Relieving Dog Allergy Symptoms
Up to 40 percent of households in the United States have a dog, which causes a lot of people to suffer from dog allergy symptoms. Dogs are everywhere and even if you don’t have a dog in your household, you may be exposed to dog dander on a daily basis.
Dog allergy symptoms are usually caused by dog dander, which are flakes of dead skin. Saliva and urine are also allergens and only to a lesser extent, dog hair can cause allergies.
Some dogs are “marketed” as being hypoallergenic. This can be very misleading. All dogs shed (even poodles), all dogs have dander. The extent to which they produce allergens may be different from breed to breed.
Dog allergy symptoms are generally the same as the symptoms for any type of allergy. The affected person will experience red and itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and wheezing. Some people will also have skin allergic reactions, which show up as raised red patches, called hives.
Many people don’t get tested for dog allergies, because it is easier to pinpoint the allergen when you begin to suffer every time you are near or handling dogs. There is a test that can be done if you are unsure. A RAST test is a blood test that is not used as often as skin tests because it is less specific. A skin test will test for several types of allergies at the same time. This way you can find out if you are allergic to the dog or if it is some sort of pollen that the dog has in its fur.
Even skin tests are not conclusive allergy tests. Another way to determine if you are allergic to dogs, is to completely avoid contact with any dog or any of its bedding for a period of time, usually a couple of months. You may notice, at that time, that your allergy symptoms have disappeared. If you then reintroduce the dog to your environment and the symptoms reappear, you are allergic to dogs.
Dog allergies are treated with over the counter medications such as antihistamines, which block the chemical that triggers the allergy symptoms. Some antihistamines, including some nasal antihistamines, require a prescription. Decongestants can be used to relieve some of the nasal symptoms of allergies. Allergy shots for dog allergies are not as common as the use of allergy shots for other allergies, but they may help some people. Allergy shots expose the patient to tiny amounts of the allergen in an attempt to sensitize the person to that allergen. The goal is to reduce the immunological response to the allergen.
Less costly and invasive approaches to finding relief from dog allergy symptoms are often recommended. Avoiding contact with dogs is really the only effective way to prevent dog allergy symptoms from developing. Don’t touch or pet any dog. This includes dogs that are non-shedding, since they still produce dander, the most common allergen. Sleeping in a room where a dog has recently slept should be strictly avoided.
House guests that own dogs, even when the dogs are left at home, can carry dog dander into your house. There is not a lot you can do about this except to expect an increase in your symptoms. Beginning to take medication prior to the visit may prevent more serious allergic reactions.
Having a clean house helps relieve symptoms caused by many types of allergies, including those from dogs. Some people even resort to renovations that make their houses easier to clean, such as removing carpet in favor of hardwood and tile. It is also wise to have an air filter running. Always keep animals out of the bedrooms and don’t allow your dog to have free reign of the house. This will control the amount of dander that is in areas of the house where you are more likely to spend longer amounts of time.