While we spend a lot of time discussing pets’ allergies in the clinic, we often forget to mention peoples’ allergies to pets.
Thousands of people suffer from allergies to animals. Some of the most heartbreaking cases we see are people who dearly love a dog or cat but develop a severe allergy and must decide between keeping the pet and suffering daily or placing them in a new home. Fortunately, there are options for pet owners who have allergies.
Allergies can strike anyone at any age. Most people who suffer from pet allergies often have other mild or moderate allergies to pollens or molds. There is believed to be a strong genetic correlation in getting allergies, so if your parents have allergies, you likely will, too.
People who are allergic to animals are reacting to proteins in the dander — dead skin that is continually shed — saliva or urine. Because dogs and cats are the most common pets, they top the list of animals people are the most allergic to. However, people can also be allergic to birds, hamsters, rabbits, mice, guinea pigs, and larger animals such as horses, goats and cows.
People with multiple allergies are well aware that when they act up, they cause itchy eyes, runny nose, asthma symptoms, red itchy skin or a rash. People unaware that they have allergies, especially children, may believe these symptoms are from colds or asthma. If the person stays away from the animal for days or weeks, these symptoms will subside only to reoccur when they come into contact with the animal again.
No matter what your local breeder says, there are no hypoallergenic dogs, nor are there any dogs that do not shed. All dogs shed, though dogs with fur, which includes a dense undercoat, sheds more than those with a thin hair coat, such as poodles, terriers and schnauzers, as well as Chinese crested, which are mostly hairless.
But since the dander — and not the hair — is the problem, shedding is not that important in allergy control.
If you or a member of your family is part of the 15 percent of our population allergic to pets, there are things you can do to help keep allergic reactions under control and make your home a more comfortable place to live.
• Keeping animals out of bedrooms can greatly reduce allergy symptoms.
• Install a good HEPA air cleaner.
• Clean and vacuum regularly.
• Bathe your pet weekly and brush your pet daily.
• Do not allow your pet on the furniture.
• Do not allow your pet in your car.
• Wash your hands after handling the pet and its toys, bed, etc.
• See your physician and discuss possible immunotherapy or medications.
As an allergy sufferer myself, I know that telling allergic pet owners to get rid of their pets is not realistic. The same holds true for telling people who are allergic to animals to just avoid them. Animals and pets are an integral part of our lives and it is impossible to avoid contact with them. By adopting good management strategies, we can help allergic animal lovers keep their pets.
Dr. Toinette Strusinski-Broschay owns the Ash Veterinary Clinic in Carleton. Call 734-782-2827, email ashvet2012@gmail.com or visit ashveterinaryclinic.com.