End of May Check-In: Is It Just Pollen or Is My Dog Actually Melting?
May has come and gone and with it, the sneezes, itches, watery eyes and suspiciously red tummies of countless pets around the world. If you’ve spent this spring wondering why your dog suddenly became a carpet-licking contortionist or why your guinea pig sounds like it’s snoring during the day, you’re not alone.
Welcome to The Vet Vortex's End of May Analysis - our deep dive into seasonal allergy trends using real-world data from Google Trends (2015 - 2025), split between global and Nigerian pet parents.
Let’s dive in. And yes - bring antihistamines.
A founder’s confessional (because stories help)
If you’ve been reading The Vet Vortex long enough, you know I have a soft spot for Bella - a plucky beagle who once turned our living room into a 48-hour paw-licking festival. I assumed fleas. Bella assumed bedtime was negotiable. After a frantic Google dive (and a sigh from my vet friend), we discovered a seasonal flare - skin irritation that ramped up every April when the neighborhood’s flowering hedge went wild. Two antihistamine trials, a short steroid taper when things got dramatic and environmental tweaks later, Bella was back to selective snoring and refusing my snacks. That little mess of paw-licking got me wondering: are other pet parents noticing the same April-May spikes? Turns out the internet has opinions and data.
Bella’s case wasn’t unique and I wanted to see if the data could back that up. So, I pulled 10 years of Google Trends data. But first what are we talking about.
What is a pet allergy?
An allergy is your pet’s immune system reacting to something harmless - pollen, dust, mold, insect saliva etc. as if it were a movie villain. That reaction causes inflammation in skin, eyes or airways.
Common allergic presentations:
- Skin: intense itching, redness, hair loss, hotspots, paw licking (pododermatitis).
- Eyes: redness, watering, squinting.
- Respiratory: sneezing, coughing, noisy breathing (less common in pets than in people).
- General: repeated ear infections, seasonal flares.
Important nuance: allergies are immune overreactions, not infections. They don’t spread between pets as a contagious disease but they can be chronic and severely reduce quality of life.
How allergies happen
- Exposure: Pet inhales or contacts an allergen (pollen settling on fur, house dust mites in bedding or flea bites).
- Sensitization: The immune system ‘learns’ to recognize that substance as a threat. Next time it sees it, alarm bells ring.
- Reaction: Immune cells release histamine and other chemicals → redness, swelling, itching.
- Cycle: Repeated exposures lead to chronic inflammation and secondary problems (skin infections, ear disease).
Think of it like a smoke alarm so jumpy it goes off when you toast bread.
Why We Dug Into 10 Years of Pet Allergy Data
For a whole decade, the internet has been quietly tattling on pet parents - every Google search about itchy paws, runny noses and suspicious sneezing was a breadcrumb. We followed the trail not because we’re nosey (okay, maybe a little) but because springtime allergies in pets can be just as dramatic as humans’ - minus the tiny box of tissues.
One bad pollen season or a viral TikTok can make a single year look like a big trend when it’s really just a blip. That’s why we zoomed out over 10 years - to see which patterns show up every spring, which are fading and which are genuinely growing. It also lets us catch rare spikes, track shifting peak months, and see whether Nigeria’s allergy patterns match Global ones or tell a different story. More years mean fewer wild guesses.
This analysis isn’t a “panic now” alarm, but rather a friendly nudge to be prepared. Trends don’t tell us which exact day your dog will start chewing his feet like a corn cob but they do show when the allergy season usually revs up, what symptoms get the most attention and how global patterns compare to our local ones.
We crunched the numbers by:
- Keyword Generation and Grouping: Generated 100 springtime pet allergy-related keywords, grouped into 10 categories.
- Data Collection: Collected search interest trends from 2015 - 2025 using the gtrend() function in R Studio, for both global and Nigerian data.
- Data Preprocessing:
- Top Hits: Filtered by highest interest scores to identify the most searched seasonal allergy terms.
- Bottom Hits: Included keywords with low or zero searches to highlight underrecognized pet allergy concerns.
- Spring Focus Analysis: Extracted search interest for March, April and May each year to identify springtime allergy spikes, noting the peak month for each species and keyword group.
- Trend Comparison: Compared patterns between global and Nigerian datasets to highlight similarities and differences.
- Trend Visualization: Created visualizations (Tableau) and tables (Rmd) grouped categories to reveal interest trends.
How Should You Interpret These Findings?
Decoding the Results
1. Top Allergy by Keywords (Global & Nigeria)
(When the World Looks for Cures, Nigeria Looks for Clues)
| What’s Popping Up in Search Bars | Global Trends | Nigeria Trends |
|---|---|---|
| Top Keyword | Cat antihistamines - straight to the cure. | Immunotherapy for pet allergies - rare, but there. |
| Search Style | Treatment-first: “I know it’s allergies - fix it.” | Symptom-first: “Why is my pet scratching?” |
| Species Spotlight | Cats steal the limelight. | Rabbits, guinea pigs, birds share the stage. |
| Keyword Gaps | 40+ trending allergy terms. | Crickets. (Zero hits.) |
| Unique Searches | “Pollen allergies in dogs,” “allergy shots for cats.” | “Itchy cat skin spring,” “rabbit respiratory issues spring.” |
| Mindset | Solution-seeking, diagnosis already guessed. | Problem-spotting, cause still a mystery. |
| Best Awareness Hook | Give them treatment guides, charts, dosage safety. | Start with “spot the signs,” then explain causes & fixes. |
2. Top Rising Keywords between 2015 and 2025
(Global Surge vs. Nigerian Standstill)
| Theme | Global Trends | Nigeria Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Top Keyword | Cat antihistamines - up +231%, reigning supreme in pet allergy searches. | Cat seasonal allergy symptoms - the only riser (+40%). |
| Trend Energy | Clear growth in treatment-focused terms: antihistamines, immunotherapy, season-specific queries. | Flat or falling across 99% of keywords - even global risers barely register. |
| Search Style | Diagnosis assumed → Search for the fix. Example: “pollen allergies in dogs.” | Symptom-first, informal phrasing. Example: “itchy cat skin spring.” |
| Species Spotlight | Cats and dogs dominate; seasonal focus is strong. | More diversity - rabbits, guinea pigs, birds pop up. |
| Keyword Gaps | Growing use of medical/scientific language. | Technical terms rarely used; searches skew towards everyday language. |
| Decliners | Rabbit & guinea pig allergy terms drop to zero; possible phrasing shift. | Some exotic pet terms present but falling - “exotic pet allergy spring” down 100%. |
| Awareness Hook | Publish proactive treatment guides & explain medical options. | Lead with “spot the signs” symptom explainers → then link to diagnosis and treatment. |
The Takeaway
Between 2015 and 2025, the global allergy conversation got smarter and more treatment-driven, pet owners now talk in the same language their vets do. In Nigeria, the conversation isn’t moving at the same pace: people still search in plain, practical terms, often symptom-led and sometimes in ways Google Trends’ keyword set misses entirely.
Translation?
- Globally: The audience is ready for advanced allergy content - treatment guides, seasonal prep checklists and deep dives into antihistamines and immunotherapy.
- Nigeria: Start simple, start visual. Teach what to look for (scratching, red eyes, breathing changes), then build towards the “why” and “how to fix it.”
3. Top Allergy by Allergy Category
(Spring Pet Allergy Search Face-Off)
| Category | Global Trends | Nigeria Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Cat-Specific Allergies | 1st place. Cats dominate global searches - people show strong concern and actively seek solutions. | 4th place. Possibly due to lower cat ownership, underreporting, lack of awareness, or cultural perceptions. |
| Dog-Specific Allergies | 2nd place. Strong runner-up, likely linked to increased dog ownership and common awareness. | 6th place. Despite cultural commonness; possibly due to symptom misattribution, limited awareness or under-diagnosis. |
| Veterinary & Clinical Terms | 3rd place. Moderate interest, mostly general pet owners or pros. | 3rd place as well. Relatively high interest in clinical/diagnostic terms; indicates more informed pet owners or professionals searching. |
| Data & Analysis Terms | 4th place, often driven by vet students and bloggers. | 5th place. Hinting at a rising culture of research-driven pet care among owners and professionals.. |
| Environmental & Seasonal Triggers | 5th place. Increasing global interest linking environmental factors (pollen, dust, humidity) to pet allergies. | 7th place. Still under-recognised as a cause; searches skew more toward pet species than environmental causes. |
| Rabbit-Specific Allergies | 6th place. Niche but present. | 2nd place. Potential overlap with rabbit use in farming, research or as food animals - so owners notice sneezing bunnies. |
| Guinea Pig-Specific Allergies | 7th place. Tiny but loyal fanbase. | 8th place. May indicate rising exotic pet ownership, Underlying curiosity rather than widespread concern or overlap with farming/research uses. |
| Global & Seasonal Allergy Trends | 8th place. Seasonal spikes mirror news coverage. | 1st place. Nigerian users show similar seasonal awareness and responsiveness to allergy trends and campaigns. |
| Bird-Specific Allergies | 9th place. Mostly parrot/backyard flock queries or Public health concern around zoonotic issues. | Also 9th place. Possibly due to exposure to poultry/parrots, zoonotic concerns or farming overlap. |
| Rodent-Specific Allergies | 10th place. Very niche in global data. | 3rd place. Often overlaps with pest control, research purposes and zoonotic worries (hello, Lassa fever). |
What the Split Says
- Global pet parents tend to search for treatments because they already recognize allergies and want solutions.
- Nigerian pet parents often search using symptoms, species or context (including both pets and livestock), suggesting that many may not yet be sure if they’re dealing with allergies, other illnesses or a mix of animal care and public health concerns.
- The shared hot spots - like rabbits and seasonal spikes - are prime real estate for content that works in both markets.
4. Monthly Trend for each year (2015 - 2025)
(Spring’s Pollen vs. Harmattan’s Dust)
| Season and Trend | Global Trends | Nigeria Trend | The Vet Vortex Take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring(Global champion… Nigeria barely RSVPs) | Spring reigns supreme - top in 8 of 11 years, peaking in 2024. This is pollen’s prime time. | Zero or near-zero hits in 8 of 11 years. Biggest blip? 2019 and even that was more of a sneeze than a surge. | Nigeria might be missing the memo on “spring allergies”. Think underdiagnosis, low pet allergy testing and limited online health searches. |
| Summer(Global stays hot, Nigeria finally warms up) | Steady high numbers from 2018; clear climb from 2021-2024. | Finally catches the wave in 2024 after a decade of digital crickets. | Rising pet ownership, climate shifts or better health awareness could be turning the tide for Nigerian summers. |
| Autumn(Leaves fall, interest falls faster) | Fluctuates but stays low compared to Spring/Summer. | Flatline until 2021, then barely moves. | Autumn allergens (like mold or weed pollen) just don’t spark the same fuss in Nigeria - likely climate and vegetation differences. |
| Winter / Harmattan(Nigeria flips the script) | Moderate numbers, overshadowed by Spring and Summer. | 2016 and 2017 - Nigeria actually beats global interest. Harmattan’s dry, dusty air; stirs skin, eye and respiratory woes. | The only season where Nigeria leads - proof that local climate (dust, dryness) creates its own “allergy season” that global data often overlooks. |
| Yearly Trend | 2024 was a global allergy blockbuster - every season scored high. | 2019 and 2024 = rare all-season spikes; most other years patchy or absent. | Nigeria’s spikes likely tied to media buzz, health campaigns, zoonosis concerns, not ongoing awareness. |
| 2025 Outlook | Spring interest holding strong. | Spring interest dips again - possibly sliding backwards. | Without sustained awareness, Nigeria risks staying stuck in sporadic allergy recognition mode. |
5. Spring Months trend (March, April, May) Yearly
(When Global Pets Sneeze Big and Nigerian Pets Keep Calm)
.png "Seasonal Allergy Trends and Peak Spring Months – Global and Nigeria (2015–2025)")
| Trend | Global Trends | Nigeria Trend | The Vet Vortex Take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Spring Allergy Awareness | Interest has bloomed steadily since 2016. By March 2024, searches were more than 2.5× higher than March 2020. | Mostly quiet - over two-thirds (2/3) of spring months in the last decade had zero searches. | Globally, everyone’s talking about pet pollen season. In Nigeria, it’s more “What pollen season?” |
| Peak Allergy Month | April is the undisputed champion every year - a true pollen party. | When Nigeria does show interest, it’s also April (2019, 2022, 2024)… but not every year. | Both agree April is sneeze season but Nigeria treats it like an occasional holiday. |
| Seasonal Consistency | Like clockwork - March to May bring predictable spikes. | No clear seasonal rhythm; interest pops up randomly. | Globally, allergy searches are a yearly ritual. In Nigeria, they’re more like surprise guest appearances. |
| The Awareness Gap | Post-2022, global interest skyrocketed, especially in May. | Nigeria stayed flat, widening the gap. | Imagine a race where one runner keeps sprinting while the other stops to smell the flowers. |
| Post-Pandemic Shift | Pet parents became more allergy-aware - more pets indoors, more sniffles noticed, more searches made. | Only small, short-lived bumps. | COVID made global pet owners hyper-aware of health symptoms. In Nigeria, the needle barely moved. |
6. Peak Spring Month Yearly (March, April, May)
(Who Wears the Pollen Crown?)
| Seasonal Spotlight | Global Springtime Allergy Trends (2016-2025) | Nigeria Springtime Allergy Trends (2016-2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Peak Month Champions | March ruled 5 years (2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2024) and May stole the show in another 4 (2018, 2020, 2022, 2025). April only had one crown (2023). | March led 4 times but with zero hits - a silent sneeze season. April became the “itchy month” in 2022-2025, while May had a lone win back in 2017. |
| Biggest Spike | 2024 March - the global allergy charts went wild. | 2019 April - a lone, random spike before April’s 2022 - 2024 rise. |
| Lowest Lull | March 2017 - interest barely tickled the radar. | Several years of flat zeroes (especially March), making allergy searches practically invisible. |
| Pattern Vibe | Bimodal: early bloomers (March) and late bloomers (May) share the sneeze spotlight, hinting at pollen cycles across hemispheres. | Unpredictable: long quiet spells broken by sudden April surges, likely linked to news, weather shifts or local events. |
| Vet Vortex Take | The world knows its allergy seasons and searches like it’s ready for the sniffle battle. | Nigeria’s pattern is more “allergy roulette,” pointing to the need for more pet allergy awareness before the next sneeze wave hits. |
7. Year-on-Year Spring Comparison (2015–2025)
(Global Peaks, Nigerian Gaps)
| Aspect | Global Trends | Nigeria Trends |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Growth | Clear upward climb: +260% over 10 years | Slow crawl with big blanks: mostly zero activity |
| Spike Moments | Notable jumps post - 2019, especially 2022 and 2024 | Random blips in 2019, 2022 and 2024; sharp drop-offs otherwise |
| Month-by-Month | May reigns supreme; March is moody and unpredictable | April steals the show occasionally; March & May mostly quiet |
| Consistency | Gradual buildup every spring, peaking reliably in May | Highly inconsistent; long stretches of “nada” |
| Comparative Insight | Global allergy curiosity keeps climbing | Nigeria’s interest <6% of global volume in 2025; awareness isn’t sticking |
| Takeaway | Global pet parents are on alert and Googling everything | Nigerian pet parents either snoozing or unaware - time for awareness campaigns! |
8. Trendline Forecasting (Spring 2026)
a. Forecast by Keyword
(When the Whole World Sniffs, Nigeria Watches)
| Insight Area | Global Trends | Nigeria Trend | The Vet Vortex Take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top Animal Focus | Cats and dogs dominate searches, especially terms like “pollen allergies,” “antihistamines,” “watery eyes.” | Mostly cats; dogs appear occasionally. Growing interest in advanced treatments like immunotherapy. | Globally, everyone is worried about their furry friends’ seasonal sniffles. In Nigeria, curiosity is smaller but slowly rising. |
| Seasonal Patterns | Spring is peak search season | Seasonal search patterns are weak or inconsistent. | Global searches follow the calendar; Nigerian searches are more sporadic. |
| Keyword Forecast | Over 70% of keywords remain stable or show growth for 2026. | Most keywords flatline or drop to zero; a few niche spikes in cat seasonal symptoms. | Global interest is steady and predictable; Nigerian interest is emerging in very specific areas. |
| Declining or Zero Keywords | Terms like “cat sneezing springtime,” “dog paw licking allergies,” “rabbit red eyes,” “guinea pig seasonal allergy” show zero or negative forecasts. | Same zeroed keywords; rodent-related searches rarely appear. | Many searches are fading; rodent allergies may be an untapped awareness opportunity. |
| Emerging Opportunities | Focus on seasonal treatment tips, antihistamines and pollen management. | Immunotherapy and localized seasonal symptoms are gaining attention. | Global: preventive care is hot. Nigeria: education and niche treatment awareness could grow. |
b. Forecast by Category
(Allergy Trends Across the Globe and Home)
| Category | Global Trends | Nigeria Trends | The Vet Vortex Take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat-specific | 🌟 Very High | 🟡 Emerging | Cats dominate the global allergy charts. In Nigeria, awareness is growing, but there’s still a gap. |
| Dog-specific | 🔼 High | ❌ Absent | Dog allergies are a major global concern but almost invisible to Nigerian searches. |
| Rabbit-specific | 🔼 Growing | 🟡 Modest | Bunny buzz is rising worldwide; in Nigeria, rabbits are the only minor species gaining noticeable attention. |
| Guinea pig / Bird-specific | 🔼 Rising | ❌ Absent | These niche pets are trending globally, yet Nigerian interest is minimal. |
| Clinical/Veterinary terms | 🟢 Stable | 🟢 Stable | People everywhere are getting smarter: medical terms like “dermatitis” or “allergy shots” are steadily searched. |
| Environmental triggers | 🔻 Flat | ❌ Absent | Pollen, dust, mold - globally minor; in Nigeria, barely on the radar. |
| Research/Educational content | 🔼 High | ❌ Absent | Globally, pet parents, students and vets are hungry for allergy insights. In Nigeria, interest hasn’t picked up yet. |
| Rodent-specific | ❌ N/A | ❌ N/A | Forecast says “meh” for 2026 - probably just a model glitch. |
The Vet Vortex Verdict:
The gap isn’t about caring less - it’s about knowing less, searching less and sometimes not having the vocabulary (or testing access) to name what’s happening. While global pet parents are prepping pollen survival kits, Nigerian awareness is seasonal at best and sporadic at worst. But here’s the good news: those shared spikes - rabbits, Harmattan dust, April flares - are golden opportunities to bridge the gap with practical, symptom-led education that builds up to science and solutions.
So, whether you’re Googling “antihistamines for cats” or “why is my dog licking her paws like a madwoman,” the moral of the story is this: allergies don’t wait for awareness to catch up. If your pet is itchy, sneezy or mysteriously spotty, don’t play allergy roulette - spot it, name it, treat it and maybe… keep the vacuum handy.
What Can Pet Parents Do?
- Spot the signs early - If your pet is suddenly scratching, licking, sneezing or has watery eyes, don’t chalk it up to “just the season” and move on.
- Track patterns - Note when and where symptoms flare: during walks near certain plants, after grooming or when Harmattan dust rolls in. A symptom diary (even in your phone’s Notes app) can be gold for your vet.
- Reduce exposure - Keep windows closed during high pollen days, wash bedding weekly in hot water, wipe paws and fur after outdoor trips and vacuum regularly (yes, even the sofa).
- Check their diet - Food allergies can mimic seasonal ones. If symptoms persist year-round, the culprit might be in the bowl, not the breeze.
- Don’t self-medicate blindly - Human antihistamines, while sometimes used, need species-specific dosing. Your “just one tablet” could be a dangerous overdose for your pet.
- Know your environment - Harmattan dust, mold in rainy season and even new cleaning products can trigger flares.
What Can the Vet Do?
- Pin down the cause - Through history, physical exam and sometimes skin or blood allergy testing, your vet can narrow the trigger list.
- Rule out imposters - Skin mites, fungal infections, flea allergy dermatitis and bacterial infections can look suspiciously similar to seasonal allergies.
- Prescribe targeted relief -
- Antihistamines (e.g., cetirizine, loratadine)
- Corticosteroids for short-term flare control
- Cyclosporine or oclacitinib for chronic cases
- Antibiotics/antifungals for secondary infections
- Offer advanced therapies - Immunotherapy (allergy shots or oral drops) tailored to your pet’s specific triggers can reduce dependency on drugs.
- Guide environmental management - From air purifiers to hypoallergenic shampoos, your vet can help you build an allergy-friendly home setup.
- Pollen Patrol - Walk pets early in the morning or late evening when pollen counts are lower.
- Harmattan Shielding - Use light, breathable cloth covers for cages or kennels to cut dust exposure.
- Indoor Air Quality - HEPA filters and regular AC maintenance keep allergens down indoors.
- Regular Grooming - Bathing with vet-recommended hypo-allergenic shampoo removes allergens from fur and skin.
- Flea Control - Because flea saliva allergy can make everything itchier, year-round parasite prevention is non-negotiable.
- Mild, seasonal cases - Excellent with good management; pets live normal, comfortable lives.
- Chronic or severe cases - Manageable but require consistent care, environmental control and possibly lifelong medication.
- Untreated allergies - Can spiral into chronic skin infections, ear disease or respiratory distress.
- Secondary infections (e.g., ringworm, certain bacterial infections) caused by scratching can spread between animals and humans.
- Shared allergens - Dust, mold or pollen can trigger human allergies alongside your pet’s. If both you and your pet start sneezing when Harmattan hits, you’ve got a shared environmental problem.
- Underlying causes - In rare cases, what looks like an allergy could be a sign of a parasitic or fungal disease that is zoonotic. Another reason not to assume and to get a vet diagnosis.
- Global pet parents: Allergy detectives → want treatments, charts, guides.
- Nigerian pet parents: Spot symptoms → need “what it is” before “how to fix it.”
- Shared hot spots: Rabbits, April flares, Harmattan dust.
- Best next step: Globally, serve advanced treatment content; in Nigeria, start with symptom-spotting and plain-language awareness campaigns.
Prevention
Prognosis
Zoonotic Implications
Here’s the twist: seasonal allergies themselves aren’t contagious to humans, but:
In Brief
This 10-year Google Trends analysis of global and Nigerian pet allergy searches shows a clear divide: globally, pet parents are in full “find the cure” mode, searching for treatments and using vet-level terms; in Nigeria, searches are rarer, symptom-led and often in plain language. Seasonal awareness is clockwork globally but sporadic locally, with April as the only consistent shared spike. Globally, cats and dogs dominate; in Nigeria, rabbits surprisingly take the silver medal. The gap is as much about awareness and vocabulary as it is about pet care access.
TL;DR
Call to Action
Don’t wait for your pet to scratch a bald patch before you take allergies seriously. Start tracking symptoms now, learn your region’s triggers and talk to your vet before the next sneeze season rolls around. Share this guide with other pet parents - especially the ones who think “it’s just the weather” because comfort starts with awareness.
Stay safe. Stay curious. Stay vortexy.
Check out previous post: Spotlight on Pododermatitis - When Paws Go from Cute to Concerning
