Allergies in captive animals appear to be on the rise — just as they are in people, especially urbanites in Western countries. That’s probably no coincidence.

This phenomenon isn’t just affecting pets and domestic animals. From bats and rhinos to dolphins and bears, more animals in zoos are itchy than ever before. Researchers suggest this is linked to animals being raised in manmade environments where they have decreased exposure to natural antigens. The result can be a faulty immune system that overreacts to harmless substances. The same may be said for people.

Another factor that could be driving allergies is climate change, which leads to higher pollen counts during longer allergy seasons.

Most allergies can be treated — but wouldn’t it be even better to nip this trend in the bud?