Pet allergy is an allergic reaction to proteins within a animal’s skin cells, urine or saliva. Signs of pet allergies include those common to hay fever, like sneezing and runny nose. Some individuals can also experience signs of asthma, like wheezing and trouble breathing.
Most often, pet allergy is triggered by exposure to the dead flakes of skin (dander) a pet sheds. Any animal with fur could be a source of pet allergy symptoms, however, pet allergies are most frequently related to dogs and cats.
In case you’ve got a pet allergy, then the best plan is to prevent or reduce vulnerability to the creature as far as possible. Drugs or alternative remedies might be required to alleviate symptoms and treat asthma.
Symptoms of Pet Allergy
Pet allergy signs and symptoms caused by inflammation of nasal passages include:
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Itchy, red or watery eyes
- Nasal congestion
- Itchy nose, roof of mouth or throat
- Postnasal drip
- Cough
- Facial pressure and pain
- Frequent awakening
- Swollen, blue-colored skin under your eyes
- In a child, frequent upward rubbing of the nose
If your pet allergy contributes to asthma, you may also experience:
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest tightness or pain
- Audible whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling
- Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
Skin symptoms of Pet Allergy
Some individuals with pet allergy symptoms can also experience skin problems, a routine called allergic dermatitis. This sort of dermatitis is an immune system response which leads to skin inflammation. Immediate contact with an allergy-causing pet can cause allergic dermatitis, resulting in symptoms and signs, for example:
- Raised, red patches of skin (hives)
- Eczema
- Itchy skin
Causes
Allergies happen when your immune system reacts to a foreign substance like pollen, mold or pet dander.
Your immune system produces proteins called antibodies. These antibodies protect you from unwanted invaders that may cause you to get ill or result in an infection. When you have allergies, your immune system makes antibodies which identify your individual allergen as something dangerous, even though it is not.
If you inhale the allergen or come in contact with it, then your immune system reacts and creates an inflammatory reaction on your nasal passages or lungs. Prolonged or normal exposure to the allergen may bring about the continuing (chronic) airway inflammation associated with asthma.
Cats and dogs
Allergens from dogs and cats are located in skin tissues that the animals drop (dander), in addition to in their saliva, sweat and urine and on their own fur. Dander is a specific problem since it’s extremely little and can stay airborne for extended periods of time together with the smallest bit of air flow. Additionally, it hastens readily in upholstered furniture and sticks to your clothing.
Pet saliva may stick to carpets, bedding, furniture and clothes. Dried saliva may get airborne.
So-called hypoallergenic dogs and cats can lose less fur than shedding kinds, but no strain is really hypoallergenic.
Rodents and rabbits
Rodent pets include mice, gerbils, hamsters and guinea pigs. Allergens from rodents are often within hair, dander, urine and saliva. Dust from litter or sawdust at the bottom of cages may promote airborne pollutants from rodents.
Rabbit allergens exist in dander, saliva and hair.
Other pets
Pet allergy is rarely caused by animals that don’t have fur, such as fish and reptiles.
Prevention
If you do not own a puppy but are thinking about adopting or purchasing one, be sure that you don’t have pet allergies prior to making the commitment.
