Can you overcome pet allergies

Is It Possible To Overcome An Allergy To Dogs? (Yes. Read This Story)

Allergy sufferers do have a hard time of it. It begins when Spring comes along and renders the unfortunate hay fever collective blind and snivelling, followed by an on-off-on again Summer, which renders anyone unfortunate enough to be allergic to grass or sunshine nocturnal.

People with certain food allergies are only one careless chef away from a trip to the hospital, whilst those with fur allergies can be affected by an animal that has a natural desire to climb, shake, run, chase and in many cases, hug. Good luck avoiding that dog when he wants to play.

So let us spare a thought for those who get the dog of their dreams, only then to discover they have an allergy to their new best friend. John F. Kennedy, despite having severe allergic reactions to his German Shepherds, was a devoted dog owner.

Rebecca Lovegrove too, is allergic to dogs, but that hasnt stopped her being an animal behaviourist and dog owner. Here she shares some of the tips and secrets she has used to cope with an allergy to her best friend.

I think I may have just broken the record for sneezing. Twenty four sneezes in the space of four minutes surely must warrant a place in the Guinness Book of Records. Mind you I could also try and win the award for possessing the reddest and itchiest eyes in the world. I cant even count the number of times I have had to don a pair of dark glasses (in the middle of winter I might add) before leaving the house so I dont scare people with my swollen, bloodshot eyes.

All this just because I gave my dog, a chocolate Labrador, a big hug. If he even licks me on the skin I will erupt in a raised, itchy, red rash.

Its not just dogs, but pretty much any animal with hair that will set me off. I am now used to the horrified responses and sometimes hysterical laughter from people who have just discovered that I am about to become a pet behaviourist.

It is estimated that between ten and fifteen percent of the UK population who own companion animals are actually allergic to them. Whilst some people may not realise until they have bought their pet that they have an allergy, I know many people, including myself who knew full well before deciding to provide a home for their pet what they were letting themselves in for. The fact that so many people are willing to live with such discomfort and in some cases with a real risk to their health just highlights the positive aspects that owning a dog can bring.

People often assume it is the animal hair itself which causes these extreme reactions in those people unlucky enough to have an allergy. It is actually not the hair itself that causes the problem, but dander.

Dander is basically dead hair and skin cells which are constantly shed from an animal. It is extremely lightweight and can stay airborne for hours. These cells contain proteins which have been secreted by oily glands and it is these proteins which are known as allergens that react with some peoples immune system to cause the allergic response.

There are precautions that can be taken which may not cure, but can certainly help control the intensity of such allergic responses and which can make living with our hairy tormentors a little more bearable.

1. Medication

This is an obvious one, but making sure you take your antihistamines and inhalers on a regular basis and not just when an allergic episode occurs can help prevent more serious outbreaks.

2. Skin Treatments for Dogs

There are a number of products on sale including shampoos and sprays which you rub into your pets fur and which help eliminate the allergens and control dander.

3. Household Cleaning Regime

Damp dusting and regular vacuuming of all areas inhabited by your pet is essential. During my dogs moulting periods our normally white wooden stairs are turned a lovely shade of chocolate with the amount of hair he sheds. I sometimes wonder hes not bald!

Although it is sometimes hard, but for people with severe allergies it is wise to keep one room in the house (preferably the bedroom) free from pets at all times to give the sufferer a break during a bad period.

Read: How to get rid of dog smells in your home

4. Regular Grooming

Although it would be best if the allergy sufferer did not actually partake in the grooming regime at all, it is sometimes unavoidable. Grooming on a weekly basis is advisable but depending on the breed and whether they are moulting a more regular brush may be advisable. Grooming in a wide open space away from your house is best. I usually brush my dog whilst we are out on a walk and am lucky in the fact that unlike many dogs he is not scared of the vacuum cleaner and would lie there for hours having his back hovered if he could!!

5. Your Dogs Diet

Making sure you feed your dog a diet high in essential nutrients and fatty acids (Omega 3 and 6) can help keep their skin moist and reduce shedding of dander. Making sure you feed your pet a high quality feed is obviously essential for his health but lower quality cheaper brands contain fillers such as corn and wheat which can be bad for your dogs digestion and cause more shedding and skin flaking.

6. Air Filters

There are numerous brands of air filters on the market which act by trapping airborne particles including pet allergens which may help reduce symptoms.

7. Wash, Wash, Wash

The simple act of washing your hands after touching your pet can stop a bad reaction. Even if I briefly rub my eye hours after I last touched my dog it can have disastrous consequences, well disastrous in terms of the aesthetic appeal of my eye to onlookers. I have discovered a liquid hand sanitising gel which you simply rub into your hands and which dries in seconds, thus removing the constant need for trips to the sink.

There are also special anti-allergen cleaning materials available for your carpets and clothes.

8. Dog Breeds: Surely hypo-allergenic dog breeds are best?

There are no totally non-allergic breeds of dogs; however there are some which people claim are better suited to people with allergies for particular reasons but be very wary of these sort of claims. It's easier to just recognise that there is no such thing as a totally hypo-allergenic dogs, no matter what some breeders may claim.

Are short haired dog breeds better for allergy sufferers?

No. It is a myth that short haired dog breeds are better for people with allergies. Do not work on the assumption that short haired breeds will be more or less likely to stimulate an allergy. A Labrador is short haired yet as I have already said, sheds an awful lot. Poodles and schnauzers are the best known for being suited to people with allergies as they seem to shed less dander than many other breeds.

Living with a pet you are allergic too can be frustrating when you cannot pet them as much as your would like. There are times when I have been half way through a manic sneezing fit, with eyes so sore I could have cried, that I have seriously wondered whether I would be better off without him. But the good times always outweigh the bad and once I am over the attack I have terrible guilt feelings that I even could have thought such a thing, its not as if its his fault in the end.

So if you have just discovered you are allergic to your new family member dont be disheartened, there are a number of things you can do to deal with this and you are by no means alone. If you are thinking of getting a pet and dont think you would want to live a life of allergies, make sure you find out first if you or any family members may have an allergy before you put yourselves and the animal through the trauma of having to be re-homed.

Interestingly, it has been shown through research that living with a pet in the first year of a childs life can reduce the occurrence of allergies developing in the future as it builds up their immune system.

Can people with allergies have a dog?

Yes. People with allergies can have a dog. However, it very much depends on the severity of the allergy and the practical management plan you are able to put in place to minimise symptoms.

Have you overcome pet allergies? We'd love to hear your own stories!

This article first appeared in K9 Magazine issue 68. Updated June 26, 2021.

Scientists May Have Found Out How to Get Rid of Cat Allergies

That sneezing, wheezing, congested, itchy eye, must-escape-this-room-because-I-cant-breathe-around-this-cat feeling can ruin even the best of daysespecially if you are a cat lover.

But now, you might be able to avoid the allergies altogether, instead of avoiding the furry feline.

You read that right. There have been some very promising scientific breakthroughs that can help alleviate the symptoms of cat allergies altogether. Breathing comfortably without red, itchy eyes could become the norm for allergy sufferers.

And we arent talking about allergy shots or desensitization therapy, either.

These new treatments for cat allergies arent for youtheyre actually administered to your cat. The goal is to help make them less likely to incite an inflammatory process in you.

Heres everything you need to know about the potential new cat allergy treatments.

Am I Allergic to Cat Hair?

To help you understand how these new treatments would work, let me quickly break down cat allergies.

If you are amongst the 1 in 5 people worldwide who suffer a range of allergic symptoms when youre near a cator even near someone who has a catyour allergies are actually NOT caused by the animals fur.

This is why a short-haired cat likely invokes the same allergic response as a long-haired Persian cat.

The culprit behind your sneezing and wheezing and puffy eyes is a protein in a cats saliva and sebaceous glands (hair follicle glands that produce sebum, an oily secretion that waterproofs their coat and maintains skin health). That glycoprotein is called Fel d1.

When cats groom themselves, some hairs break loose and become airborne. The offending protein in the salivathat Fel d1 allergenis carried on the hairs, so they become distribution vehicles for the potent allergen thats causing your inflammatory response.

Recent Studies for Cat Allergy Cures

For the first time ever, science is offering hope to cat-allergy sufferers everywhere. In just a few years, your options may extend beyond HEPA filters, asthma inhalers, allergy medications and avoidance.

Two studies have discovered different ways to tackle the problem at its root. The idea is to neutralize the feline allergen itself instead of trying to minimize a persons allergic response.

HypoPet AG Vaccine Study

Scientists at a pharmaceutical company in Switzerland have announced the development of a conjugate vaccine called HypoCat (hypoallergenic cat) that binds to and neutralizes the major cat allergen, Fel d1.

According to the studies recently performed, cats who received the HypoCat vaccine according to the protocol did indeed have lower levels of Fel d1 in the blood.

Although it is somewhat more subjective, the allergic humans involved in the study did show less allergic symptoms around the vaccinated cat compared to unvaccinated cats.

Due to the encouraging results, the Swiss company is moving ahead with registration studies and discussions to bring the vaccine to market in the US and Europe.

HypoPet is hoping to have their HypoCat vaccine on the market in 2022, and they also have a HypoDog vaccine in the pipeline too.

Purina Institute Cat Allergen Diet Study

The Swiss scientists arent the only ones to bring a cat de-allergenator to market: Purina Pro Plan LiveClear cat foods.

Purina has taken a different approach to tackling the Fel d1 protein. They are working to neutralize the allergen through a cats diet.

The company recently published a study explaining how an egg product ingredient can be introduced to a cats diet to help neutralize the major cat allergen, Fel d1.

The concept is similar to the vaccine, with the goal being to decrease levels of active Fel d1 found in cat saliva.

While Purinas study did not yet incorporate humans allergic response rates, an encouraging 86% of cats saw at least a 30% reduction from the baseline Fel d1 levels.

What This Means for Pet Parents With Cat Allergies

The reality is that many people go through extreme efforts to manage allergies to keep their beloved feline in their home. While a number of those people are successful, a number are forced to re-home a cat if someone new to the household has an intolerable allergy.

These two studies and potential new products offer a glimpse of hope for cat-allergy sufferers.

As this research is still ongoing, I would anticipate the efficacy of this product only to improve.

Fighting the problem at the source, instead of alleviating the symptomsits so brilliant, and yet so simple. Its one of those times that I find myself wondering, Why didnt I think of that?

By: Laci Schaible, DVM

Featured Image: iStock.com/domepitipat