Pet ownership continues to grow, and while pets can offer companionship and be positive for mental health, the close contact between animals and humans can also increase the risk of pet owners developing allergies to certain animals.
Like other allergies, pet allergies can be mild or severe, and the symptoms can vary from person to person, leading to long-term discomfort.
Common symptoms of pet allergies include sneezing, especially when or shortly after having close contact with certain animals. Other symptoms can consist of irritation of the eyes, with burning or itching being common. The eyes may redden over time and become puffy around the eyelids.
A runny and itchy nose is also a regular pet allergy symptom, as is nasal congestion and postnasal drip. An itchy nose can also be accompanied by an itchy mouth or throat. If the throat is affected, then this can lead to the development of a chronic cough.
Some pet allergies can produce more serious symptoms, such as breathlessness, wheezing, trouble breathing, and chest tightness. If a pet allergy leads to these symptoms, or even skin symptoms such as allergic dermatitis, which is an immune system response that can cause eczema and hives, then those afflicted should seek medical attention to ease their symptoms.
Pet allergy is a reaction to certain proteins that are found in an animal’s skin cells. This allergy can be caused by contact with animal fur as well as close contact with dead skin cells.
Pets such as cats and dogs can constantly shed skin cells and fur. These particles usually fill the atmosphere in pet owners’ homes and can be breathed in or accidentally transferred to the face and eyes, making an allergic response more likely to occur. The immune system is then likely to produce antibodies to try and protect the body from these allergens, and this reaction is what causes various symptoms to develop.
Prolonged exposure can create inflammation in the airways leading to chronic coughs and breathing problems, and is, therefore, a major risk factor, as is having asthma or other long-term medical conditions that affect the lungs.
Diagnosis of pet allergies is mostly made by studying the symptoms that are being displayed by the sufferer. A physical examination should focus on the skin, chest, and eyes. Even some lab tests, such as blood testing for antibodies, can confirm the presence of an allergy to certain animals.
Treatment in the form of antihistamines can help to bring temporary relief from allergy symptoms. These can come in both tablet form and as a nasal spray, similar to those that are used to treat hay fever.
Allergies can sometimes vanish by themselves, only to return once again later in life. However, the best treatment for allergies caused by exposure to animals is to vastly decrease the amount of time spent near pets and to regularly rid the environment of dead skin cells and fur. The cleaning of households should increase during hot weather when animals are likely to shed more potential allergens into the air.