Why Diagnose Allergies

When an animal itches, scratches, or chews its paws, it may be allergy.
Allergies are a common cause of chronic problems affecting the skin, ears, or respiratory system.
Without accurate diagnostics, symptoms are often merely “masked” by medication, while the cause remains unresolved.
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What Happens in an Allergic Animal’s Body?

An allergy is a hypersensitive reaction of the immune system to everyday environmental substances — such as pollen, dust mites, molds, or food components.
The animal’s body produces IgE antibodies against them, which trigger an inflammatory response: itching, redness, hair loss, swelling, or digestive issues.

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Typical Allergy Symptoms

• frequent scratching, licking of paws or mouth
• red, scaly skin or rash
• recurrent ear infections
• seasonal worsening (e.g., in spring or summer)
• cough, shortness of breath, watery eyes
• in horses: itching of mane and tail, skin lesions, hives, summer eczema

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Why Anti-Itch Medication Alone Isn’t Enough

Corticosteroids or antihistamines can temporarily relieve symptoms, but they don’t address the underlying cause.

Accurate allergy diagnostics allow you to:

• identify specific allergens (e.g., a particular dust mite or pollen),
• set up targeted treatment (immunotherapy),
• improve the animal’s quality of life without long-term medication use.

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Find Out What Your Pet Is Allergic To — Start with Diagnostics

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Our Diagnostic Methods

Modern laboratory tests that look for the real cause of allergy.
We use serological blood tests to determine the presence of IgE antibodies against individual allergens.
For diagnostics we use the most advanced technology in veterinary allergology: PAX® – Pet Allergy Xplorer by Nextmune — the first comprehensive molecular test for dogs, cats, and horses.
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What Methods Exist

Skin (Intradermal) Tests

A small amount of allergen is applied into the skin and the reaction (redness, swelling) is observed.
Only a limited number of allergens are tested, usually major groups (dust mites, pollen, molds).
Advantages: direct immune response, rapid result.
Disadvantages: requires sedation or anesthesia; results can be affected by ongoing medications; not suitable for all animals.
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Serological Tests (Blood Tests)

Performed from blood collected by a veterinarian; the lab measures levels of IgE antibodies against different allergen mixes.
Advantages: relatively painless, safe, suitable for all animals; sampling can be done anytime; tests are often performed directly at vet clinics.
Disadvantages: tests focus on mixes of allergens (e.g., “grasses” in general), so the exact source is not always identifiable.
Cross-reactions may occur — for example, between different pollen or mite species.

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Molecular Test PAX® – Pet Allergy Xplorer

The most advanced allergology method available for dogs, cats, and horses.

Combines testing of classical extracts and specific molecules (recombinant proteins) of individual allergens.
From a single serum sample it can evaluate 200+ allergens — pollens, molds, mites, epithelia, and insect components.

Advantages:

• highest accuracy and reliability of results,
• differentiation of true allergy vs cross-reactivity,
• automatic CCD blocking, eliminating false positives,
• results directly usable for targeted immunotherapy (ASIT).

Disadvantages: laboratory-based test (not performed directly at the clinic). The sample must be sent to the lab, but results are relatively quick — usually within two weeks.

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How the Test Works — In Simple Terms

The veterinarian collects a blood sample.
Serum containing antibodies is separated.
The sample is sent to the laboratory.
Serum is tested on a macroarray card with 200+ allergens.
The lab evaluates which allergens the IgE antibodies bind to.
The result lists the specific allergies and a recommendation for immunotherapy.

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CCD Blocking — A Guarantee of Accuracy

Some animal sera contain CCD antibodies (cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants) that may cause false-positive results.
The PAX® test solves this automatically — it uses a CCD blocker and control testing, ensuring reliable results even in highly reactive animals.

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Results You Can Rely On

• clearly identified allergens with quantitative IgE values
• graphic display by reaction intensity
• interpretation and recommendations provided directly for the veterinarian
• proposal of suitable ASIT immunotherapy

👉 Find out how the testing process works step by step