Cats have a biological instinct to hide illness, it's a survival mechanism that served them well in the wild, where showing weakness attracted predators. In a domestic setting, that same instinct means health problems can go undetected for a long time, often until they're serious.

Allergies in pets are significantly underdiagnosed. The signs are often subtle, chronic, and easily attributed to other causes, a dog who scratches a lot, a cat who grooms excessively, recurring ear infections that seem to clear up and come back.

If your pet has any of these patterns, allergies are worth understanding. Here's a practical guide to what to look for and how to get the right help.