Pet Allergies
Fact 1
You don’t need to have a pet to develop a pet allergy. According to some statistics, nearly 90% of homes will test positive for animal allergens.
Fact 2
The hair doesn’t cause an allergic reaction; blame the protein! This compound is located in the pet’s urine, saliva, and dead skin cells.
Fact 3
Pets can be allergic to humans as well, experiencing respiratory reactions and rashes, the same way they trigger these reactions in people.
What is pet allergy?
Cats, dogs, and other companion animals are responsible for pet allergies, causing a wide range of mild to severe symptoms. Many people are under the impression that a pet’s hair is responsible for this condition, but they couldn’t be more wrong. In fact, these allergens are only found in animal saliva, urine, skin, and fur.
Most furry friends, like rodents, rabbits, dogs, and cats, produce allergens. However, not all people experience pet allergies, while some are only allergic to particular animals. Those who suffer from pet allergies have a severe immune response because they identify these substances as damaging invaders.
Contrary to popular belief, there are no hypoallergenic animals. While giving up the pet might be the only solution, an experienced immunologist may propose a series of options to further treat the patient’s conditions.
Symptoms of pet allergy
People may notice inflammation of nasal passages, followed by sneezing, watery and itchy eyes, runny nose, and cough. Pet allergy can cause asthma, difficulty breathing, chest pain and tightness, audible whistling when exhaling, shortness of breath, and trouble with sleeping.
When it comes to skin symptoms, direct contact with an allergy-causing pet can cause eczema and hives to appear on the skin. The most common symptom is itchy skin. The good news is that you can still treat allergy to animals symptoms.
Allergy test for animals
How does a doctor diagnose whether a patient is allergic to animals or not? Well, they use a set of simple procedures to determine the actual condition. Pet allergy testing is done either through a blood or skin test.
The testing will show if there is an allergic reaction to a particular animal. Even if you remove the animal, the allergens can remain for several months in your home.
Treatment
There is no such thing as the best pet allergy medicine. You can only hope to find a permanent solution that will help you alleviate the symptoms and allow you to keep your furry companion at the same time.
You may have to take your pet outside or resort to medications like immunotherapy. Allergy shots have a proven track record and could be a long-term solution.
