Pet Allergies

Pet allergies represent one of the most common allergies. If you've ever had watery eyes and found yourself sneezing around a dog or a cat, for instance, you have pet allergies. But you can't stop there, because cats and dogs are not the only pets that may provoke an allergic reaction. Birds, and in some cases even hamsters, have also been known to provoke allergies.

Most people believe it's the fur of the animal or the feathers of the bird that trigger the allergic reaction. Actually, it's the flakes of animal skin, known as dander, that are responsible for your pet allergy symptoms. In rare cases, animal saliva may be the culprit, but far more often it's your pet's dander.

Because it's animal dander that serves as the allergen behind your pet allergies, it's not actually necessary for you to even be in the presence of your pet to experience an allergic reaction. You can undergo a reaction just by being in an area with pet dander. Moving into a home that was previously occupied by a dog or a cat, for instance, can cause allergic reactions for several months, until the dander gradually diappears from the environment.

Okay, so how does all this work?

If you're sensitive to pet allergens, when you come in contact with them, your body will respond by releasing a chemical substance known as histamine. This is your immune system trying to protect you from what it interprets as a danger. It's the release of the histamine that creates you allergic reaction. Watery eyes, a stuffy nose, itchy patches of skin, sneezing, these are all physical symptoms resulting from the histamine. In more serious cases, you may experience lung congestion, a cough, or breathlessness.

If you've experienced some of these symptoms and suspect they may be related to pet allergies, then the first thing to do is have your physician confirm your suspicions. He can easily do this with a combination of a skin scratch test and a blood test. Once your physician has diagnosed you as a pet allergy sufferer, then he can help you develop a treatment plan.

Antihistamines are the most commonly-used medication for relieving annoying the symptoms caused by allergens. Decongestants are often used as well. Or your physician may prescribe a combination of the two, depending on the severity of your symptoms.

Although the treatment for pet allergies is most often based on antihistamines, decongestants, and antibiotics meant to neutralize the action of the histamine, the most effective solution is to remove the source of the allergens. Unfortunately, in the case of pet allergies, this often means removing your favorite pet from the household. A tough decision for any pet owner.