Other Safe And Easy At
Aside from sensitivity treatments, you can take a number of other steps to help ease your dogs suffering. Many such treatments are inexpensive, although they can require a good deal of labor.
- Vacuum your home regularly, including all carpets, drapes, and other fabric-covered items. Use a vacuum designed specifically to collect pet hair preferably one that includes a HEPA filter to remove the most allergens possible.
- Bathe your dog regularly to help remove the allergens present on his skin before they can cause irritation.
- Consider purchasing a pet-focused air purifier capable of removing allergen-sized particles from the air in your home.
- Clean hard floors with a wet-wipe-style cleaner or broom designed to collect pet hair to remove dander and fur from these substances before they can float into the air or coat your dog.
- Consider separating your cat and dog, by restricting them to different portions of the house with the help of an indoor pet gate or even a repurposed baby gate! If this is not desirable or possible, try to move allergen-coated items away from areas your dog frequents.
- Provide your dog with omega-3 supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids not only reduce inflammation in a safe, natural manner, but they also help support skin health and the skins natural defenses.
Do you have a pooch who is allergic to cat dander? What steps have you taken to ease his suffering? Let us know what has worked and what hasnt worked in the comments below.
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What Is A Pet Allergy
Pet allergy occurs when our bodys allergic system becomes activated with any pet dander exposure, says Niha Qamar, MD, allergist, immunologist, and co-author of What? I Could Be Allergic to That?
According to a 2018 study, as many as 10% to 20% of the worldwide population has allergies to dogs and cats. While pet allergies are common, theyre especially prevalent in people who have a family history of allergies, says Dr. Qamar.
Allergy Shots For Severe Pet Allergies
Allergy shots are small doses of the pet allergen, over a period of time, which then lets the immune system see the allergen in small doses, says Ratika Gupta, MD, allergist/immunologist and the other co-author of What? I Could Be Allergic to That?Dr. Gupta recommends allergy shots as the best line of defense against severe pet allergies.
Also known as immunotherapy, allergy shots are supervised by your immunologist or allergist. This can essentially be considered a cure for allergies, Dr. Gupta says. However, they require a time commitment and can be expensive.
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Dog Allergy Management And Treatment
Avoidance is the best way to manage a dog allergy. If you have a dog and are allergic to dogs, consider removing the dog from the home.
If you have a dog but dont want to find it a new home, or if your family wants a dog even though someone in the household is allergic, here are some strategies that may help keep symptoms at bay:
- Keep the dog out of your bedroom and restrict it to only a few rooms. Be advised that keeping the dog in only one room will not limit the allergens to that room.
- Dont pet, hug or kiss the dog if you do, wash your hands with soap and water.
- High-efficiency particulate air cleaners run continuously in a bedroom or living room can reduce allergen levels over time.
- Regular use of a high-efficiency vacuum cleaner or a central vacuum can reduce allergen levels.
- Giving your dog a bath at least once a week can reduce airborne dog allergen.
Treatments for dog allergy vary, depending on the symptoms.
Your allergist can help determine what treatment would be best to treat your dog allergy. Nasal symptoms are often treated with steroid nasal sprays, oral antihistamines or other oral medications. Eye symptoms are often treated with antihistamine eyedrops. Respiratory or asthma symptoms can be treated with inhaled corticosteroids or bronchodilators to either prevent or relieve respiratory symptoms.
Allergy shots are an effective treatment of allergies by building tolerance over time through gradually injecting increasing doses of an allergen.
What Causes Dogs To Be Allergic To Cats
Genetics play a significant role in determining if your dog will be allergic to cats or not. While some may assume that having a dog near a cat could increase its odds of becoming allergic to it, this is not the case. In fact, the opposite seems to be true. Dogs that live in a household with cats tend to have fewer chances of developing allergies.
This is most likely because the immune system can recognize cat dander and not have an allergic response to it. For dogs that were not raised in households that had cats, the chances are higher that they could develop allergies once exposed to one.
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What Is Inhalant Allergy Or Atopy
Inhalant allergy or atopy is not well understood in cats. In dogs and humans, atopic dermatitis generally refers to allergic reactions to environmental allergens such as pollens, grasses, molds, mildew, and house dust mites).
“Most cats that have an inhalant allergy are allergic to several allergens.”
Many of these allergies occur seasonally, such as ragweed, cedar, and grass pollens. However, others are with us all the time, such as molds, mildew, and house dust mites. When humans inhale these allergens, we express the allergy as a respiratory problem. In humans, atopy is also sometimes called ‘hay fever’. The cat’s primary reaction to atopy is severe, generalized itching.
Most cats that have an inhalant allergy are allergic to several allergens. If the number of allergens is small and they are seasonal, itching may last for just a few weeks at a time during one or two periods of the year. If the number of allergens is large or they are present year-round, the cat may itch constantly.
Pet Allergy: Are You Allergic To Dogs Cats Or Other Animals
About 7 out of 10 of households in the United States have a pet.1 But many people have animal allergies, especially people who have other allergies or asthma. Allergies to cats and dogs affect 10 to 20% of the worlds population.2
Allergies to pets with fur, such as cats and dogs, are common. Even rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, ferrets, and horses can cause allergy symptoms. People can also be allergic to animals with feathers .
When you have a pet allergy, you are not allergic to the pets hair, fur, or feathers. You are allergic to the protein that is found in the pets dander saliva, and urine. The hair, fur, or feathers collect the dander. It can also carry other allergens like dust mites, mold, and pollen. When those proteins get into your airways, eyes, nose, mouth, or on your skin, it triggers allergy symptoms.
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How Does Pet Allergy Occur
Pet allergens are most concentrated in homes with pets. But they are also found in buildings and public spaces without pets.
The main source of dog allergen is saliva, either directly from licking or from being transferred to their dander or hair. Cat allergens mainly come from glands in their skin and are spread through licking and grooming.
Pet allergens are sticky and can remain for months or years after a pet has gone. They can become airborne and attach to clothes and hair.
People can become sensitive to, or have an allergic reaction to, cats or dogs without ever having owned a pet.
Seasonal Allergies In Cats
According to veterinarian research, few cats suffer from seasonal allergies. They can sneeze more due to physical irritation from pollen. If you notice excessive sneezing, keep cats inside when the pollen count is expected to be high outside.
To reduce the amount of pollen tracked into your home, remove shoes at the door or invest in a thick welcome mat. However, those few cats with allergies will display similar allergy symptoms to dogs.
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How Do Pet Allergens Spread
Whether its cat allergen or dog allergen, it leaves the animal and gets in the air. Once it is airborne it is either inhaled or sticks to the first surface it touches. That can be a wall, a chair, a lamp, or even a shirt or the skin of its owner. No matter what it touches, as soon as it is disturbed it is in the air again.
As long as the protein is in the air, there is a chance you will inhale it. Inhaling the allergen starts the allergic reaction.
If a dog licks you, you are getting a direct dose of the allergen. Also, dried saliva can flake off toys and pet beds and become airborne. The airborne allergen can stick to anything.
Cat allergen is found in hospitals, airplanes and other places you wouldnt expect to find it. Thats because cat owners carry a coating of the allergen on their clothes, their skin and their hair. Cat owners drop this allergen everywhere they go.
Dog owners do the same thing, but because dogs dont produce the same quantity of allergen, dog owners dont spread as much.
How Are Pet Allergies Diagnosed
Doctors diagnose pet allergies with a simple skin or blood test. In some cases, doctors use self-reported evidence as proof of pet allergies. For example, your doctor may diagnose pet allergies if you get hives after being around a certain type of animal.
During skin testing, a doctor:
Your skin reacts only to the specific allergens that affect your body. Skin reactions to allergens usually occur within 15 minutes of exposure.
Your doctor may recommend a blood test if you are taking certain medications or if a skin prick test would be unsafe.
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Can You Be Allergic To Cats And Not Dogs
The United States is going to the dogs. Cats too. According to the American Pet Products Association, there are about 78 million dogs and 85.8 million cats living in homes in the US. That means almost 44% of all households have a dog and 35% have a cat. In case you didnt notice, there are more cats per household than dogs.
Thats an incredible amount of shed fur, skin and pet dander in our homes. Thats a problem for people with cat or dog allergies. But can you be allergic to one and not the other? Is it possible to be allergic to dogs and live in a house filled with cats?
Can Dogs Be Allergic To Cats How Can You Tell
You might already be familiar with the fact that people can be allergic to cats, but did you know that dogs can also be allergic to cats? Its true dogs can be allergic to cats just like people can, and when near them, dogs may itch, sneeze, and cough. Read on to learn more about how dogs can be allergic to cats and what you can do if its the case for your dog!
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Can A Dog Be Allergic To Cats
Reviewed for accuracy on May 6, 2019, by Dr. Katie Grzyb, DVM
You already know that people can be allergic to cats. Exposure to cat dander creates a host of discomforting symptoms for humans, from sneezing and itchiness to wheezing and coughing. But can your dog be allergic to cats as well?
Yes, dogs can actually be allergic to cats, and they can even suffer from many of the same symptoms as allergic humans do. But there are steps you can take to help manage your dogs allergies so that your pets can happily coexist.
Can Pets Be Allergic To Food
It often comes as a surprise to some pet parents that their four-legged friends can also suffer from food allergies. However, hypersensitivity to food can develop in any breed at any age, even to something your cat or dog has eaten for years. It often takes some detective work to find out what substance is causing your pet allergy.
The most common food allergens for pets include: beef, chicken, dairy, and wheat. Cat and dog food allergy symptoms are similar. They will typically have itchy skin, chronic ear infections or sometimes gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea and vomiting. An elimination diet can be used to determine what food your cat or dog has an allergy to.
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Dealing With Allergies In Dogs And Cats
Allergies are quite common in pets. They can range from food allergies, skin allergies, or even allergies to fleas and ticks. Sometimes its hard to tell if a dog or cat is being playful by rolling around on their back or if theyre actually suffering from allergies and rolling around in attempt to scratch their itchiness.
The best way to determine whether your pet is suffering from food allergies, skin allergies, or allergies to other environmental factors is to visit your easyvet veterinarian so they can perform tests to get to the bottom of the issue. Easyvet clinics can perform allergy testing and provide the appropriate medications as well as nutritional counseling to make sure your dog or cat is allergy-free and living their best life.
How To Treat Pet Allergies
It’s essential to address the issue at the first sign of discomfort. The more your pet is exposed to the allergens they are sensitive to, the more intense and long-lasting their allergic response can be.
Some pets have mild, seasonal symptoms that can be managed by bathing with a hypoallergenic shampoo or applying a medicated spray.
The best treatment for allergies is to remove the allergens from the environment. Easier said than done, however. If you are not sure what causes your pet’s allergic reaction, check with your veterinarian.
After conducting a physical examination, they may be able to determine the source of your dog’s allergy. If not, your vet can recommend skin or blood tests or a special elimination diet to determine what’s causing the allergic reaction.
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What Causes Pet Allergies
Allergic reactions to cats, dogs and other furry animals are caused by proteins found in flecks of the pets skin, called dander, as well as in their saliva and urine. These tiny proteins can hang suspended in the air for a long time, settle in furniture, rugs and house dust that circulates throughout your home. You are really not allergic to the fur of your pet. You are allergic to pet dander.
Keep Your Dogs Fur Clean With A Damp Cloth
Aside from medicated shampoo, you can also clean your dogs fur in between washes by wiping its fur with a damp cloth. You can do this whenever theyve been exposed to a cat.
A damp cloth can help remove cat dander from your dogs fur which causes allergy symptoms. Wiping the dander from your dogs coat can help reduce the amount of itchiness it feels. It can also reduce its need to scratch .
Using a cloth to wipe your dogs fur is also an excellent solution for fussy dogs. Its also helpful to do when you cannot give your dog a bath right away.
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Tips To Reduce Pet Allergies
Lyuba Burakova / Stocksy United
Spring means allergy season is here, and allergies to pets can be a big problem for pet lovers. Hot weather games may be fun or may mean more time spent indoors avoiding sunburn for both people and pets. Its also the time of year for pollen, mold, and dust, so allergy sufferers double up the dose of misery. Even if you arent directly allergic to your cat or dog, they act like furry dust mops that trap and hold allergens that may set you off.
Why You Can Be Allergic To Dogs But Not Cats
Have you ever heard someone say
Im allergic to dogs, can I keep a cat?
Are cats better for people with allergies than dogs?
Are cats hypo-allergenic?
Well, one direct answer to it would be I cant say for sure.
Why?
Because there are so many species of dogs and cats and likewise allergies. You all must be familiar with the fact that there is no such animal species especially of these pet animals that is allergy-free. The same idea goes for allergies, that if one sensitive person stays safe with a pet, chances are the other allergic person will not with the same pet.
Allergies are caused by multiple reasons from dust to pollen to animals fur, saliva, and their waste. All this comes down to the allergy that you have.
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Allergy Cases Are On The Rise Among Pets With Animals Allergic To Dust Grass Polleneach Other
Listen to article
Sitting in the veterinarians office last summer with her dog Baloo, Beth Kingston braced for bad news. Just four years old, her Great Dane-black Labrador mix had been acting lethargic, with a runny nose and flaking skin. Worried it might be a deadly heart condition common to Great Danes, the vet ran a series of blood tests.
Baloos heart was fine, Thank God, Ms. Kingston says. But the lab resultswhich cost nearly $1,000were still full of surprises.
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