At what age do pet allergies develop
Can You Develop Allergies Later in Life?
Allergies happen when your body detects some kind of foreign substance, such as a pollen grain or pet dander, and activates an immune system response to fight it off.
Allergens develop in two phases.
Phase 1
First, your immune system mistakes a harmless substance (antigen) that you inhale, ingest, or absorb through your skin, as dangerous and creates antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE). This part is called sensitization.
Depending on what kind of allergy you have, such as pollen or food, these antibodies are localized in your airways including your nose, mouth, throat, windpipe, and lungs your gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and your skin.
Phase 2
If youre exposed to that allergen again, your body releases inflammatory substances, including the chemical histamine. This causes blood vessels to dilate, mucus to form, skin to itch, and airway tissues to swell up.
This allergic reaction is meant to stop allergens from getting in and to fight off any irritation or infection that might be caused by the allergens that do get in. Essentially, you can think of allergies as an overreaction to those allergens.
From then on, your body responds similarly when its exposed to that allergen in the future. For mild airborne allergies, you might experience symptoms of puffy eyes, stuffy nose, and itchy throat. And for severe allergies, you may have trouble breathing, rapid heart rate, hives, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Most people remember first getting allergy symptoms at a young age about
Many people outgrow their allergies by their 20s and 30s, as they become tolerant to their allergens, especially food allergens such as milk, eggs, and grains.
But its possible to develop an allergy at any point in your life. You may even become allergic to something that you had no allergy to before.
It isnt clear why some allergies develop in adulthood, especially in ones 20s or 30s.
Lets get into how and why you can develop an allergy later in life, how you can treat a new allergy, and whether you can expect a new allergy or an existing one to go away with time.
Seasonal allergies
The most commonly developed adult-onset allergies are seasonal. Pollen, ragweed, and other plant allergens spike at certain times of the year, usually the spring or fall.
Pet allergies
Have a feline or canine friend? Being constantly exposed to their dander, or skin flakes that slough off and become airborne, and chemicals from urine and saliva that get on dander can cause you to develop an allergy.
Food allergies
Nearly
Other common food allergens in adults are peanuts and tree nuts and fruit and vegetable pollen.
Many children develop food allergies and often have less and less severe symptoms as they get older.
It isnt exactly clear why allergies might develop in adulthood.
Researchers believe that a
In some cases, these links are easy to see and represent what is known as the allergic march. Children who have food allergies or skin conditions like eczema may develop symptoms of seasonal allergies, like sneezing, itching, and sore throats, as they get older.
Then, symptoms fade for a while. They may return in your 20s, 30s, and 40s when youre exposed to an allergy trigger. Possible adult allergy triggers can include:
- Allergen exposure when your immune system function is reduced. This happens when youre sick, pregnant, or have a condition that compromises your immune system.
- Having little exposure to an allergen as a child. You may not have been exposed to high enough levels to trigger a reaction until adulthood.
- Relocating to a new home or workplace with new allergens. This could include plants and trees that you werent exposed to before.
- Having a pet for the first time. Research suggests this can also happen after a long period of having no pets.
Other
- genetic factors
- changes in immune function as you get older
- having certain health conditions
- medications
The short answer is yes.
Even if you develop allergies as an adult, you may notice they start to fade again when you reach your 50s and beyond.
This is because your immune function is reduced as you get older, so the immune response to allergens also becomes less severe.
Some allergies you have as a child may also go away when youre a teen and well into your adulthood, perhaps making only a few appearances throughout your life until they disappear permanently.
Here are some possible treatments for allergies, whether you have a mild seasonal allergy or a severe food or contact allergy:
- Take antihistamines. Take a nonsedating antihistamine, such as cetirizine (Zyrtec), loratadine (Claritin), fexofenadine (Allegra) before youre exposed to an allergen to prevent symptoms. You can take diphenhydramine (Benadryl) as soon as possible after developing symptoms to reduce their severity and duration.
- Get a skin-prick test. This test can help you see what specific allergens trigger your reactions. Once you know what youre allergic to, you can try to avoid that allergen or reduce your exposure as much as possible.
- Consider getting allergy shots (immunotherapy). The shots can gradually build up your immunity to your allergy triggers within a few years of regular shots.
- Keep an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) nearby. Having an EpiPen is important in case youre accidentally exposed to an allergy trigger, which can result in low blood pressure and throat swelling/airway constriction that makes it hard or impossible to breathe (anaphylaxis).
- Tell the people around you about your allergies. If your symptoms can be severe or life threatening, theyll know how to treat you if you have an allergic reaction.
Some allergy symptoms are mild and can be treated with reduced exposure to the allergen or by taking medication.
But some symptoms are severe enough to disrupt your life, or even life threatening.
Seek emergency medical help, or have someone around you get help if you notice any of the following symptoms:
You can develop allergies at any time during your life.
Some may be mild and depend on seasonal variations in how much of that allergen is in the air. Others may be severe or life threatening.
See your doctor if you start to notice new allergy symptoms so that you can learn what treatment options, medications, or lifestyle changes may help reduce your symptoms or keep them under control.
Can Pet Allergies Develop Later In Life (Stronger Symptoms)
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It sounds crazy, but imagine waking up one day in your 40s with allergy symptoms. You look around your house for the culprit. Maybe its the houseplants or maybe you left a window open.
Youve always kept your cat and dog in the house without a problem so you know the symptoms arent from your pets. Or are they?
If this sounds familiar, youre not alone. 10 percent of Americans are allergic to household pets and cats are 2x more likely to cause allergies than other indoor pets (source). Like other allergies, those caused by pets are on the rise!
Interestingly, pet allergies can develop later in life. In fact, they can develop at any time and allergies can even vanish on their own too.
In the sections below, Ill share my experience with pet allergies and the reactions I began getting at age 30. We will also discuss what can cause allergies later in life and what you can do to find relief.
My Pet Allergies Appeared At Age 30
A few years ago, at the age of 30, I began feeling itchy after being around dogs and cats (especially cats).
I remember visiting a friends house and seeing pet hair on the couches and carpet. I thought nothing of it until I made it home later the same day. I began to itch and broke out in hives.
My reactions were delayed so I wasnt sure the exact reason for my symptoms. Also, I didnt sneeze or have a stuffy nose, so I wasnt experiencing the typical symptoms youd expect with allergy.
A few weeks later I visited my aunt and stayed the night at her house. The house was full of cats and dogs. The next morning I woke up with hives all over my body. It was obvious: I was allergic to pets and was experiencing symptoms that I never had growing up.
I grew up with dogs and had never experienced allergy symptoms. Nor had I felt different when I visited friends and family members had cats.
I thought to myself, What is going on with my immune system?. Why was I reacting to all these harmless things in my environment? Could I have developed allergies later in life?
Can You Get Cat And Dog Allergies Later In Life
Its important to note that most people will develop allergies as children or as young adults in their early 20s. It is rare for older adults to develop new allergies, however, its not impossible.
According to immunologistKanao Otsu(National Jewish Health), most adult allergies will have existed in the individual as a child, however, the symptoms may have been minor.
After speaking with my allergist, I understood that I likely had pet allergies when I was young. At an early age, my body was resilient enough that I may not have noticed the symptoms. Over time the symptoms became stronger because the allergies werent addressed.
During my life, Ive moved a lot for work so Ive gone from dry arid environments to lush tropical environments. My body has worked to adjust to new areas and differing levels of allergens.
Ive also lived in stressful environments and taken high amounts of antibiotics due to the work Ive done. These may or may not have affected my allergies, however, stress, antibiotics, pregnancies, and major lifestyle changes will have a profound effect on your body, especially the immune system.
Things that may affect your immune system could include:
- Lifestyle changes
- Stressful periods
- Pregnancy
- Location changes
- Antibiotic use
The Color And Breed Of Your Pet May Influence Your Allergy
According to Dr. Clifford Bassett, an allergy and asthma specialist and Medical Director of Allergy and Asthma Care of New York, the color and gender of your cat could play a major role in your allergies (source).
In his research, he found that darker colored cats are more likely to cause allergic symptoms than light-colored cats. In addition, female cats produce less pet allergen than their male counterparts.
Actionable Steps To Reduce Pet Allergy Symptoms
Developing an allergy to pets can be discouraging, however, there are a number of ways you can reduce your exposure to pet allergens in the house.
#1 Limit Pet Presence in Bedrooms and Invest In Allergen-Proof Mattress and Pillow Covers
I understand you wont want to be separated from your pets, but you can control which rooms they are allowed to go into. Its as simple as shutting your bedroom door and it could improve your sleep (my favorite allergy-proof bedding).
Most people believe than allergy bedding is for dust mites, but allergy bedding does a great job of keeping pet allergens out of your mattress and pillows. Over time, pet hair and dander will find their way into your bedding where they can cause allergy symptoms for years.
Allergen-proof covers will keep them out, and trap allergens inside (if youre using an old mattress or pillow) and away from your skin/airways.
#2 Use Allergy-Quality Furnace Filters
A trip to the home improvement store wont provide you with good allergy protection. To find the best options for allergy, youll need to look online.
3M and Nordic Pure make filters that will trap cat, dust mite, and pollen allergens, as well as bacteria and odors (my ranking of best furnace filters for allergies).
I turn my HVAC vent on 1x each day and it helps filter most of the air in my house. Allergy filters need to be changed more frequently (1x every 8 weeks depending on its use), however, regular use will help reduce dust and allergens in the home, making it easier to breathe.
#3 Air Purifier (HEPA) and Vacuum
High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance, or HEPA filters, are important for anyone with indoor allergens. HEPA filters are will remove 99.97% of microparticulates fro the air and virtually all allergens.
An air purifier is meant to run continuously in your home, where it can clean the air multiple times per day (my recommendations for quality air purifiers for allergies). A HEPA vacuum will help with cleaning and is especially important if you have carpets.
Regular vacuums dont have small enough filters to capture allergens and end up blowing dust around the house they make allergies worse!
#4 Remove Pets from the House
Yes, I know this wont be popular, however, its still an option. Depending on how bad your allergies are, you might need to keep your pets outside.
For some people, pet allergy can cause asthma and other life-threatening problems and the house should be kept extra clean.
#5 Allergy Shots or Drops
Allergy shots or drops are something Ive used for the past 5 years. The process is administered by a board-certified allergist and involves regular shots, or drops, of the things youre allergic to.
Over time, the allergen in the shots/drops is built up and your body realizes that the substances are harmless and stops reacting to them (sounds simple, right?).
If youre highly allergic to your pets, but refuse to put them outside, or give them away, then allergy shots might be the best solution (my personal experience with allergy shots).
They require time and money, but over time, most people will spend less money on over-the-counter medicine like nasal sprays and antihistamine pills.
Conclusion
Can pet allergies develop later in life? You bet they can, but more than likely, your allergies have just become worse over time.
After speaking with my doctor, I learned I likely had minor pet allergies as a kid and my reactions became stronger over time. I learned what I could do to keep my pets and live with pet allergy and the lifestyle changes I made werent a hassle.
I paid close attention to my bed and kept pets out of the room. I also invested in allergy-proof covers for my bed. I made the switch from cheap furnace filters to high-quality filters and also installed an air purifier in the corner of my bedroom.
If you feel your pet allergies have developed later in life, consider these changes in your home environment.
If you need more help and have good insurance, try allergy shots. Allergy shots (subcutaneous immunotherapy) is the closest thing to a cure for allergies and it can significantly reduce your allergy reactions for pets (or eliminate them all together).
Allergy shots are a time commitment so most people wont want to go through the process unless they are really suffering.
Thanks for reading another Dust Mite Solutions blog post. Let us know in the comments if you developed pet allergies later in life.
