Sublingual Immunotherapy Or Allergy Drops
Sublingual immunotherapy for pet dander, otherwise known as allergy drops, is a viable alternative to allergy shots. If you choose sublingual immunotherapy, youll receive drops under your tongue rather than injections hence the term sublingual, meaning under the tongue. Many patients prefer a method that requires no injection, which makes sublingual allergy drops an ideal alternative. Over time, your body will build a lasting immunity to the allergen, reducing or eliminating allergic reactions. If youre looking for a long-term solution, immunotherapy may be the best choice.
Ways To Manage Pet Allergies
If your allergies arent severe, you might be able to find a way to live in harmony with your pet. Even if you do re-home your animal, allergens can be present in your home for up to six months after the animal has left.
There are several things you can do to help reduce the amount of pet allergens in your home. These include:
- Keep your pet in a limited area: Restrict your pets access to areas of your homeespecially your bedroomwhere allergens can cling to your furniture and bedding. Ideally, keep your pet in a room without a rug, or use an area rug that is machine washable.
- Keep surfaces clean: Vacuum your floors and furniture frequently to reduce pet allergens. Dander can also be removed from the furniture with a lint roller.
- Use a HEPA filter: High-efficiency particulate air filters can help trap pet dander and other allergens that are in the air.
- Keep filters clean: Change the filters in your air conditioning and heating systems regularly to improve air quality.
- Change your clothes after spending time with your pet: Pet allergens can collect on your clothing, particularly if youve been cuddling your pet.
- Wash your hands: Wash your hands with soap and warm water after touching your pet to reduce allergens on your skin.
- Brush and bathe your pet regularly: Keeping your pet clean and groomed can reduce the amount of dander that ends up in your environment. However, you might want to ask someone else to perform these tasks to limit your exposure to pet allergens.
What Causes Dog Allergies
Dogs secrete proteins that end up in their dander , saliva, and urine. An allergic reaction occurs when a sensitive persons immune system reacts abnormally to the usually harmless proteins. Different breeds produce different dander, so its possible to be more allergic to some dogs than others.
The allergen eventually finds its way into the animals fur. From there, it collects in carpets, on clothing, on walls, and between couch cushions. The pet hair itself is not an allergen, but the hair can hold dust and dander.
Pet dander can remain airborne for long periods of time as well. It can eventually find its way into your eyes or lungs.
The symptoms of a dog allergy may range from mild to severe. Symptoms may not appear for several days after exposure in people with low sensitivity.
Some clues you may be allergic to dogs include:
- swelling and itching in the membranes of the nose or around the eyes
- redness of the skin after being licked by a dog
- coughing, shortness of breath, or wheezing within 15 to 30 minutes of exposure to allergens
- rash on the face, neck, or chest
- a severe asthma attack
Children with dog allergies will often develop eczema in addition to the above symptoms. Eczema is a painful inflammation of the skin.
People used to believe that exposing a newborn to the family dog could cause a child to develop a pet allergy. Thankfully for dog owners, the opposite appears to be true. Several studies in the past few years including one published in the
Also Check: 24 Hour Non Drowsy Allergy
You Have An Asthma Attack
Most of the time, pet allergies are just annoying. Sometimes, though, they can get more serious. The AAFA says that being around a cat can trigger a severe asthma attack in up to three in 10 people with asthma. So, if you have asthma, and you have an asthma attack, it could be because of the cats. However, Randall says âunless there’s some kind of deathly allergic reaction happening, I definitely don’t suggest, giving up the cat.â
Also important: cat allergies, when left untreated, can actually lead to chronic asthma. That’s why you need to go to a doctor. However, if you live with asthma and just want to find a way to manage it, Asthma UK recommends taking steps like allowing pets to spend time outside, and keeping them out of parts of the house that have carpets.
Signs Your Pet Has Seasonal Allergies
For millions of people, springtime means allergiesitchy eyes, runny noses, and general discomfort. Our pets are just as susceptible to environmentally triggered allergiesthey just cant tell us how they feel.
Seasonal allergies are a huge problem in veterinary medicine, says Dr. Judy Morgan, author and veterinarian at Clayton Veterinary Associates in Clayton, New Jersey. A wide range of allergens can trigger symptoms, adds Dr. Taylor Truitt, veterinarian with The Vet Set in Brooklyn, New York. Trees, grasses, and pollens are the big categories, and then environmental pollutants, too, she says. Its really difficult to keep environmental allergens separated from your pets.
Because these allergies in pets are so common, theres a good chance your dog or cat could be suffering. Here is a list of signs your pet may have seasonal allergies.
Also Check: Severe Peanut Allergy Precautions
It Feels Like You Have A Constant Sore Throat
Pet allergies will generally make you feel like you’re living with a cold that won’t go away, and can result in sneezing and coughing. Cat allergies can also lead to a post-nasal drip, a condition in which you produce more mucus which is also thicker in volume, causing it to slide down your throat and create the sensation of a constant sore throat.
One symptom of this type of allergic reaction is that you might also notice that it comes and goes. It could be worse in the morning and at night, or only really bad whenever you’re home. If you always feel like you have a cold, but no fever or any other symptoms, see an allergist.
What To Do If You Suspect Your Dog Has A Food Sensitivity
The first step in providing the proper relief to dogs with food sensitivities is to consult with your veterinarian to accurately identify the problem. There are tests available to help in the detection of the causative agent. With this information, you and your veterinarian can begin to find a feeding plan for your dog with a diet that agrees with his body.
If your primary veterinarian is unable to resolve the issue, you may be referred to a veterinary dermatologist. Finding the right answer may not happen quickly, but it is worth the effort over the life of the dog.
Dr. Jerry Klein is the Chief Veterinary Officer for the AKC and is an emergency and critical care veterinarian who has been a valued member of the Chicago veterinary community for more than 35 years. In addition to his work as a vet, Dr. Klein is a licensed judge for the AKC and has judged shows both nationally and internationally.
Don’t Miss: What Allergy Medicine Is Stronger Than Zyrtec
Contact Houston Sinus & Allergy
Pets are a beloved part of the modern home those who experience pet allergies need strategies to overcome or reduce their symptoms. Once you know the signs of a pet allergy, you can take steps to manage your symptoms or reduce your allergic reactions through treatment. Antihistamines, decongestants, allergy shots and sublingual immunotherapy methods all provide much-needed allergy symptom relief.
If youre interested in allergy treatment, contact Houston Sinus & Allergy today. At Houston Sinus & Allergy, we provide expert in-house treatment, requiring no hospital visit. We can help alleviate your pet allergy symptoms for a more comfortable and fulfilling life. Feel free to reach out with any questions about pet allergy treatment options.
Signs Of A Pet Dander Allergy
Pet allergens cause telltale symptoms. The immune system reacts to the foreign substances in pet urine, saliva or dander. Despite common belief, no pets are truly hypoallergenic even hairless pets produce allergy-inducing proteins. If you experience some of the following symptoms, you may have pet allergies:
- Inflamed, itchy eyes.
- Red skin rashes or hives.
- Asthma episodes.
These symptoms may appear right away or after several days, depending on the severity and your sensitivity. You need not come in direct contact with an animal to experience an allergic reaction pet allergens can sit on clothing, furniture or carpet fibers. They can even hang suspended in the air. In mild cases, allergic reactions may be hardly noticeable. In severe cases, allergic reactions can be life-threatening.
Don’t Miss: Palm Oil Intolerance
How To Treat Pet Dander Allergies
Though avoiding allergen exposure is an effective way to reduce symptoms, its not always an option. If you experience pet allergy symptoms, you might want to consider some of the following allergy treatment options for pet dander relief. Consult with a health professional before starting any allergy-control treatments. Each solution has possible side effects to consider.
How To Help Prevent An Allergic Reaction
Unfortunately, theres no cure for allergies. You cant prevent your dog from having allergies.
However, there are things you can do to help keep their symptoms and discomfort under control.
First, you have to identify the underlying cause, be it seasonal, food, flea, etc. From there you can help your dog avoid those allergens.
Carvalho explained that sometimes a prescription diet could be necessary along with using flea/ectoparasite control all year round. Pet owners should also keep an eye out for and treat any itches so that they dont lead to inflamed and infected skin and ears.
Because good health for your canine companion is always in season .
Also Check: Zyrtec Generic Name
How To Tell If Your Dog Has Seasonal Allergies Versus Food Allergies
It can sometimes be difficult to tell whether a dog has seasonal vs food allergies, said Carvalho. Seasonal allergies tend to be a certain time of year, historically spring or fall. However with severe changes in our weather pattern, I’m seeing a continuation of seasonal allergies in southern California.
Food allergies tend to be year round, but the sudden onset of symptoms, can make it hard to tell.
Plus, when it comes to food, even if you havent changed anything in your dogs diet, theres always the chance that your food manufacturer may have changed their formula. The new ingredients could be causing a reaction.
Pet Allergies: Symptoms Causes And What To Do
You love your pet like a member of the family, but what happens when your pet triggers your allergy symptoms? You want to keep living with your pet, but not if that means an itchy, runny nose, congestion, coughing and sneezing all the time. What do you do?
The good news is that its possible to get some relief from your pet allergy without giving up your beloved dog or cat. Its important to understand the causes and symptoms of pet allergies so you can work with an experienced allergist to develop a customized treatment plan.
If you believe you have a pet allergy, this is the article for you. In it, well go over the causes of pet allergies, as well as whether these can just appear one day out of the blue. Well also talk about symptoms and ways you can manage your pet allergies with the help of an allergist.
Read Also: Can You Take Allergy Medicine With Antibiotics
Question 6 Of : What Is Allergic Rhinitis
Are You Allergic To Your Pet
Are You Allergic to Your Pet? Breathe EasyYou Can Still Keep Your Animal Companion!
Although many people have discovered the beneficial effects of caring for a furry friend, the fact remains that roughly 15 to 20% of the population is allergic to animals. The result? Countless pet parents in unhappy, unhealthy situationsand their beloved pets are the cause! Allergen is the medical term for the actual substance that causes an allergic reaction. Touching or inhaling allergens leads to reactions in allergic individuals. Symptoms can include red, itchy, watery eyes and nose sneezing coughing scratchy or sore throat itchy skin, and most serious of all, difficulty breathing.
The most common pet allergens are proteins found in their dander , saliva, urine and sebaceous cells. Any animal can trigger an allergic response, but cats are the most common culprits. People can also become allergic to exotic pets such as ferrets, guinea pigs, birds, rabbits and rodents. There is no species or breed to which humans cannot develop allergies. Fur length and type will not affect or prevent allergies. Certain pets can be less irritating than others to those who suffer from allergies, but that is strictly on an individual basis and cannot be predicted.
Improving the Immediate Environment
Taking Care of Yourself
Also Check: What Allergy Medicine Is Stronger Than Zyrtec
Keeping Your Pet With Allergies
If you decide to keep your pet, it’s important to understand that whoever is allergic to the pet will likely continue to have at least some allergy symptoms .
The particular allergy symptoms you have may determine whether this is truly realistic or not. If you have only a runny nose or itchy eyes, this may not be a big deal, but it could be a large problem for someone who has severe asthma related to pet dander.
(Severe asthma, in fact, may be one reason why a person may be unable to keep their pet. Common allergens responsible for allergic asthma include dust mites, pollens, cockroaches, pet dander, and molds.
For this reason, as well as many more, there isn’t a broad yes or no answer to keeping a pet if you have allergies. Rather, it is always an individualized decision based on the severity of allergy symptoms, and how well those symptoms can be controlled with avoidance, medications, and/or allergy shots.
How To Manage Your Pet Allergies
If your allergist has confirmed you have a pet allergy, what can you do? Unfortunately, rehoming your pet is the best option. If thats what you decide, you will have to thoroughly clean the home. The pet dander can linger even after the pet has left.
For some people, getting rid of their pet is absolutely not an option. In those cases, try these methods:
- Undergo immunotherapy or take medication to relieve and lessen allergy symptoms.
- Make sure your pet is regularly brushed, but dont do this yourself.
- Get your pet bathed at least weekly to cut back on allergens like dander.
- Invest in an allergy filter for your air conditioner or heater and run it daily for four hours or more.
- If you snuggle up with your pet, put on a different outfit afterwards.
- If you are the one vacuuming up the house, always use a dust mask so you dont breathe in the dander and other pet allergens.
- Make sure you get your carpet steam-cleaned semi-often so dander cant linger.
- Contemplate ripping out your carpeting and getting hardwood flooring instead its much easier to vacuum up pet dander this way.
- Have someone else regularly clean the pets toys, bed, scratching post and other items they like to use.
- Keep the pet off the couch and out of the bedroom.
Read Also: Cetirizine For Asthma
What To Expect From Your Pet Allergy Test
There are two types of tests that are useful at confirming a pet allergy. The first is a skin prick test where a small amount of the relevant allergen is put onto the forearm and a gentle scratch made with a lancet. In the next few minutes, a little red bump will develop due to histamine release. The larger this is, the more likely it is that you have an allergy to that pet. An alternative test is a blood test which looks for the level of allergic antibody to a specific animal in the bloodstream. Again, the higher the level, the more likely it is that there is an allergy. It is important to remember that these tests do have to be interpreted carefully in the context of symptoms that develop. If you do not get symptoms when you go near the pet even if the level on the test is high, it is unlikely to represent a genuine allergy. The tests essentially help confirm what the clinical history already strongly suggests.
Question 1 Of : What Are The Symptoms Of An Allergic Reaction
Also Check: What Allergy Medicine Is Stronger Than Zyrtec
