MANAGING AND LIVING WITH

A PET ALLERGY

Pets – we love them, but……….

Our beloved Fur and Feathered friends may be the cause of our sneezing, wheezing, runny nose, watery eyes and congestion. Did you know, symptoms can linger long after a pet has left the house? Dander (fur, feathers and skin debris) remains in the air, on furniture and on clothing.

You may think “well I’ve always been stuffy; it must be sinuses or something else” but if you’ve always loved and kept pets in your home it may just be that you’ve always been allergic but never diagnosed.

Pet allergy is unfortunately common. Manifestations can include sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, wheezing or skin hives.

Love animals but hate Allergies? There is hope!

Fact: There is no truly “hypoallergenic breeds” of dogs or cats. A totally hairless cat for example still has skin and sheds it, so it can still cause allergic reactions in humans.

But giving up your beloved Fido, Kitty or Squawker isn’t always necessary.

Whereas attempts to minimise allergen exposure are encouraged, patients may need antihistamine tablets or eye drops for symptom relief. See your doctor who may prescribe a nasal spray.

If none of the above is working, try seeing an Allergist and Immunologist specifically with a view to commence desensitisation (immunotherapy) that can be tailor-made to your allergy profile. The treatment involves administration of small amounts of allergen vaccines as injections, oral sprays or tablets.

Strategies for living with pets

Minimise close contact. It often helps to keep the pet out of your bedroom and off upholstered furniture.

Have your pet regularly and professionally groomed, gained or washed. Besides their own allergens, pets may carry other allergens such as dust mites on the coat or fur.

Avoid carpets. Where possible replace them with wood floors and tiles as these harbour less pet hair and are much easier to clean. When carpets are present, make sure they are regularly cleaned. A vacuum cleaner with a microfilter bag or HEPA filter may be a useful investment for households with pets.