Pet Allergy

Pet allergies happen when your body reacts to proteins in an animal's skin, saliva, or pee. These reactions are similar to hay fever symptoms, like a runny nose and sneezing. Some people also have asthma-like problems, like wheezing and trouble breathing.

The most common cause of pet allergies is tiny, dead flakes of skin, called dander, that animals shed. Any animal with fur or feathers can trigger an allergy, but cats and dogs are the most frequent culprits. These animals constantly shed dander, so it's easy for people to be exposed to it. Even if an animal isn't visibly shedding, the dander is still present in the air.

If you have a pet allergy, the best way to manage it is to limit your contact with the animal as much as possible. This means keeping the animal out of certain rooms, such as bedrooms, and regularly cleaning areas where the animal spends time. Washing your hands after touching the animal can also help. If avoidance isn't enough, your doctor might recommend medications to reduce symptoms, like allergy medicine or inhalers for asthma. They may also discuss other treatment options.

Pet allergies can cause uncomfortable symptoms due to inflammation in your nasal passages. These symptoms often include:

• Sneezing: Your body's way of trying to clear out the allergen.
• Runny nose: Your body produces extra mucus to try to wash away the pet dander or other allergens.
• Itchy, red, or watery eyes: This is another reaction to the allergens, causing irritation and discomfort.
• Stuffy nose (nasal congestion): The lining of your nose swells up, making it hard to breathe through your nose.
• Itchy nose, mouth, or throat: The allergens can irritate these areas, causing itching and discomfort.
• Postnasal drip: Extra mucus from your nose drips down the back of your throat, which can lead to coughing.
• Cough: This is your body's response to the irritation, often from postnasal drip.
• Facial pressure and pain: The swelling and congestion in your nasal passages can put pressure on your sinuses, causing discomfort.
• Trouble sleeping: The nasal congestion, coughing, or postnasal drip can make it hard to get a good night's rest.
• Dark circles under your eyes: Inflammation and allergies can cause swelling in the delicate skin under your eyes. This can make the skin look puffy and bluish.
• Frequent nose rubbing (in children): Children might rub their nose frequently to alleviate the itching and discomfort.

If your pet allergy triggers asthma, you might also notice:

• Shortness of breath: Your lungs may have trouble taking in enough air.
• Chest tightness or pain: The airways in your lungs may narrow, making it hard to breathe comfortably.
• Wheezing: This is a whistling sound you hear when you exhale. It's a sign of narrowed airways.
• Trouble sleeping due to breathing problems: Difficulty breathing, coughing, or wheezing can disrupt your sleep.

If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it's important to talk to a doctor. They can help determine the cause and recommend appropriate treatment options. They can also rule out other possible health issues.

Pet allergies can have similar symptoms to a common cold, like a runny nose and sneezing. This can make it hard to tell the difference. If your symptoms last longer than two weeks, it's more likely an allergy.

If your allergy symptoms are strong, such as a completely stuffy nose, trouble sleeping, or wheezing, you should call your doctor. Go to the emergency room right away if your wheezing or shortness of breath gets worse quickly, or if you feel short of breath even with just a little activity. These severe symptoms could signal a serious problem.

Your body's immune system is designed to fight off germs and other harmful things. It does this by producing special proteins called antibodies. These antibodies are like tiny soldiers, protecting you from getting sick.

Sometimes, your immune system mistakenly identifies harmless substances like pollen, mold, or pet fur as threats. This is what happens with allergies. Your body's antibody soldiers, instead of fighting off real germs, start attacking these harmless substances.

When you're exposed to an allergen (like pollen or pet dander), your immune system reacts. This reaction often causes inflammation in your nose or lungs. You might experience symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, or itchy eyes. This response is your body's way of trying to get rid of the perceived threat.

If you're regularly exposed to allergens, this inflammation can become chronic, meaning it lasts a long time. This ongoing inflammation in the airways is a key factor in the development of asthma. In essence, allergies can set the stage for more serious breathing problems.

Pet allergies are pretty common. If allergies or asthma are a part of your family history, you might be more prone to developing a pet allergy.

Growing up around pets, especially early in life, might actually help protect you from pet allergies later on. Some research shows that babies who live with a dog during their first year of life might be less likely to get upper respiratory illnesses, like colds and coughs, as children compared to those who don't have a dog around. This suggests that early exposure could build up some resistance.

Sinus infections can be linked to allergies, especially pet allergies. When you have a pet allergy, your nasal passages and sinuses get inflamed and irritated over time. This inflammation can block the air passages within your sinuses, the hollow spaces connected to your nose. When these air passages are blocked, it can make you more prone to getting a bacterial sinus infection (sinusitis). Essentially, the allergy creates an environment where bacteria can grow more easily in your sinuses.

Thinking about getting a pet? Before you adopt or buy an animal, it's a good idea to check if you have any pet allergies. If you're not sure, it's best to get tested. Having allergies can make having a pet a lot harder, and it's important to consider this before taking on the responsibility of caring for an animal.

Doctors can diagnose pet allergies in several ways. First, they'll ask you about your symptoms and examine your nose. Sometimes, they'll use a small light to look closely at the inside of your nose. If you have a pet allergy, the lining of your nose might look swollen, pale, or bluish.

Next, your doctor might suggest a skin test to pinpoint exactly what you're allergic to. This test is often done by a specialist called an allergist.

During the skin test, tiny amounts of substances from different allergens, like pet dander, are gently poked onto your skin. This is usually done on your forearm, but sometimes on your upper back.

After about 15 minutes, your doctor or nurse will check your skin for any reactions. If you're allergic to a pet, like a cat, you'll likely develop a small, red, itchy bump where the cat allergen was placed. This is a sign of your body's immune response to the allergen.

Common side effects of skin tests include itching and redness. These usually go away within a half hour.

Sometimes, a skin test isn't possible due to skin conditions or certain medications. In these situations, your doctor might order a blood test instead. This blood test looks for special proteins (antibodies) in your blood that indicate an allergic reaction to different things, including pets. The test can also help show how strongly you react to an allergen.

Managing Pet Allergies: A Guide for Relief

Pet allergies are a common problem. The first step in managing them is to minimize contact with the pet causing the allergy. This means keeping your pet outside as much as possible, or avoiding the pet altogether. However, completely eliminating exposure to pet allergens is often challenging. Pet dander (tiny flakes of skin) can easily spread on clothing and other surfaces. Even if you don't have a pet, you might still encounter pet allergens from others.

While avoiding exposure is crucial, medications often become necessary to manage symptoms. Here are some common options:

1. Antihistamines: These medications help lessen the body's allergic reaction. They work by reducing the production of substances that trigger allergy symptoms like itching, sneezing, and a runny nose. You can find antihistamines in various forms:

• Over-the-counter (OTC) tablets: Common examples include fexofenadine (Allegra), loratadine (Claritin), and cetirizine (Zyrtec). These are available for both adults and children in tablet or syrup form.
• Prescription nasal sprays: Azelastine (Astelin, Astepro) and olopatadine (Patanase) are prescription nasal sprays.
• Prescription tablets: Levocetirizine (Xyzal) and desloratadine (Clarinex) are other prescription options.

2. Decongestants: These medications help reduce swelling in the nasal passages, making breathing easier. Some over-the-counter allergy tablets combine antihistamines and decongestants.

• Oral decongestants: These can raise blood pressure, so they are not suitable for everyone. If you have high blood pressure, glaucoma, or heart problems, talk to your doctor before taking an oral decongestant.
• Nasal sprays: Nasal decongestant sprays can quickly reduce congestion, but using them for more than a few days in a row can actually worsen congestion.

3. Leukotriene Modifiers: These medications block the action of certain immune system substances. Montelukast (Singulair) is a common prescription tablet used when antihistamines or nasal corticosteroid sprays aren't enough.

• Possible side effects: Montelukast can cause upper respiratory infections, headaches, and fevers. Less common side effects include mood changes like anxiety or depression.

4. Immunotherapy (Allergy Shots): This treatment aims to desensitize your immune system to the allergen. It involves receiving a series of shots containing gradually increasing amounts of the specific pet allergen.

• How it works: The shots introduce very small amounts of the allergen into your body, teaching your immune system to tolerate it better.
• Duration: This treatment usually involves weekly or bi-weekly shots for several months, followed by maintenance shots every four weeks for three to five years. It is typically recommended when other treatments are unsuccessful.

5. Nasal Irrigation: This involves rinsing the nasal passages with a saline solution to remove mucus and irritants.

• How to prepare the solution: Use distilled, sterile, boiled and cooled, or filtered water (with a filter pore size of 1 micron or smaller) to make the saline solution.
• Using the irrigation device: Use a neti pot or a squeeze bottle. Rinse the device thoroughly after each use and let it air dry.

It's essential to discuss all treatment options with your doctor to determine the best course of action for your specific situation. They can help assess your needs and recommend the most appropriate medications and therapies for effective pet allergy management.

Dealing with Pet Allergies at Home: Practical Steps

Dealing with pet allergies can be challenging, especially if you're attached to your furry friends. The best way to manage pet allergies is often to reduce your exposure to the pet. This might not always be possible, but it's worth discussing with your doctor. Instead of immediately considering rehoming your pet, see if reducing exposure is enough to control your symptoms.

Even if you do find a new home for your pet, your home will still have allergens for a while. It takes time for the pet dander and other allergens to dissipate, even after a thorough cleaning. Here's how to reduce allergens in your home:

If you keep your pet:

• Deep Cleaning: Hire someone without pet allergies to do a thorough cleaning, including washing walls and ceilings. This is often the most effective way to remove pet allergens from surfaces.

• Replace or Cover Furniture: If you can, replace upholstered furniture. If not, move upholstered items from your bedroom to another room. If you can't replace the furniture, cover your mattress and box spring with allergen-proof covers.

• Floor Coverings: Consider replacing carpet, especially in the bedroom, with hard flooring like tile, wood, linoleum, or vinyl. These surfaces are easier to clean and less likely to trap allergens.

• Bedtime Changes: Replace your bedding (sheets, blankets, pillows) frequently, as they can hold a lot of pet allergens. If you can't replace your mattress and box spring, cover them in allergen-blocking covers.

• Air Quality: Use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters in your air ducts and vacuum cleaner bags. HEPA air purifiers can also help remove airborne pet allergens.

• Pet Hygiene: Regularly bathe your pet. If you can't manage this yourself, ask a family member or friend without pet allergies to do it weekly.

• Designated Pet-Free Zones: Create areas in your home, like your bedroom, where your pet isn't allowed. This helps keep allergen levels lower in those specific rooms.

• Reduce Allergen Attractors: Replace carpeting, upholstered furniture, curtains, and blinds that collect pet dander.

• Delegate Cleaning: If you have a pet kennel, litter box, or cage, ask someone without allergies to clean them.

• Air Purification: HEPA air purifiers and vent filters can help capture airborne pet allergens.

• Outdoor Living: If possible and appropriate for your pet's needs, keeping your pet outdoors can greatly reduce allergens indoors.

Remember, consistency is key in managing pet allergies. These steps will help reduce, but not entirely eliminate, pet allergens. If your allergy symptoms persist despite these efforts, consult your doctor for further advice.