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Pet Allergies
A pet allergy happens when your immune system has a reaction to specific animal proteins. The reaction then triggers inflammation in the lining of your nasal passages, which in turn causes runny nose, sneezing, as well as other symptoms that are linked to hay fever. For some, a pet allergy can be the main cause of inflammation as well as a contraction of the airways of the lungs, otherwise known as asthma. This may result in shortness of breath, wheezing, and other trouble breathing.
Any animal that has fur can cause a pet allergy, but the most common are allergies to dogs, cats, horses, and rodents. Typically, since cats and dogs are pets, this is often a household problem; however, there are people who work on farms, zoos, and laboratories who face this problem too.
The best way of handling a pet allergy is to avoid being around the animal that you are allergic too. Additionally, there may be medications or treatments that will help you relieve your symptoms and manage your asthma also.
Some of the symptoms that show you have an allergy to a pet include itchy, red, or watery eyes, congestion in your nose, sneezing, runny nose, itchy nose, postnasal drip, facial pressure and pain, co ugh, swollen, blue colored skin under your eyes, frequent awakening, and upward rubbing of the nose. If the allergy is inducing asthma, you may also experience chest tightness or pain, trouble breathing, whistling or wheezing when exhaling, difficulty sleeping due to wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath, and coughing or wheezing that get worse with a cold or the flu. Additionally, some people have skin problems as a result of the allergic reaction to pets. Allergic dermatitis symptoms may include itchy skin or raised, red patches of skin, also known as hives.
Although it is sometimes difficult to determine if you have a pet allergy or the cold, if your symptoms last for longer than a week, you should call your doctor. Also if you have hives or other signs and these symptoms are severe, including trouble sleeping due to wheezing or asthma issues, or you are feeling severe pain, be sure to see your doctor immediately.
When you have an allergy to a pet, your body produces an allergy-causing antibody to a protein that is found in the animal's saliva, skin cells, or urine. This means that your immune system has believed that the protein is something that will cause you harm. Once your body has determined that a specific protein is an allergen, your immune system will remain sensitive to it. In the future, every time you inhale the allergen or come into physical contact with it, your immune system will respond to it by producing an inflammatory response in your lungs or nasal passages.
Pet allergens cause two ty pes of immune system responses in your lungs' airways. If the exposure is prolonged or regular, it can cause the ongoing inflammation that is related to asthma. Your exposure to the allergen can also cause sudden and severe constriction of your air passages, which is known as bronchospasms.
Allergens that are from cats and dogs are in the animals' skin cells that they shed called dander, in their saliva, and on their hairs. Dander is a problem due to it being small and remaining airborne for extended periods of time with only the smallest amount of air circulation. It additionally collects easily in furniture that has been upholstered and can stick to your clothes. Pet saliva also can stick to your clothing, furniture, bedding, and carpet, and dried saliva can be airborne. While some dogs are considered "hypoallergenic," because they do not shed fur, there is no such thing if you are allergic. It may reduce allergens, but you will still be allergic to even non shedding breeds.
Some people are also allergic to rodents, such as hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, and mice. The allergens in rodents are typically found in the hair, saliva, urine, and dander of these rodents. Additionally the dust that comes from the litter or sawdust at the bottom of your pet's cage may lead to airborne allergies from the rodent. Some people will keep a rabbit for a pet, and rabbit allergies are found in hair, saliva, and dander. People rarely have allergies to pets without hair, such as fish, reptiles, and birds.
There are certain factors that put you at increased risk for developing allergies to pets. If allergies or asthma runs in your family, you are more likely to be sensitive to pet allergens. Research has not been conclusive about whether or not early exposure to cats or dogs early in life will contribute to decreased risk of allergies.
There are a couple of complications that may occur if you have pet allergies. First, if you have chronic inflammation of the tissues in your nasal passages, your sinuses can be obstructed This can lead to bacterial infections in your sinuses, or sinusitis. Also, people who have a pet allergy and asthma may find it difficult to manage their asthma symptoms. They may end up with asthma attacks that require medical treatment.
Diagnosis of a Pet Allergy
If you believe you may have a pet allergy, you will likely need to see an allergist, and he or she is trained and knowledgeable in the field of allergies. The doctor will ask you about your symptoms and probably look inside your nose to see if the lining of your nose is swollen or pale or bluish. Your doctor may also suggest that you take a skin test. This will help the doctor to determine exactly what you are allergic to. This test involves tiny extracts of the allergen being pricked into your skin's surface, usually on your upper back or forearm. These drops remain on your skin for about fifteen minutes to see if you have an allergic reaction. If you are allergic, you will develop a red, itchy bump in that area. Side effects of this procedure include itching and redness, but they usually go away within about thirty minutes.
A second option for your doctor is to have a blood test. This will screen your blood for allergy-causing antibodies to a variety of common allergies, such as various animals. It will also determine your sensitivity to each allergen.
The third test is to see how well your lungs function. Your doctor can listen to your breathing and watch you breathe. If it is possible that you have asthma, your doctor will probably use a spirometer which shows how well your lungs work based on a measurement of the airflow leaving your lungs.
Treatment of Pet Allergies
The first thing that you must try to do if you have a pet allergy is to avoid the animal that you are allergic to. Sometimes this is difficult, and you may also surprisingly encounter pet allergens that are brought to you on other people's clothes. Many people need medications in order to help them with their nasal allergy symptoms.
Antihistamines work to suppress the production of the immune system chemical that is active when you have an allergic reaction. These drugs relieve the symptoms of allergies, such as sneezing, itching, and runny nose. There are also prescription antihistamine tablets, such as Allegra and Clarinex. A nasal spray that is prescription dosages is Astelin, and there are also over the counter antihistamine tablets such as Claritin and Zyrtec that may help you.
Corticosteroids are nasal sprays that may help you with symptoms of hay fever. These include Flonase and Nasonex. They provide low doses of the drug and have not been associated with long term risks of oral corticosteroids.
Decongestants can help you shrink the swollen tissues that are present in your nasal passages, resulting in an easier time breathing through your nose. Some allergy tablets that are offered over the counter will combine an antihistamine and a decongestant. Oral decongestants have the ability to raise your blood pressure, so they should not be taken if you have cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure. Also, if you are a man with an enlarged prostate, you should not take decongestants, as they can worsen your condition. Be aware that decongestant sprays can reduce your allergy symptoms temporarily, but if you take them for more than three days in a row, you can develop congestion.
Cromolyn sodium is an over the counter nasal spray that prevents the immune system from releasing the chemical, and it can also reduce your symptoms. If you use this spray, it should be used several times per day, and works most effectively when it is used before the signs and the symptoms develop.
Leukotriene modifiers will block the action of immune system chemicals. You may be prescribed Singulair if you are unable to tolerate corticosteroid nasal sprays of antihistamine nasal sprays. There are side effects of headaches, or less commonly, cough, dental pain, dizziness, and abdominal pain.
Asthma Medications
It is possible that you will need medications that are meant for long-term control of asthma. I will describe some of these medications for you.
Inhaled corticosteroids will help to reduce the inflammation in your airways. These include Flovent Diskus, Pulmicort, Azmacort, Aerobid, Qvar, and more. These are generally considered low risk for developing long term side effects of corticosteroids.
Long acting beta-2 agonists, such as Foradil and Serevent are long-lasting bronchodilators that act to relax your muscles of your airways and open them up. These medications are inhaled and used to treat asthma that is persistent in addition to inhaled corticosteroids. This medication is not used by itself or for quick relief of the symptoms of asthma.
Inhaled leukotriene modifiers will open your airways, decrease mucous production, and reduce your inflammation. These drugs can be used by themselves or as a supplemental support for difficult asthma, and include Singulair, Accolate, and Zyflo CR.
Inhaled cromolyn has the ability to lower specific immune system reactions. It needs to be used four times a day, and your doctor may recommend that you use it before you exercise or before you have exposure to an allergen you cannot avoid to prevent having an asthma attack.
Theophylline is a daily pill that acts as a bronchodilator. It can be utilized as a supplement treatment along with an inhaled corticosteroid.
There are also quick reliefs to asthma, such as short acting beta-2 agonists, which include albuterol. These inhaled bronchodilators act within minutes and should be in effect for four to six hours. Corticosteroids can also be taken orally or by injection for severe asthma attacks or difficult to manage asthma. Some examples are Prednisone and Methylprednisolone. These medications will help relieve your airway inflammation, but they may also cause serious side effects when they are used long term, so you should only use these medications when they are absolutely necessary. Side effects may include high blood sugar, suppressed adrenal gland hormone production, loss of calcium from your bones, and cataracts.
One other treatment is immunotherapy, which is a series of allergy shots with the goal of training your immune system not be be sensitive to an allergen. You can get one to two weekly shots that will give you small doses of the allergen. The dose continues to be increased, and maintenance shots are usually needed every four weeks for three to five years.
Another treatment is naval lavage, which is when saltwater or saline rinse is used for your nasal passages. Your doctor may want you to use a saline rinse to help lessen your congestion, postnasal drip, and your sneezing symptoms. These over the counter saline sprays or nasal lavage kits with devices can be purchased, or you can make your own solution with 1/4 teaspoon of salt with two cups of warm water.
If you learn that you are allergic to your pet, this can be very difficult, because you are probably already attached to your pet. At this point, there are two options. You can find a new home for your pet or take some measures to minimize the allergens you have in your home.
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Give your pet a bath a lot. You should not be the one to bathe your pet though.
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Keep your pet out of your bedroom. This will help reduce the allergens in your bedroom while you sleep.
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Instead of having carpet, use wood, linoleum, or vinyl flooring. This will help because these types of flooring will not provide homes for allergens like carpet will.
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Use high-efficiency filters. These HEPA air purifiers may help reduce the airborne pet allergens in your home.
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Keep your pet outside. This will reduce the amount of allergens in your home. (Only do this if it is safe for your pet).
If You Find a New Home For Your Pet...
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Clean the house. It is best if you have someone without a pet allergy clean the house. This includes washing the ceilings and walls thoroughly.
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Replace carpets. If it is possible, replace your carpeting, especially in your bedroom, as carpets can harbor the pet dander.
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Replace your upholstered furniture. Even cleaning it wil not remove all of the allergens. If you cannot afford to replace it, at least move upholstered furniture into a less used room.
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Replace your bedding. If you can, replace your sheets, blankets, and bedcovers since it is challenging to wash away all of the allergens. Also replace your pillows on your bed. If you are unable to replace your mattress and box spring, cover them in allergen-blocking covers.
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