Many people know of cases of pet allergies: people being allergic to pets. That's the reason why there are now hypoallergenic dogs being bred, for example. What is less known is the other context of the phrase "pet allergy": that wherein it is the pet which suffers from allergic reactions. In a previous entry, I mentioned about how your dog or cat may have food allergies. But did you know that your pets may have hay fever, too?

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.

According to insurance claims, here are the most common allergies dogs suffer from:

• Otitis externa, 14.2%
• Atopic Dermatitis, 14.1%
• Secondary pyroderma, 5.2%

Cats, although they suffer fewer allergies, also get asthma in addition to otitis externa and atopic dermatitis.

What I'm curious to know, however, but which the report did not mention, is whether there are medications specifically for our canine and feline friends. Oh well, at any rate, they say it is never a good practice to share medications, anyway.