The frequency of allergic diseases in pets continues to be an important health problem. Genetic mechanisms and their interaction with environmental factors play an important role in the development of allergies in pets and is now a hot research subject.
There are the two major allergy tests recommended by veterinarians: the Skin prick test (SPT) and a test for allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody detection in the blood serum. Despite advanced medical technologies, DNA tests for allergy diagnostics that are offered by several companies online are not included in veterinarian recommendations. Why don't specialists ever recommend these tests for allergic pets? Because they do not reflect the patient’s real clinical conditions. Several DNA-based allergy tests that are on the online market such as hair, saliva, or tissue analysis are unproven. Because of a lack of reliable markers, these methods have not been scientifically validated and can lead to misdiagnosis and unsuccessful treatment. DNA testing can now only predict allergy development but does not serve as a diagnostic tool. Therefore, a home allergy DNA test is not best for your pet and is never recommended by veterinarians.
Currently, aside from SPT, testing for IgE antibodies is the cornerstone for diagnostics in suspected allergic conditions.
