Seasonal Allergy Incidence

A Global Data Driven Look at Springtime Pet Reactions

Dr. Irtwange N.B

2025-08-06

Introduction
Business task
Methodology
Limitations
Analysis
Key insights summary
Conclusion
Recommendations

About The Vet Vortex

Founded: 2024 by Dr Irtwange N.B
Focus: Making animal care easy to understand, highlighting zoonotic implications, and promoting overall pet well-being.
Global Presence: Global Virtual Reach.

Key Products:

Educational Blog Series: Improve pet health literacy with engaging, research-backed contents.
Pet Health Trackers (Digital & Printable).
Data-Driven Reports: Showcases data analytics expertise + pet health insights.
Social Media Campaigns: Educational reels/carousels. Hashtags like #TheVetVortex.
Newsletter: Free subscription to build a community and drive traffic.

Business tasks

Identify spring time trends in pet allergy-related searches globally and in Nigeria.
Uncover species-specific patterns (dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, rodents).
Support pet owner education with actionable insights and data-backed blog content.
Strengthen SEO with seasonally relevant, high-interest keywords.

Methodology

(1). Data Duration

Time Period: 2015–2025

(2). Data Collection

Source: Google Trends
Keywords: 100 pet allergy-related search terms (e.g., “rabbit red eyes allergy,” “dust allergy in birds,” “hay allergy in guinea pigs” etc)
Regions Analyzed: Global vs. Nigeria

(3). Data Processing & Cleaning (ROCC)

Raw Data

Processing Steps

Normalization
Categorization
Time-frame Alignment
Consistency Check (ROCC)

(4). Analysis

Methods Used:

Trend Analysis
Comparative Analysis
Forecasting
Keyword Cluster Analysis (SEO-Focused)

(5). Analysis Tools

Tools Used: R and Tableau

Trend Analysis: Identified overall and seasonal patterns in search interest for allergy-related terms over a 10-year period (2015–2025).

How -

Analyzed monthly and yearly trends using Google Trends data.

Identified seasonal spikes in allergy-related searches globally and in Nigeria.
Observed Spring peaks globally and in Nigeria.

Comparative Analysis: Compared search interest between global and Nigerian audiences and across species.

How -

Compared top searched species per region

Highlighted differences in public awareness, globally and in Nigeria.

Evaluated regional differences in allergy-related topics

Forecasting: I Predicted future search behaviour and inform content planning for 2025–2026

How -

Used Google Trends forecast models to estimate Spring 2025 and 2026 interest levels.

Forecasted continued growth globally and re-emerging interest in Nigeria.

Keyword Cluster Analysis (SEO-Focused): I grouped and assessed the SEO value of allergy-related keywords for content strategy.

How -

Identified high-volume, seasonal keywords by region.

Categorized keywords by species and symptom type.

Supported blog SEO planning and future content targeting.

Analysis Tools

R was used for data collection using Google trends, data cleaning & overall data analysis and Tableau for data visualization. These tools helped uncover insights into trends, seasonal patterns, species-specific concerns and forecasting.

Limitations

Relative Interest, Not Absolute Counts
Geographic Bias
Language Bias
Search Intent Ambiguity
Data Gaps
Keyword Selection Bias

Temporal Bias
Absence of demographic information in the dataset
Batch Comparability Limitations
Sparse/Niche Pet Keyword Batches
External Influences

Analysis

1. Allergy Search Overview

A. Top Allergy by Keywords (Global & Nigeria)

i. Global

keyword	global_hits
cat antihistamines	4887
pollen allergies in dogs	2729
cat watery eyes allergies	953
cat spring allergies	766
veterinary allergy treatment	267
guinea pig allergy trends	199
pollen season pet allergy	194
immunotherapy for pet allergies	186
hay allergies in rabbits	182
allergy pattern visualization pets	179

Globally, we see a more treatment-oriented search pattern. Keywords like ‘cat antihistamines’, ‘immunotherapy for pet allergies’, and ‘pollen allergies in dogs’ are among the most searched—showing that pet owners are actively looking for solutions and medical options.

The top global keyword, ‘cat antihistamines’, completely dominates in search volume—but it barely shows up in Nigeria, highlighting a sharp regional divide.

There’s also a noticeable focus on cats, with far fewer searches related to exotic pets or farm animals. This suggests a more traditional pet demographic and higher veterinary access.

Additionally, we saw a rise in diagnostic and scientific terms, reflecting a global shift toward more informed, proactive pet parenting. People aren’t just searching ‘itchy dog’ anymore—they’re looking for treatment, prevention, and vet-approved solutions.

So globally, pet owners are increasingly prepared, proactive, and medically engaged in managing pet allergies.

ii. Nigeria

keyword	nigeria_hits
immunotherapy for pet allergies	184
rabbit respiratory issues spring	153
cat sneezing springtime	153
cat antihistamines	100
allergy pattern visualization pets	100
veterinary antihistamines	100
bird allergy incidence May	100
allergy season trends in pets	100
spring pet allergy incidence data	100
high pollen count pet symptoms	100

In Nigeria, search behavior is largely symptom-driven. Keywords like ‘itchy cat skin spring’ and ‘rabbit respiratory issues spring’ are unique to Nigerian data and suggest that pet owners are describing what they observe—not using technical terms.

We also saw zero hits for over 40 globally trending keywords. This could reflect low awareness, different local phrasing, or limited internet engagement around pet health.

Another standout finding is the species diversity—unlike the global cat-heavy trend, Nigerians searched more about rabbits, guinea pigs, and birds. This might relate to exotic pet ownership or even smallholder livestock concerns, especially in rabbit and poultry farming.

What’s clear is that treatment and diagnosis terms are underrepresented, and data/statistics searches are rare. To bridge this gap, symptom-first public education, species-specific resources, and visual learning tools like infographics are critical for improving awareness.

B. Top Rising Keywords between 2015 and 2025

i. Global

keyword	rise_global
cat antihistamines	231
pollen allergies in dogs	184
cat spring allergies	120
immunotherapy for pet allergies	108
global pet allergy trends spring	100
seasonal pet reactions spring	100
cat watery eyes allergies	86
cat seasonal allergy symptoms	7
dog seasonal allergy relief	7
pet allergy relief medicine	7

ii. Nigeria

keyword	rise_nigeria
cat seasonal allergy symptoms	40
cat antihistamines	0
pollen allergies in dogs	0
cat spring allergies	0
immunotherapy for pet allergies	0
global pet allergy trends spring	0
seasonal pet reactions spring	0
cat watery eyes allergies	0
dog seasonal allergy relief	0
pet allergy relief medicine	0

C. Spring 2026 Keyword Forecast

year	month_name	spring_hits_global	spring_hits_nigeria
2016	March	160	0
2016	April	0	0
2016	May	35	0
2017	March	130	0
2017	April	71	0
2017	May	105	60
2018	March	89	0
2018	April	35	0
2018	May	147	0
2019	March	207	0

A. Globally, pet allergy concerns continue to center around cats and dogs, with top search interest in terms like ‘pollen allergies in dogs’, ‘cat antihistamines’, and ‘cat watery eyes allergies’—especially during the spring season.

This forecast confirms an ongoing global pattern: people are still heavily focused on seasonal allergy management in their companion animals, particularly cats.

However, the forecast also shows that over 50 keywords are projected to have zero or declining interest by 2026—especially for more niche or over-specific terms like ‘pet allergy infographics’ or ‘rabbit red eyes allergy’.

The key takeaway? While the core interest in cats and dogs stays strong, niche species and overly detailed terms are losing visibility. There’s a clear focus on practical, treatment-oriented searches, and less on educational or fringe topics.

B. In Nigeria, the outlook is much quieter. Very few keywords show positive growth, and most are forecasted to stay flat or even decline by 2026.

There are a few exceptions—like ‘immunotherapy for pet allergies’ and ‘cat seasonal allergy symptoms’—which may signal early awareness of more advanced or locally relevant concerns.

But overall, over 70% of keywords show no projected growth, including many that are common globally. This could point to low online search engagement, lack of public awareness, or simply a disconnect between keyword phrasing and local search behavior.

So what’s the opportunity here? Nigeria may benefit from basic awareness campaigns, especially around seasonal pet allergy signs, and content that uses locally relevant, informal language to bridge the education gap.

Allergy Search Overview

1. Top Allergy Keywords – Global vs. Nigeria (Bar Chart)

Starting with the current landscape:

Globally, pet owners are clearly in treatment mode. We’re seeing high-volume searches for terms like “cat antihistamines”, “pollen allergies in dogs”, and “immunotherapy for pet allergies.” These aren’t vague symptom-based queries—these are people actively looking for medical solutions.

The standout global keyword is “cat antihistamines”, which completely dominates search traffic. It speaks to two things: one, the dominance of cats in allergy-related searches, and two, a high level of proactivity and veterinary engagement.

There’s also been a noticeable rise in diagnostic and scientific terminology—phrases like “veterinary allergy diagnosis” or “veterinary antihistamines” suggest that pet parents are becoming more medically literate and digitally resourceful. They’re no longer just Googling “itchy dog.” They want treatments, prevention, and credible solutions.

Now contrast that with Nigeria’s bar chart, and we see a very different behavior pattern.

Here, searches are more descriptive and symptom-driven. Keywords like “itchy cat skin spring” and “rabbit respiratory issues spring” are unique to the Nigerian dataset. These show that people are likely typing in what they’re seeing, not necessarily the clinical terms.

Also worth noting: over 40 globally trending keywords don’t show up at all in Nigerian data. That could point to several factors—low awareness, differences in how people phrase their searches, or simply less online engagement with pet health topics.

Another striking difference? Species diversity. While the global data skews heavily toward cats and dogs, Nigerians are searching more about rabbits, guinea pigs, and birds. This could reflect a mix of exotic pet ownership, backyard farming, or even food animal exposure.

However, treatment and diagnosis terms are severely underrepresented in Nigeria, and we saw very little interest in data-driven or scientific content. This highlights the need for symptom-first education, species-specific resources, and infographics that make information easier to understand and act on.

2. Historical Keyword Growth (2015–2025 Bar Chart)

When we zoom out to view search trends over the past 10 years, the global growth is clear—but it’s also highly specific.

Top risers include keywords like “cat antihistamines”, “pollen allergies in dogs”, and “immunotherapy for pet allergies.” Again, this confirms that pet owners are not only allergy-aware, but also actively searching for treatments and medical interventions.

There’s also been a shift in the language people use. Instead of vague or casual terms, we’re seeing more precise medical phrases. This reflects increased access to veterinary content, more informed pet parenting, and a cultural shift where pets are truly seen as family—deserving of care, research, and even medication plans.

Now, let’s look at Nigeria over the same time frame—and the trend is more concerning.

Out of 100 keywords we tracked, only one—“cat seasonal allergy symptoms”—showed any growth. Many others dropped to zero by 2025.

This suggests either low digital engagement, low awareness, or perhaps a mismatch in phrasing. It’s possible Nigerians are searching for the same conditions, but using simpler, more informal language, or even typing in regional dialects or mobile shorthand.

This tells us that global strategies won’t work here without localization. We need to meet people where they are—using the words they use, and the symptoms they recognize.

3. Forecast to 2026 (Bar Chart)

Now, looking ahead to 2026, we can see the divergence between global and Nigerian trends growing wider.

Globally, cats and dogs remain the center of allergy concerns. Search terms like “pollen allergies in dogs” and “cat antihistamines” continue to dominate.

But here’s the twist: over 50 keywords are projected to decline or flatline by 2026. Most of these are hyper-specific, niche terms—things like “pet allergy infographics” or “rabbit red eyes allergy.”

This means that while core pet concerns remain strong, fringe topics and educational resources are losing visibility. People want practical, actionable answers—not deep dives or abstract concepts.

In Nigeria, the picture remains fairly quiet. Most keywords are projected to stay flat or decline. The only bright spots? “Immunotherapy for pet allergies” and “cat seasonal allergy symptoms”—which might suggest a slow but emerging awareness in some circles.

But over 70% of keywords show no growth at all. That’s not just a digital gap—it’s an opportunity.

3. Final Takeaway for the Audience

Globally, we’re seeing a shift toward informed, treatment-seeking, medically aware pet owners.

In Nigeria, we’re seeing a more observational, species-diverse, and under-supported audience—with many relying on symptom-based searches and lacking access to technical or seasonal allergy information.

So how do we bridge that gap?

Focus on simple, locally relevant content
Prioritize visual tools and infographics for common symptoms
Use informal and mobile-friendly phrasing
Build campaigns that normalize seasonal allergies in pets
And make treatment pathways visible, understandable, and accessible

By aligning educational strategies with actual search behavior, we can not only improve awareness—we can save lives.

2. Allergy Categories and Forecast

A. Top Allergy by Allergy Category

i. Global

allergy_category	global_hits	nigeria_hits	hit_difference
cat-specific	6742	425	6317
dog-specific	3110	200	2910
veterinary & clinical terms	1105	284	821
data & analysis	661	260	401
environmental & seasonal triggers	552	200	352
rabbit-specific	444	398	46
guinea pig-specific	374	200	174
global & seasonal allergy trends	367	355	12
bird-specific	361	290	71
rodent-specific	0	444	-444

A. Globally, cats and dogs dominate pet allergy searches, with cat-related queries ranking highest—especially around seasonal triggers like pollen, antihistamines, and watery eyes.

Veterinary, and environmental terms are also gaining traction, showing that global pet owners are seeking treatment solutions and understanding of seasonal causes.

However, interest in small mammals like rabbits, guinea pigs, and rodents is much lower globally—many of these keywords are even in decline. This reflects a continued focus on common pets, and possibly a lack of exposure to niche or farm-related species.

Notably, there’s increasing global interest in data-driven terms and trend analysis, suggesting rising digital literacy and engagement with evidence-based pet health content.

Rodent-related allergies don’t appear possibly due to insufficient/low search volume or their underrepresentation in global awareness.

B. In Nigeria, the picture is different. While search volume is lower overall, there’s strong interest in rabbit and rodent-specific allergies—which may reflect exposure from pets, farming, or food animals, not just household pets.

Interestingly, Nigeria shows relatively high search volume for clinical and data terms, implying that students, professionals, or bloggers are engaging with more technical content.

But allergies tied to cats, dogs, and seasonal triggers remain underrepresented—possibly due to low awareness, normalization of symptoms, or lack of targeted campaigns.

The outlier? Rodent allergies actually rank higher in Nigeria than globally, possibly tied to broader public health concerns like Lassa fever, showing how pet care and zoonotic health risks intersect in search behavior here.

B. Spring 2026 Keyword Category

allergy_category	prediction_2026_global	prediction_2026_nigeria	difference
cat-specific	506.0	22.4	483.6
dog-specific	303.1	0.0	303.1
global & seasonal allergy trends	54.4	0.0	54.4
data & analysis	39.6	0.0	39.6
bird-specific	38.1	0.0	38.1
veterinary & clinical terms	35.1	33.3	1.8
guinea pig-specific	25.0	0.0	25.0
rabbit-specific	20.0	10.6	9.4
environmental & seasonal triggers	1.6	0.0	1.6
rodent-specific	NA	-8.0	NA

A. Looking ahead to 2026, cat allergies are set to dominate global pet allergy concerns, far outpacing all other categories. Dog allergies remain strong, followed by niche growth in allergies related to rabbits, guinea pigs, and birds.

Clinical and veterinary terms are stable globally, showing that people are consistently searching for treatment or diagnosis-focused content.

We’re also seeing increasing global curiosity around data, trends, and seasonal patterns—especially from researchers, vets, and informed pet owners.

Consistent with their absence in the historical global dataset, rodent-related allergies do not appear in forecast models—suggesting limitations in data availability or model sensitivity, rather than an actual lack of interest.

B. In contrast, Nigeria shows a slower allergy trend trajectory. Cat allergies are beginning to rise, but still lag far behind global numbers. Dog allergies are notably absent, despite dog ownership being common—suggesting a critical awareness gap.

The only minor species with a forecasted rise in Nigeria is rabbits, which may point to increased exposure from pets, farming, or food use.

Encouragingly, clinical and veterinary allergy terms are gaining traction in Nigeria, showing that some pet owners and professionals are searching for diagnostic guidance.

But environmental allergy triggers—like pollen and dust—remain completely flat, and there’s no notable interest in educational or seasonal trend content.

This suggests a need for foundational public education, starting with symptoms and seasonal triggers, especially in underrepresented categories like dogs and environmental causes.

Allergy Categories and Forecasts

A. Global Trends – Present and Projected

Looking at the global pie chart, cats and dogs dominate allergy-related searches. Notably, cat allergies lead the pack.

We’re also seeing a steady rise in veterinary and environmental terms, which suggests that pet owners are not only aware of the problem but are actively seeking treatment solutions or cause-based insights.

But here’s something interesting—small mammals like rabbits, guinea pigs, and especially rodents show much lower engagement globally. Many of those keywords are either stagnant or declining. This points to a continued focus on more common pets, and possibly a lack of exposure or public health campaigns tied to niche or farm species.

Another layer to this: there’s growing interest in data-driven queries—people are searching for seasonal patterns, trend analysis, and evidence-based care. This might reflect increasing digital literacy and professional curiosity, especially among researchers and pet-savvy owners.

One big caveat—rodent-related allergy terms are completely absent from global projections, not necessarily due to lack of relevance, but likely due to insufficient search volume or poor representation in the models.

B. Nigeria: A Different Picture

Now let’s look at the Nigerian pie chart—it’s a very different landscape.

Although overall search volume is lower, there’s surprisingly strong interest in rabbit and rodent allergies. This might reflect exposure from farming, food animals, or zoonotic risk, not just household pets.

One of the most surprising findings? Rodent allergies rank higher in Nigeria than globally. This could be linked to broader public health concerns—think Lassa fever, for example. It’s a reminder of how pet care and zoonotic awareness intersect here.

There’s also relatively high interest in clinical and diagnostic keywords in Nigeria, suggesting that students, professionals, or even bloggers are engaging with technical or academic-level content.

But—there’s a clear gap in awareness around dogs, cats, and environmental triggers. These remain underrepresented, which may stem from normalization of allergy symptoms, lack of testing, or limited public education efforts.

C. Looking Ahead: Spring 2026 Forecast

Now, projecting into Spring 2026, the global charts show cat allergies skyrocketing, solidifying their lead as the top concern. Dog allergies continue to stay strong, while rabbits and guinea pigs are projected to grow slowly—but consistently.

We also anticipate continued growth in searches for trend data, seasonal analysis, and diagnostic guidance—especially from a more informed and engaged user base.

And again, rodent-related allergies are missing in future global models, likely due to limitations in how the data was captured—not necessarily a lack of relevance.

In Nigeria, the forecast suggests slower allergy trajectory overall. Cat allergies are starting to rise, but remain far behind global levels. Surprisingly, dog allergies are still absent, despite high ownership—this is a critical blind spot.

Rabbits are the only minor species forecasted to rise, which could reflect a growing trend in pet ownership or farming exposure.

On the positive side, clinical terms are trending upward, hinting at increasing professional or pet-owner engagement with diagnostics.

But here’s the call to action: environmental allergy triggers—like pollen and dust—are flatlined in the Nigerian data, and there’s virtually no interest in seasonal pattern searches.

This suggests an urgent need for foundational education, particularly in symptom recognition, environmental causes, and seasonality—starting with common species like dogs and cats.

C. Summary for the Audience

Globally, we see data-literate, symptom-aware, cat- and dog-focused search behavior.
In Nigeria, the trend is more zoonotic- and rodent-centric, with high technical interest but gaps in environmental and pet-specific allergy awareness.
Forecasts show growing global engagement, but Nigerian trends highlight where public health campaigns and veterinary outreach can make the biggest impact.

These patterns not only help us understand pet owner concerns—they give us a roadmap for targeted education, content creation, and intervention planning.

3. Seasonal Allergy Patterns

A. Seasonal Trend (2015–2025)

year	season	global_hits	nigeria_hits	hit_difference
2015	Autumn	128	100	28
2015	Summer	294	0	294
2015	Winter	95	100	-5
2016	Autumn	92	0	92
2016	Spring	195	0	195
2016	Summer	259	100	159
2016	Winter	252	366	-114
2017	Autumn	282	0	282
2017	Spring	306	60	246
2017	Summer	81	63	18

A. Globally, spring is clearly the peak allergy season, with consistently high search volumes across years—especially in 2024, which marked a record spike in all seasons.

Summer awareness is also rising, showing an increasing recognition of seasonal allergy patterns. Winter remains the lowest, likely linked to cold-weather allergens.

These patterns show a strong alignment with traditional temperate climates, where pollen, mold and seasonal transitions drive pet allergy concerns.

B. Nigeria presents a very different picture. Winter leads the chart, with peak search activity in 2016, 2019 and 2024. This likely reflects the Harmattan season, a dry, dusty period that triggers skin, respiratory and eye symptoms in pets, marking a Nigeria-specific allergy peak not captured in traditional temperate-based models.

Spring comes second, though it lags far behind global search volumes. This might indicate limited awareness or testing during Nigeria’s short, milder spring, or perhaps reduced digital engagement on allergy-related topics.

Autumn remains minimal, which aligns with Nigeria’s relatively uniform rainfall pattern and fewer seasonal allergens during that time.

Surprisingly, summer shows the lowest interest overall, although there’s a slight uptick in 2024—possibly linked to climate shifts, rising pet ownership or increased veterinary engagement. However, it’s not yet a consistent seasonal trend.

B. Spring Months Trend (March, April, May) Yearly

year	month	month_name	global_hits	nigeria_hits	difference
2016	3	March	160	0	-160
2016	4	April	0	0	0
2016	5	May	35	0	-35
2017	3	March	130	0	-130
2017	4	April	71	0	-71
2017	5	May	105	60	-45
2018	3	March	89	0	-89
2018	4	April	35	0	-35
2018	5	May	147	0	-147
2019	3	March	207	0	-207

A. Globally, spring allergy awareness in pets has seen a steady and sharp rise—with March and especially April driving the biggest spikes. In fact, April 2024 saw 2.5× more searches than March 2020.

From 2021 to 2024, we see a clear post-pandemic acceleration in interest. Likely causes include increased pet adoption, more indoor allergies, and greater awareness of respiratory symptoms in general.

This shows that globally, springtime pet allergies have become a mainstream concern, with consistent year-over-year growth.

B. In contrast, Nigeria shows very limited and inconsistent interest during spring months. Over two-thirds of months show zero search activity, and only April occasionally spikes, like in 2019 and 2024.

March and May remain nearly silent, even when global interest peaks. This suggests Nigeria’s awareness isn’t seasonal but rather event-driven — possibly linked to specific media moments, vet campaigns, or outbreaks.

From 2022–2025, the gap between global and Nigerian search behavior widened, especially in May. This points to a growing awareness gap — a sign of limited education, low digital engagement, or undervalued pet health issues.

C. Peak Spring Month Yearly (March, April, May)

year	global_month	global_month_name	global_hits	nigeria_month	nigeria_month_name	nigeria_hits
2016	3	March	160	3	March	0
2017	3	March	130	5	May	60
2018	5	May	147	3	March	0
2019	3	March	207	4	April	300
2020	5	May	222	3	March	0
2021	3	March	210	3	March	0
2022	5	May	341	4	April	53
2023	4	April	220	3	March	0
2024	3	March	411	4	April	100
2025	5	May	244	4	April	40

A. Looking at global trends from 2016 to 2025, we see a fairly balanced split between March and May as the peak spring allergy months.

March led in 5 years, including the record-breaking peak in 2024.
May also topped the chart in 4 years, especially during late-spring pollen waves.
Interestingly, April only peaked once — in 2023 — showing it’s often a transition month globally.

The overall pattern suggests a bimodal spring allergy season globally, possibly reflecting different regional pollen cycles — like early spring in the Northern Hemisphere and later spikes elsewhere.

B. Nigeria shows a very different pattern. While March was technically the peak month in 5 years, all of those years recorded zero actual hits — signaling extremely low awareness or data silence.

From 2022 onward, April becomes Nigeria’s most active allergy month, with notable spikes in 2022, 2024, and 2025.
April 2019 stands out as a major outlier, where Nigeria actually had more hits than the global count for the first time.

So, unlike the global pattern, Nigeria’s allergy awareness is inconsistent, and spikes are likely event-driven, not seasonal.

C. Comparative Highlights

In 2019, Nigeria outpaced global search interest, likely tied to a local outbreak or media coverage.
In 2024, both Nigeria and global interest surged, suggesting shared seasonal triggers or better health communication.
By 2025, global interest stayed strong, but Nigeria’s numbers dipped again, pointing to fading momentum.

Globally, allergy awareness is steady and seasonal — March and May are the allergy hotspots. But in Nigeria, April has become the default allergy awareness month, though the trend is highly inconsistent and dependent on external triggers.

This reflects a need for sustained awareness campaigns, especially tailored to Nigeria’s local climate patterns and allergy triggers.

Seasonal Allergy Patterns (2015–2025)

A. Seasonal Trend Over Time (Area Chart)

Here, we’re looking at the big picture — how pet allergy search interest has varied by season from 2015 to 2025.

Globally, spring stands out as the clear allergy season, with 2024 hitting an all-time high. Summer interest is rising, winter stays the lowest, and autumn holds a steady, moderate baseline.
These patterns align with what we know about temperate climates — spring pollen, mold, and season changes drive symptoms.
But now, look at Nigeria: Spring barely registers for most of the decade, despite being the global hotspot. This suggests low digital engagement, awareness, or testing.
Winter, however, is surprisingly high — this aligns with Harmattan, Nigeria’s dry, dusty season that causes skin and respiratory issues in pets.

👉 Takeaway: Global allergy trends follow traditional seasonal models. Nigeria, however, has its own rhythm, particularly around Harmattan — which is underrepresented in mainstream data models.

B. Spring Months (March–May) Yearly Trend (Line Chart)

This visualization zooms in on March, April, and May — to see which months truly drive spring allergy awareness.

Globally, we see sharp growth, especially from 2021 to 2024, likely due to post-pandemic pet adoption, indoor allergy exposure, and heightened respiratory awareness.
April 2024 leads the charge, with 2.5× the search volume of March 2020.
But in Nigeria, the story is different. one-thirds of the months - March, show no search activity at all. April occasionally spikes — notably in 2019 and 2024 — while March remain flat.

👉 Takeaway: Nigeria’s spring allergy awareness is not seasonal — it’s event-driven. This may reflect one-off vet campaigns, media stories, or local outbreaks, rather than continuous awareness.

C. Peak Spring Month by Year (Circle Plot)

This plot compares which month peaked each year — March, April, or May — globally and in Nigeria.

Globally, March (5 yrs) and May (4 yrs) dominate. April surprisingly leads just once, in 2023.
This bimodal trend suggests early and late spring allergy peaks, likely influenced by regional pollen cycles.
For Nigeria, while March leads on paper, it had zero actual hits in those years. From 2022 onward, April becomes Nigeria’s active month, with clear spikes in 2022, 2024, and 2025.
April 2019 is an outlier where Nigeria’s interest surpassed the global count — likely due to a media or health event.

👉 Takeaway: Global trends reflect predictable, seasonal patterns, but Nigeria’s pattern is sporadic and tied to external triggers. Sustained education and locally adapted campaigns are needed to close this growing awareness gap.

📌 Summary Insight for the Slide

Global spring allergy awareness is strong, rising, and seasonal.
Nigeria’s awareness is patchy, low, and event-based — except in winter (Harmattan).
There is a clear mismatch in timing, intensity, and triggers, underscoring the need for Nigeria-specific veterinary outreach, especially around local climatic allergens.

4. Allergy Search Patterns

Year-on-Year Spring Comparison (2015–2025)

year	month	month_name	spring_hits_global	spring_hits_nigeria
2016	3	March	160	0
2016	4	April	0	0
2016	5	May	35	0
2017	3	March	130	0
2017	4	April	71	0
2017	5	May	105	60
2018	3	March	89	0
2018	4	April	35	0
2018	5	May	147	0
2019	3	March	207	0

A. We observed a clear upward growth globally, with a 260% increase in search interest between 2015 and 2025. That’s a strong indicator of rising awareness or concern about springtime pet allergies worldwide.

The data shows a notable spike post-2019, with 2022 and 2024 standing out as peak years. These could correspond with more health-focused search behavior post-pandemic or increased digital pet care engagement.

Month-wise, May is consistently the strongest month in terms of search volume. This suggests that globally, allergy awareness builds up during the spring and peaks in May. March, on the other hand, fluctuates more — for example, we saw a big jump in 2024 but a decline again in 2025.

B. Now switching to Nigeria — the contrast is striking.

Search behavior here is sparse and irregular. Out of 30 possible monthly entries over the 10-year period, only 7 showed any activity at all. Most years had zero searches recorded during the entire spring season.

There’s no clear growth trend. Even in 2022 and 2024 where we saw a small uptick, it wasn’t sustained — 2023 and 2025 dropped back to near-zero.

Interestingly, April appears to be the most active month in Nigeria, especially in years like 2019 and 2024. In contrast, March and May were largely inactive across the dataset.

C. When comparing both datasets, we see a growing divide.

While global awareness is steadily rising, Nigeria’s trend is flat and highly inconsistent. In 2025, Nigeria contributed less than 6% of global spring-related allergy search volume — a huge disparity given its population size and pet ownership trends.

What’s more concerning is the possibility of declining public interest in Nigeria again after brief improvements. This suggests that awareness campaigns, if any, aren’t sticking or may not be reaching the right audience.

Spring Allergy Search Interest - Static View

Now, let’s take a moment to look at the Tableau visualization that brings these trends to life.

What you’re seeing here is a 10-year timeline of spring-related pet allergy search activity — Global vs. Nigeria.

Above, the global trendline shows a clear upward arc — especially post-2019 — with major spikes in 2022 and 2024.

Below, Nigeria tells a different story. The data is much more sporadic — with many years, showing zero search activity.

What’s striking here is the growing gap between the two trends. As global interest rises, Nigeria’s remains flat or fades. In 2025, Nigeria barely registered — contributing under 6% of global search volume.

This visualization really underscores our earlier point: while global awareness of pet allergies is gaining momentum, Nigeria’s awareness remains disconnected, perhaps due to gaps in education, digital access, or diagnostic infrastructure.

So, as we move forward, think of this chart not just as a record of search behavior — but as a roadmap for where targeted awareness and education can make the most impact.

Conclusion

Global pet allergy awareness is rising and evolving.

Pet owners are becoming more informed, proactive, and medically focused.
Search behavior is treatment-oriented, featuring terms like:“cat antihistamines”, “pollen allergies in dogs”, “immunotherapy for pets”.
Spring (especially April & May) is the dominant allergy season globally.
There’s increasing demand for: Data-driven forecasts, Seasonal awareness, Evidence-based resources
Veterinarians and health-conscious pet parents are driving the rise in interest.

Let’s begin with the global picture.

Over the last decade, we’ve seen a clear shift in how pet owners approach allergy-related issues. They’re no longer just Googling vague symptoms, they’re now searching for specific diagnoses, treatment options and even long-term solutions.

Terms like “cat antihistamines”, “pollen allergies in dogs” and “pet immunotherapy” are dominating global search trends. This tells us that pet parents are more aware, more informed and much more invested in managing allergies effectively.

Spring is by far the peak season, especially April and May. It’s consistent across regions, which means allergy season is now well-recognized and even expected by owners.

Another important point is the rising demand for reliable, evidence-based content. People aren’t just looking for anecdotal advice, they want data, forecasts and clinical insights. This suggests an audience that includes not just pet owners but also veterinary professionals, students and health-conscious caregivers.

The takeaway here is that globally, the conversation around pet allergies is growing more sophisticated and that opens the door for credible, educational content.

Nigeria Lags Behind But Shows Unique Patterns

Search trends are symptom-driven and seasonal-event-linked (e.g., Harmattan).
Unusual species diversity in searches - rabbits, guinea pigs, rodents and birds. May reflect farming, food use or zoonotic risks like Lassa fever.
Cat and dog allergy awareness remains low despite common ownership.
Overall search interest is flat or declining, even for major allergy terms.
Clinical keyword use hints at student or professional engagement, not lay users.
Seasonal allergy literacy is minimal with sporadic or absent seasonal patterns.

Now, let’s zoom in on Nigeria and the contrast is striking.

Unlike the global audience, Nigerian search behavior around pet allergies tends to be more observational and event-triggered. We see spikes not during the global spring allergy season but rather during local phenomena - especially the Harmattan in winter.

Interestingly, Nigeria shows a much more diverse interest in species. We’re seeing allergy-related searches not just for cats and dogs, but also for rabbits, rodents, guinea pigs and birds. This could reflect the country’s farming practices, food-related interactions or even public health concerns like Lassa fever.

Despite high pet ownership, cat and dog allergy awareness is surprisingly low. And when we look at long-term trends, most allergy-related keywords are flatlining or even declining in Nigeria.

We do see the use of more clinical or technical terms in some searches, which hints at engagement from veterinary students or professionals but not necessarily from the average pet owner.

Lastly, seasonal literacy is still very low. For example, while March and May are peak allergy months globally, they’re nearly silent in Nigeria’s data. That tells us there’s a major gap in public awareness and education around seasonal pet allergies.

So, while Nigeria trails behind in general awareness, it presents unique opportunities for targeted outreach especially through culturally relevant, species-inclusive education.

Recommendations

Expand Allergy Education in Under-served Regions

Focus on Nigeria and similar regions with low seasonal awareness.
Create layperson-friendly guides, blog posts and social media content.

Run Spring-Themed Awareness Campaigns

Use high-search global keywords like “pollen allergy in pets” or “cat antihistamines”.
Time campaigns around March - May, aligning with global peak interest.

Expand Allergy Education in Under-served Regions

Let’s start with education. Regions like Nigeria show minimal spring allergy literacy. That’s a huge opportunity. We can develop accessible, culturally relevant educational content - blog posts, reels, explainers that break down symptoms, causes, and when to seek help. Think myth-busting series, awareness weeks or even collaborations with local veterinary students and influencers.

Run Spring-Themed Awareness Campaigns

Globally, allergy interest peaks in spring especially in April and May. Yet in Nigeria, those months are surprisingly quiet. We can use that gap to launch spring-focused campaigns, timing our posts, infographics and ads around those months, using global high-traffic keywords. This not only aligns us with the seasonal interest but also builds consistency in public awareness.

Leverage SEO with Global Search Trends

Optimize blog content with top-performing keywords from global data.
Improve search engine visibility and engagement with evidence-based, seasonal content.

Tailor Content to Species-Specific Needs

Prioritize cats and dogs, but also include small mammals and birds when regionally relevant.
Use infographics, Q&A sessions, and vet-authored posts to drive practical engagement.

Leverage SEO with Global Search Trends

Our data clearly shows that searchers are using very specific, medical, treatment-related terms. By aligning our content with those high-performing keywords - like: “immunotherapy for pet allergies” or “pollen allergies in dogs”, we can dramatically increase visibility, organic reach and audience engagement. The goal is to be where the interest already is, but with our unique voice.

Tailor Content to Species-Specific Needs

Globally, cats and dogs dominate searches. But in Nigeria, we’re also seeing interest in rabbits, rodents, birds even guinea pigs. This tells us that we can stand out by including lesser-discussed species while still prioritizing cats and dogs. Use easy-to-digest visuals- like: infographics and interactive formats like vet Q&As to meet the needs of diverse pet owners and build trust.

Seasonal Allergy Incidence

Contents

About The Vet Vortex

Business tasks

Methodology

Limitations

Analysis

1. Allergy Search Overview

2. Allergy Categories and Forecast

3. Seasonal Allergy Patterns

4. Allergy Search Patterns

Conclusion

Recommendations

Thank you!

Q & A SESSION