Pet allergies

An allergy is a hypersensitivity or abnormal reaction to a substance that most people usually find harmless. Substances that cause allergies are known as allergens.

Many people are allergic to substances found in the environment, such as pollen, dust mites or plants. They may be allergic to many other things: certain types of foods, textiles or chemicals. It is well known that many pet owners prefer to put up with the symptoms caused by allergies instead of getting rid of their pets but, unfortunately, many other pets are abandoned every year with the excuse that their owner has been diagnosed by the doctor as having an allergy.

Allergens found in cats and dogs are dander and saliva. The most frequent bird allergen is the dust shed by feathers. The urine of small pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, chinchillas, mice, rats and ferrets also contains reaction-causing allergens. Allergens have also been identified in the dander and saliva of these animals.

These are the most common symptoms of pet allergies:

Itching, watering and redness of the eyes
Rhinitis and/or nasal congestion
Sneezing
Itchy mouth, throat and/or nose
Chronic sore throat
Coughing and difficulty breathing
Eczema, hives, rashes...

There are many ways to reduce allergic symptoms:

Vacuum your pet’s bedding and housing, as well as your own carpets, rugs, sofas, beds, curtains, regularly
Have your pet brushed every day, preferably outside and by someone who is not allergic
Apply an anti-parasitic treatment against fleas, dust mites, ticks... since they cause itching and make your pet scratch more, therefore shedding more dander
And, finally, you can buy products that reduce the allergens found in pet fur. They can be applied on the fur with a washcloth, like a lotion, once a week. These products do not require that you bathe your pet, they leave no residue and are safe for people and animals.

As you have read in the article, being allergic to your pet does not mean that you will have to get rid of it.

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