What can I do if I m allergic to my dog
Am I allergic to my dog?
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People who are allergic to dogs may experience a rash, hives, or watery eyes when exposed to dog saliva or dog dander.
In many cases, symptoms of a dog allergy are mild, and a person may still be able to live with a dog if they can manage their symptoms. Some home remedies can reduce symptoms. However, the only truly effective way to eliminate dog allergies is to avoid exposure to dogs.
In this article, we look at symptoms of allergic reactions to dogs and ways to manage them, including home remedies and medical treatments.
Specific symptoms and when they occur depend on the severity of the allergy. People who have severe allergic reactions to dogs may experience symptoms soon after exposure, while those with more minor allergies may take longer to develop symptoms.
Symptoms include:
- a skin rash that is red or consists of small, red, raised bumps called hives
- nasal congestion
- a runny nose and sneezing
- itchy, red, and watering eyes
- coughing
- wheezing
- tightness in the chest and shortness of breath
If a person lives with a dog, it is difficult to make the environment allergen-free. Dog dander (dead skin cells) can linger in the air for a long time and can stick to household items, such as curtains, furniture, bedding, and carpets.
Hypoallergenic breeds of dogs shed less than others so they may be less likely to cause allergic reactions. However, some
The only sure way to eliminate dog allergies is by avoiding contact with dogs. However, if a person does spend time with dogs, the following home remedies may help them to manage symptoms:
- Using a saline sinus rinse. Rinse the nostrils using a mixture made of 3 teaspoons of salt (iodine free), 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 8 ounces of warm water. Use an ear dropper to put the solution into the nostril or purchase a sinus rinsing device from a pharmacy or online.
- Plant supplements. Taking certain plant supplements, such as those containing rosmarinic acid, may reduce allergy symptoms according to a 2014 study.
Lifestyle tips that can reduce the impact of dog allergies include:
- avoiding touching eyes or face after contact with dogs
- washing hands with soap after contact with dogs
- avoiding close contact with dogs, such as hugging or kissing them
- using a vacuum cleaner designed to trap and contain airborne allergens
- cleaning the house, washing the bedding weekly, and keeping the house tidy
- cleaning more often during winter months
- restricting dogs to specific rooms or spaces
- keeping dogs out of the bedroom and off furniture
- bathing dogs every 1 to 2 weeks
- wearing a dust mask and gloves while cleaning or in areas with dogs
- brushing and cleaning dogs outdoors when possible
If anyone is considering bringing a dog into their home, they should do an allergy test or undertake a trial period before committing to this.
There are over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications available that can help reduce or resolve the symptoms for people who are allergic to dogs.
OTC remedies for dog allergies include:
Antihistamines
Antihistamine medications block histamine, a compound that helps initiate local immune responses and cause allergy symptoms. Popular OTC brands for long-term exposure may contain loratadine, cetirizine hydrochloride, or fexofenadine hydrochloride.
Antihistamines can be bought online or obtained on prescription from a doctor.
Nasal decongestants and nasal corticosteroids
These medications help reverse the inflammation caused by immune responses and relieve nasal congestion. Some nasal corticosteroids are now available without a prescription and can be purchased online.
Immunotherapy
An allergist (a specialist in diagnosing allergies) may treat severe or chronic allergy symptoms using immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots.
Immunotherapy involves injecting allergens into a person in gradually increasing amounts. These allergy shots help a person to build a tolerance to allergens. It usually takes several sessions over several months to complete immunotherapy.
Other treatments
Many people with pet allergies also have asthma, and exposure to the pet allergens can cause asthmatic episodes or worsen a persons symptoms. In these situations, a doctor may prescribe inhalable corticosteroids or bronchodilators that help keep the airways open.
Dogs produce a variety of proteins that cause allergies in some people. The highest concentrations of these proteins are in dog saliva, with lower amounts found in dander and urine.
Dander tends to build up on hair follicles, so dog hair usually carries a large number of allergens.
If a doctor thinks that a person may be allergic to dogs, they will refer them to an allergist.
In most cases, an allergist will use a skin-prick test to diagnose allergies.
During a skin-prick test, an allergist will put a droplet containing a tiny amount of dog proteins onto the skin. They will then make a small prick in the skin, allowing the mixture to enter the body.
Most people who are allergic to the mixture will have a response within 15 to 30 minutes.
Sometimes, an allergist will decide that an individual who thinks they are allergic to dogs is actually responding to other allergens commonly found on dogs or dog hair, such as dust or pollen.
People who are allergic to dogs can get relief from symptoms by avoiding dogs and places where there are dogs. Many people choose to manage their symptoms by making lifestyle adjustments, such as more frequent housecleaning, but this can be extremely challenging.
OTC medications, such as antihistamines and nasal decongestants, can also help a person reduce or manage their allergy symptoms.
People with more severe or chronic dog allergies should speak with a doctor about prescription medications and therapies that can help manage symptoms.
Help! Im Allergic To My Dog What Should I Do?
Choosing the right dog and taking it home is often a happy and fulfilling time for most pet owners. But when trouble strikes in the form of allergic reactions whenever your new dog comes near you, that happy decision can quickly take a turn.
But an allergy to dogs doesnt have to mean the end of the road for you and your pets! In fact, many people with allergies to dogs can still continue to live with and take care of them.
Not sure whatyour next steps should be? Weve put together this helpful guide for what youshould do and know after discovering an allergy. And if youre looking for areliable source for tips, tricks, and guides for dog owners, check out our other fur baby articles!
Whats a Dog Allergy?
When people talk about being allergic to dogs, they are most likely talking about being allergic to dog dander, which are dried skin flakes that can be found in fur.
Thats why people with dog allergies may find more relief from dogs that are hairless or that are hypoallergenic. Dog owners know that dog fur gets absolutely everywhere and is the reason why there are so many good pet vacuum cleaners on the market.
When dog dandercomes into contact with someone with a dog allergy, it may result inany number of allergic reactions. That includes coughing, shortness of breath,itchy eyes, a runny and itchy nose, and sneezing. Some may also develop hiveson their face or chest.
Besides dogdander, dog saliva can also cause allergic reactions on the skin, though lesscommonly so.
Dog allergies canrange from person to person from being manageable to being deadly (for peoplewith asthma, for example). If you start to show signs of a dog allergy, makesure to keep note of all your symptoms and their severity and consult yourdoctor as soon as possible.
What To Do If Youve Got An Allergy To Dogs
If you have a dogallergy, we absolutely understand the concern you may have about having a dogin your home. People with dog allergies will have to decide what they wish todo and to help you make a decision, weve put together all the possible stepsyou can take, starting with:
* Giving away your dog
We know it is the advice that most dog owners with allergies dread, but we would be remiss if we ignored the advice you will probably hear from your doctor when you tell them about your dog allergy.
For people with severe dog allergies or for people with asthmatic people living with them, giving away your dog might be the best thing to do. Not only will you keep your health in check, but you will be able to give your dog a better home with people who are not allergic to them, and can therefore do more things with them.
However, we alsounderstand that giving away your fur baby is a heartbreaking decision to make.So if you have a strong attachment to your dog and are prepared to take extrasteps to keep them, you can consider other alternatives.
* Limit your contact with your dog
If giving away your dog is an absolute no-no, then you will have to consider how to alleviate your allergic reactions. The first thing you will need to do?
Limit your contact with your fur baby. That means little to no cuddling, not allowing them on your bed, or maybe even transitioning them to living outside your home permanently. The best decision for you will differ, but the result should be less contact and fewer allergic flare-ups.
* Groom them more often/Clean your home more often
Giving them more regular baths and brushing them more often is also another way to help alleviate any allergic reactions you may have. This is because theres less dander to go around when your dog is regularly groomed.
Cleaning your home more often and more thoroughly also helps remove any allergy triggers from your environment. The downside for this step is that you will need someone without a dog allergy to do all the grooming because of the risk involved, which can be expensive if you do not have someone at home to do it for you.
* Consult an allergist
If all other alternatives fail to help your allergic reactions, it may be time to book a consultation with an allergist who can prescribe an antihistamine to help with your dog allergies.
A daily dose of allergy medications may help alleviate your allergies, but you will still need to try and limit your contact as allergy medications dont always solve the problem 100%.
* Choose more dog-friendly floors
Your interior design might not be the first thing you think of to help you with your dog allergies, but as weve talked about in the past, choosing the right flooring for dogs can make a lot of difference. For example, a hardwood floor or a tile floor is much easier to clean and also wont be susceptible to dander build-up.
On the other hand, carpeted floors can be a source of fur build-up and they are also much harder to clean. So for someone with a dog allergy, we would definitely recommend floors that are easier to clean.
Conclusion
A dog allergy may seem like a death knell for anyone with fur babies or for people who plan on becoming fur parents, but that doesnt always have to be true. While people with severe allergies should probably stay away from dogs as pets, people with milder reactions have a number of alternatives available to them to deal with their allergies to dogs.
That includes choosing a hairless dog, cleaning your home more often, only allowing your dog into certain parts of your home, and choosing to go on allergy medications.
Whatever youchoose, what matters is that you are safe, happy, and healthy and that your furbaby is loved and well-taken care of.
