Homes with more than one cat have higher levels of cat allergens. These allergens are found on the fur and skin and in saliva. If the symptoms persist or keep on recurring, consider a visit to a pet skin specialist in order to help identify and treat your dogs pollen or other environmental allergies. Your skin is then pricked with a small, sterile probe, allowing the liquid to seep under the skins surface. Do not attempt to diagnose your pets condition on your own, and only give your pet medications we recommend. He is also the dermatology feature editor for Canadian Veterinary Journal. Hypoallergenic breeds of dogs shed less than others so they may be less likely to cause allergic reactions. We avoid using tertiary references. Should You Let Your Dog Sleep with You at Night? If your nose runs and your eyes water or you start sneezing and wheezing after petting or playing with a cat, you likely have a cat allergy. If you notice your dog any of these symptoms or a combination of the above symptoms, be sure to visit your vet and have them checked out. Let's take a look. If you have a cat and are allergic to cats, consider removing the cat from the home. There are, however, ways to minimize your exposure to allergens and lessen your symptoms if you dont want to part with Fluffy. We include products we think are useful for our readers. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Keep the cat out of your bedroom and restrict it to only a few rooms. Hair loss around the eyes is another symptom to watch for. Spring is in the air, and that means so are a number of seasonal allergens that could be making you and your pet miserable. It can eventually find its way into your eyes or lungs. In many cases, symptoms of a dog allergy are mild, and a person may still be able to live with a dog if they can manage their symptoms. If you notice your dog rubbing their face up against surfaces such as the carpet, couches, or pillows, this is a clear show of their attempt to alleviate the itchiness. Dogs and cats with more severe allergies might also benefit from: With so many different allergens, types of allergic reactions, and potential treatments, its important to call our office at 256-859-2221 for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Highly sensitive people can develop symptoms, including breathing problems or a rash, within minutes of touching a cat or entering a house with a cat. Those antibodies release chemicals into the bloodstream, including histamine, which act on the skin, ears, eyes, throat, nose, and gastrointestinal tract, producing the unpleasant symptoms of an allergic reaction. Characteristics such as the length of a cats hair, its sex and the amount of time a cat spends indoors are not associated with cat allergen levels. Cats produce multiple allergens (proteins that can cause allergy). By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Additionally, you should attempt to keep your pets environment as clean as possible to minimize exposure to potential allergens. 2005-2022 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Nicholas, C. E., Wegienka, G. R., Havstad, S. L., Zoratti, E. M., Ownby, D. R., & Cole Johnson, C. (2011, JulyAugust). Allergy shots(immunotherapy) are an effective treatment of allergies by building tolerance over time through gradually injecting increasing doses of an allergen. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. Homes with more than one cat have higher levels of cat allergens. Your skin is then pricked with a small, sterile probe, allowing the liquid to seep under the skins surface. Some pets with severe allergies may be referred to a veterinary dermatologist for more in-depth allergy skin testing and treatment. What may begin as itchy or irritated ears could escalate into a serious ear infection. If you remove a cat from a home, you clean all the walls down, do the laundry, do the draperies, it still takes six months for the level of cat protein to get down to normal. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Learn more here. Dogs may have on and off development of bumps (or raised tufts of hair in multiple locations on the body), based on exposure to pollen or other allergens. Pet allergy: treatment. Dogs produce a variety of proteins that cause allergies in some people. All Rights Reserved. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. OTC medications, such as antihistamines and nasal decongestants, can also help a person reduce or manage their allergy symptoms. Pet allergy: Are you allergic to dogs or cats? Dog dander (dead skin cells) can linger in the air for a long time and can stick to household items, such as curtains, furniture, bedding, and carpets. Anallergistcan provide you with a diagnosis and treatment. Stansbury, J. Respiratory or asthma symptoms can be treated with inhaled corticosteroids or bronchodilators to either prevent or relieve respiratory symptoms. Creative Commons Attribution: Permission is granted to repost this article in its entirety with credit to VetDERM Clinic and a clickable link back to this page. People who are allergic to dogs can get relief from symptoms by avoiding dogs and places where there are dogs. If your pet is showing signs of a possible allergic reaction, call our office. That just allows the allergic patient to have a constant exposure to that allergen. http://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/treatments/allergy-shots-(immunotherapy), https://www.rspcapetinsurance.org.au/pet-care/health/managing-dog-allergies, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3680143/, https://acaai.org/allergies/types/pet-allergy, http://www.aafa.org/page/pet-dog-cat-allergies.aspx, https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/allergy-library/saline-sinus-rinse-recipe, http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/aarm/jrm/2014/00000003/00000001/art00009?crawler=true. We avoid using tertiary references. These allergens are found in dog hair, dander, saliva and urine. Last medically reviewed on July 11, 2017, The proteins all dogs produce are what trigger allergic reactions in people. An allergist can provide proper diagnosis and treatment. Hives can develop anywhere on the skin, though it is easier to see them on sparsely haired areas such as the belly and armpits. FDA requires boxed warning about serious mental health side effects for asthma and allergy drug montelukast (Singulair); advises restricting use for allergic rhinitis. If your dog is exhibiting any of these symptoms, be sure to visit your family vet and have them checked out. As allergies progress or persist, the scratching and inflammation of skin leads to trauma of hair follicles. Sometimes, an allergist will decide that an individual who thinks they are allergic to dogs is actually responding to other allergens commonly found on dogs or dog hair, such as dust or pollen. This is often seen at the belly, legs, and tail area. Even if youre sure your symptoms are caused by a dog, its a good idea to be tested, since the symptoms may actually be caused by other environmental exposures. But are you aware of the health risks linked to pet, Various treatments and strategies can help keep allergies at bay, including allergy shots. A List of Human Foods Dogs Can and Can't Eat, 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, setting up dog-free zones (certain rooms, such as a bedroom, where the dog is not allowed), bathing the dog weekly using a pet-friendly shampoo (done by a non-allergic person), removing carpeting, upholstered furniture, horizontal blinds, curtains, and any other items that may attract dander, using high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifiers to reduce airborne allergens in the home, keeping the dog outside (only in certain climates in a well-contained area and under humane conditions), using a trial period when introducing a new pet to the family to assess family members reactions to the new dog. During a skin-prick test, an allergist will put a droplet containing a tiny amount of dog proteins onto the skin. Keep reading to learn about lifestyle changes and medications that can help treat dog allergies. Pet dander can remain airborne for long periods of time as well. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Be advised that keeping the dog in only one room will not limit the allergens to that room. Cat allergy symptoms range from mild to severe, depending on an individuals sensitivity and the level of exposure to allergens. If a person lives with a dog, it is difficult to make the environment allergen-free. All rights reserved. This will lead to smelly, stinky ears that are obviously red and inflamed. Your pet could react to a number of potential allergens in his environment. In those cases, the allergy is to the dust or pollen, not to the cat. These injections help a person get used to an allergen over. A2011 studycompared dust samples from homes with dog breeds reported to be hypoallergenic and those of homes with other dogs. An allergist can perform tests and tell you how severe your dog allergy is and what types of treatments can help. Here's a list of 53 foods and whether or not your dog can eat. (2012). In these situations, a doctor may prescribe inhalable corticosteroids or bronchodilators that help keep the airways open. These medications help reverse the inflammation caused by immune responses and relieve nasal congestion. Dogs produce multiple allergens, or proteins that can cause allergy. All rights reserved. Food allergies are often the culprit when a pet has a gastrointestinal allergic reaction. A mild, persistent itch or furious scratching can both be indicators of an allergy (including a pollen allergy) due to increased exposure from being outdoors. Stay in the know with our quarterly newsletter: Coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and wheezing. Dogs can often develop sensitive skin that twitches or crawls upon touching it. This leads to hair loss. Allergy shots: Uses, effectiveness, and side effects, Causes and treatment of allergic wheezing, Everything you need to know about allergies, a skin rash that is red or consists of small, red, raised bumps called, tightness in the chest and shortness of breath, avoiding touching eyes or face after contact with dogs, washing hands with soap after contact with dogs, avoiding close contact with dogs, such as hugging or kissing them, using a vacuum cleaner designed to trap and contain airborne allergens, cleaning the house, washing the bedding weekly, and keeping the house tidy, restricting dogs to specific rooms or spaces, keeping dogs out of the bedroom and off furniture, wearing a dust mask and gloves while cleaning or in areas with dogs, brushing and cleaning dogs outdoors when possible. If your nose runs or you start sneezing and wheezing after petting or playing with a dog, you may be allergic to dogs. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2022 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology|Policies|Terms of Use| Built by Social Driver. All dogs produce allergens; studies have not shown that dogs can be hypoallergenic (not cause allergy). Be advised that keeping the cat in only one room will not limit the allergens to that room. These signs are the general signs of allergies in dogs, thus most environmental allergies can lead to these symptoms. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Allergens such as pollen not only affect the skin but also cause inflammation in dog ears. While poodles, Portuguese water dogs and a number of other breeds (including several types of terriers) have a reputation for being hypoallergenic, a truly allergy-free breed does not exist. Some home remedies can reduce symptoms. Eye symptoms are often treated with antihistamine eyedrops. For example, some pets with environmental allergies might benefit from bathing once per week. Keep the dog out of your bedroom and restrict it to only a few rooms. Results typically become evident within 15 to 20 minutes. Dog allergen levels in homes with hypoallergenic compared with nonhypoallergenic dogs. Many people choose to manage their symptoms by making lifestyle adjustments, such as more frequent housecleaning, but this can be extremely challenging. Pets: are you aware of the risks to human health? Thankfully for dog owners, the opposite appears to be true. While we cant blame a dog for loving attention and wanting to get pets and scratches, if your dog shows the above signs along with an increased interest in being scratched, allergies should be considered. FAD causes a longer, more intense reaction (up to 2 weeks after a bite) than typical itching associated with flea bites. Eye symptoms are often treated with antihistamine eyedrops. Some allergenslike dustare more difficult to avoid than others, but there are ways you can help to minimize your pets exposure. Giving your dog a bath at least once a week can reduce airborne dog allergen. 2004-2022 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. Spring, summer, and fall are usually the time of year when pollen allergies cause most discomfort to allergic pets. When allergic dermatitis is caused by an allergy to fleas, we call it flea allergy dermatitis (FAD). And what that means is that allergen remains airborne for at least 30 minutes after you disturb it in the room. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Pet allergy: Are you allergic to dogs or cats? OTC saline sprays and nasal lavage kits are readily available. Some dogs may only have mild discomfort and may not show the dramatic sign of reddened, smelly ears. These allergy shots help a person to build a tolerance to allergens. The pet hair itself is not an allergen, but the hair can hold dust and dander. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Has your dog been itching, scratching, biting, or licking itself more often than usual? Scooting (aka bum scooching) is another sign of itchiness related to rubbing of a body part to alleviate their itch. Several studies in the past few years including one published in the Journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology have found that exposing a baby to a pet doesnt increase the risk of developing allergies or asthma. Also called moist eczema, hot spots occur generally due to excessive moisture in a local part of the skin. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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chihuahua allergies symptoms