How Do I Deal With Allergy Due To Pets
Allergies | December 21, 2009Pet allergy is a type 1 allergy wherein the immune system overreacts to the existing protein substances (allergens) in the hair, saliva, urine, fur, feathers of (animals or birds) pets at home when the body is exposed to them. These proteins of the household pets cause inflammation in the respiratory airways and eyes, which results in symptoms of the hay fever and asthma. In addition, the reaction of the immune system to the proteins might also lead to atopic dermatitis and nettle rash.
There are multiple proteins on the hair and in the saliva and urine of household pets, to which when the skin is exposed or is inhaled, the immune system responds to this contact by generating antibodies. This production results in over secretion of the histamine chemical, which results in swelling and inflammation of the upper airways and eyes.
However, one cannot determine whether the allergens to which the body is sensitive comes from the others’ pets or have been transported by those people who were exposed to the pets. For example, in a school, many children can carry pet allergens, but one cannot determine who are that pupils unless tested. Further, the pet allergens (proteins) might spread even in air. Therefore, be careful when you are about to shift to another home or flat whose previous owners might have pets. This is because now-a-days, it is very common to have pets.
Pet Allergy Causes
The predisposition to allergy is considered to be often genetically inherited. Further, in childhood if you had asthmatic bronchitis and had lived in a house with pets (mostly a cat); you are more likely to be sensitive towards cats in your older times.
Listed below are the animals that can cause pet allergy.
Cats- Dogs
- Rats
- Mice
- Guinea pigs
- Hamsters
- Pet birds
- Horses
- Cows
- Poultry
Pet Allergy Symptoms
Listed below are the symptoms that are the indicators of pet allergy.
Hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis)- Sneezing
- A running or blocked nose
- Eye symptoms such as itching and watering
- Asthma
- Coughing and wheezing (for children having asthma)
- Children’s eczema, wherein itchy and red skin patches develops
- Nettle rash, wherein an itchy, reddish skin rash develops
Air pollution, tobacco smoke, fumes, and other environmental allergens such as pollens can worsen these symptoms.
Pet Allergy Diagnosis
If you suspect pet allergy, consult your doctor as soon as possible. The doctor will then ask you about how frequently you come in contact with your pet and what symptoms did you notice. Next, the doctor will undertake some relevant allergy tests such as skin and blood tests to confirm the allergy.
If pet allergies are suspected at a new place where already people were staying with pets, try to stay away from home for 15 days to see whether the noticeable symptoms go away. Next, you should consult a doctor or allergist, who is expert in dealing with all types of allergies, to diagnose the pet allergy.
Treatment from Your Side
The best effort from your side is to keep yourself away from things that provoke allergy reactions in your body. You need to ensure when you are in your home too. Listed below are certain guidelines that you can keep in mind regarding per allergy.
- Live without pets.
- Make sure that there is not too much furniture.
- Clean the walls, woodwork, floors clean using a wet cloth regularly.
- Use carpets that can be washed once in a week.
- Use bed sheets, blankets, and pillow covers that can be washed regularly. Avoid cotton and woolen blankets.
- Use chairs that are made up of either wood or plastic.
- Use plastic curtains and dust them daily.
- Clean the home using a vacuum cleaner with allergen filter daily or twice a week.
- Avoid getting in touch with the dusty traps such as artificial flowers, teddy bears, cushions, and toys.
- Avoid contact with old clothes and old things.
- Make use of a mask while cleaning the house.
- Avoid smoking.
Living with Pets despite of Allergy
There are certain pets, such as cats without the fur, in whom the quantity of allergens is less. This is fine for those people who are allergic from the fur; but what about those who are allergic from the cat spit or urine? So, if you still wish to live with a pet (not recommended for server allergic people), follow the listed below guidelines to avoid exposure to allergens.
- Wash your hands thoroughly when you touch a pet
- Bathe your dogs and cats once a month at a minimum in plain water. This is because it has been scientifically proved that cat bath once a month greatly reduces the amount of allergens at home.
- Dry up the pets after their bath.
- Avoid touching the food of fish and turtles if you are allergic to it. Ask somebody else, a non-allergic person, to feed them.
- Do not keep rabbits and guinea pigs in the home, as their urine can be problematic. Instead, live them outdoors and keep a non-allergic person to take care of them.
- Do not allow your pets to enter the bedroom or public rooms. The best solution is to keep them outside the house. You can also think of another home, for which, you need to take advice from RSPCA.
- Use anti-allergen filters.
- Use special air filtering systems (HEPA). You need to consult your doctor or an institution working for asthma patients prior to buying the devices.
Further Complications
Listed below are the further complications that might occur after pet allergy.
- Highly vulnerable to other respiratory diseases
- Ear infections
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Insomnia
- Severe asthma attack
Medicines
Listed below are the medicines used to treat pet allergy.
- Antihistamine Tablets or Syrup
These include antihistamines such as loratadine, cetirizine, and chlorphenamine. They act by reducing the intensity of the reaction by blocking the ill effects of the histamine chemical. These medicines are quite preferable for the treatment of hay fever. - Nasal Sprays or Drops
These medicines contain sodium cromoglicate, corticosteroids (beclometasone), or antihistamines (levocabastine). They act by providing relief from nasal symptoms and inflammation. - Eye Drops
These medicines contain sodium cromoglicate, nedocromil, or antihistamines (azelastine). They act by providing relief from eye symptoms.
Listed below are the medicines that deal with the asthma attack, which is one of the symptoms of pet allergy.
- Relievers (Bronchodilators)
Keeping the meaning of its name, the medicines of this category tackles the breathing difficulty by quickly acting and relaxing the muscles of the airways. - Preventers (Anti-inflammatories)
Comparing these with the relievers, they act gradually over a period and aims at reducing the inflammation in the airways. To obtain 100 percent benefit, you should use these medicines on a regular basis. These medicines, when taken with the correct dose an according to the needs, can reduce the need of the relievers.
Mostly preferably, to cure allergic asthma, an inhaled corticosteroid is given regularly along with a beta-2 agonist to improve the asthma symptoms.
Relievers
There are three more groups in this category of asthma medicines. If required, all these three can be given together.
Beta-2 Agonists
This group provides medicines acting for short period and long period. These medicines work by widening the airways, thus making it easier to breathe. The short-term beta-2 agonists start functioning in just a few minutes as soon as they enter into the body and works for 3 to 4 hours. Salbutamol (Ventolin) and terbutaline (Bricanyl) are the two commonly used beta-2 agonists, which can be inhaled through different delivery devices. Among these devices, the most common one is the pressurized Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI).
The long-term beta-2 agonists include salmeterol (Serevent) and formoterol (Foradil, Oxis). Their effects last long until 12 hours once they are taken. This indicates that only two doses of these medicines daily will suffice to keep the airways wide.
Anticholinergics
One of the factors that have a natural influence on the size of the airways is the nerves that are associated with the muscles that exist around the airways. The impulses of these nerves might result in contracting of the muscles, which in turn, narrow down the airways.
To reverse this effect of the nerve impulses, anticholinergic medicines such as ipratropium bromide (Atrovent) control these nerve impulses, which do not allow the muscles to contract. This prevents the airways to contract too, thus ensuring that the airways are open wide. Such an effect is noteworthy when there are factors or medical conditions leading to the contracting of the airways, such as chronic bronchitis.
Theophyllines and Aminophylline
These are the medicines that are given orally, but have their own side effects. Due to this reason, these medicines are not commonly used in the United Kingdom, but are in demand across the other parts of the world.
Preventers
In this category of asthma treaters, there are three more groups of anti-inflammatories.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids, popular as steroids, act on the inflammation in the airways such that it is minimized, which reduces the predisposition towards contraction. These medicines are preferably given as inhalers (beclometasone), but in some cases, oral tablets do form the part of the treatment depending on how severe the asthma attack is.
As steroids are quite effective, they are popular in the treatment of asthma despite they have serious side effects.
Cromones
These are the preventers that also act on the inflammation in the airways to prevent closed or contracted airways. These medicines are best suited for mild asthma. Mostly, they are given to be inhaled and are quite successful in cases of children; rather than that of adults.
The two medicines that belong to this group are sodium cromoglicate and nedocromil.
Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists
This group includes medicines such as montelukast (Singulair) and zafirlukast (Accolate).
Leukotrienes refer to the composite substances that are secreted by the inflammatory cells in the lungs. They have the potential to narrow down the airways, which makes it difficult for a person to breathe.
The medicines in this group block this effect of leukotrienes and provide relief in breathing.
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we had 2 dogs and a cat as our pet since a year but few months back my parents left them free because of such allergy problems due to those pets and it was getting harder to control those dogs and look after their needs properly
But still i love having pets
This article has helped me a lot for taking care of myself and my pets. I have 2 dogs at my place. Till now me and my family haven’t had any allergies:)
I have 3 cats and I do keep a watch on them for their health, their bath and hygiene. Also i take them for proper vaccination.