Allergies and Immune Support

• Posted on 11 October 2026
• By Emily Stanke
• Posted in allergies, anti-inflammatory, immune system, pet allergies, supplements

A discussion of how to best help your itchy critter!

Allergies and Immune Support

One of the most common conversations we have in the store is how to manage allergies in our pets. It’s an epidemic right now, really. There are a lot of theories floating around on why more and more pets are developing environmental or dietary allergies, but there hasn’t yet been a consensus. In the end, it’s happening and we all are looking for ways to support our pets through it. 

Probiotics

One commonly overlooked supplement when it comes to allergies is probiotics! This powerhouse supplement can be used preventatively or to help reduce dietary and environmental allergy symptoms. Some people even find success in reducing environmental allergies by starting probiotics the month before seasonal triggers emerge (February for pollen and June for ragweed) to boost the gut’s hardiness. 

There is LOTS of research to support using probiotics to treat allergies - too much to fully list, but here are a few! One human study found that probiotics reduced both symptomatic reactions to seasonal allergies, but also chemical markers in the body that signal an allergic response! (source) Another study found that a supplement featuring both pre and probiotics reduced symptoms for those with allergic rhinitis (also called hay fever) and also showed a positive effect on chemical immune responses. (source)This canine study, although small in sample size, showed a decrease in atopic dermatitis (itchy, dry, red skin), pruritus (itchiness) and immuno chemical reactions in dogs after a 60 day trial of probiotics! (source)

Our favourite, here at Critter Jungle, is Love Bugs by Adored Beast Apothecary (shop love bugs here! ). It is a 14 strain pre and probiotic supplement with 30 billion CFU. Because it’s so potent, you only need a little bit! Check it out:

A little bottle of Love Bugs should get you through most of the environmental allergy season - thankfully! 

Omega-3s

Another great addition to your allergy toolkit is a high quality Omega supplement.

Omegas are touted as being anti-inflammatory, beneficial to skin and coat health (source), and immuno supportive during allergy flare ups. One study even found it reduced the need for medication in treating canine atopic dermatitis (itchy, dry, red skin). (source) Another, separate study found the exact same thing! (source) Omega Fatty Acids are called an essential fatty acid, which means the body cannot produce them on its own so they need to be included in the diet or supplementation. This is why it’s so important to both feed a high quality food with balanced Omega content and even consider an extra supplement when the body is in need of a boost!

We at Critter Jungle love Grizzly’s oil supplements. They’re a balanced ratio of 3-6-9 essential fatty acids and even offer a krill oil for those pets with fish allergies! Their pump style bottle makes it super easy to administer, as well. 

Immuno Support

We’ve mentioned it a few times, but properly supporting the immune system is so important in managing allergy symptoms. Allergies, dietary or environmental, are the immune system’s response to a trigger. Sometimes it’s over active and reacting to something that it has deemed a threat, even though it’s relatively harmless. Sometimes it’s under active and can’t properly manage exposures to actual triggers. Both of these reactions play a role in your pet’s allergy symptoms. That’s why it’s important to use products that are immuno modulating. Immuno modulating products will boost the immune system when it’s under active and calm it when it’s over active. Probiotics and Omega’s - which we’ve already discussed - do that! But we have a couple more products for you to consider: 

CBD Oil (which we already wrote a full blog post about: https://www.critterjungle.com/blogs/ingredients-whats-really-in-your-pets-food/cbd-for-pets/) has long since been known to have immuno modulating effects. (source) It’s also well researched to reduce inflammation and pain, which is super helpful for pets with irritating and painful allergy symptoms. 

We LOVE Hemp4Tails here at Critter Jungle, since they have dose options for every size dog, a specific cat line and can even be used for small animals and birds! 

Another top contender when it comes to immuno modulation is a mushroom supplement. They have so much science to back their effect on the immune system (including a super cool review on their use in cancer treatment and support [source]), showing that immuno modulation is their thing. They are also super anti-inflammatory, which is a bonus! (source) Critter Jungle absolutely loves Blends for Life’s Mushroom Fourmix and Boost4Tails’ 7 Shroom Blend. Many of our staff have these supplements in their pets’ regular diet!

So which of these products should you actually pick?

We know we just threw a ton of information and options at you, so which do you start with? The simple answer is: whichever will be easiest for you to give consistently and will actually be eaten by your pet. If an oil is easier for you to mix into their food, try Omegas or CBD Oil. If your pet isn’t picky and you find a scoop of powder easier, go for probiotics or the shrooms! 

We tend to recommend probiotics first since the gut is the first defense when it comes to health and allergies, but always think a varied toolkit is most beneficial for combating a bad allergy reaction. Having something super anti-inflammatory like the mushrooms, Omegas or CBD Oil in your back pocket would be great when allergies kick into overdrive. 

It’s worth mentioning that dietary allergies are pretty complicated and might require further investigation to figure out what the triggers are. Yes, these supplements will support your pet’s body, but if it’s being constantly exposed to the allergen, the symptoms will continue. Feel free to stop by the shops to chat with us more about allergies if your pet is struggling with them!