow our gun dogs to live in the house and more and more of us are increasing the time we train, test, and hunt with our dogs is increasing the amount of time we spend with them. Which, in turn, is increasing our awareness of issues they are dealing with, like allergies. I’m not suggesting that environmental and food allergies haven’t increased, but I don’t think we can underestimate the role of our increased time we’re spending with our dogs, which is increasing our awareness of their well-being. While it’s still debated whether allergies are more common today is due to environmental changes or increased awareness, one thing is clear—dog owners are paying closer attention than ever.
June 2026
By Kyle Dana
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