There are no doubt that there are many benefits to keeping a pet. According to research, keeping pets can even improve the prognosis of patients with cardiovascular disease. However, allergies to pets are common, especially for those with allergic diseases or asthma. In the United States, 3 in every 10 patients with allergies are allergic to cats and dogs. And cats are allergic to dogs.

1. Is there any hypoallergenic pet? Some patients who are allergic to dogs may be more allergic to certain species of dogs, while others are allergic to all dogs. But in fact, true non-allergic dogs or cats do not exist. How outrageous can an allergen be? It will help you understand allergic reactions, how to prevent and treat

2. How does pet allergies occur?

The important function of the human immune system is to fight against exogenous harmful substances, such as viruses and bacteria, and to remove them. Under normal circumstances, this reaction protects the body from diseases. People who are allergic to pets have an immune system that is too sensitive. Their immune system also responds to harmless proteins such as urine, saliva, or dander (dead skin cells). This symptom is an allergic reaction. The substance that can cause allergic reactions is called allergens.

Pet allergens can be deposited on the surfaces of furniture and other objects. These allergens do not lose their allergens for a long time. Sometimes, these allergens can remain on the surface of walls, furniture, clothing and other objects for several months.

Pets' hair is not an allergen, but they can accumulate dander, urine, and saliva, and can also carry other types of allergens such as mites and pollen.

Allergens in cats and dogs are everywhere. There are even pet allergens in homes and elsewhere that have never had a pet. This is because people can carry pet allergens through clothes. In addition, pet allergens can be transmitted through the air and may also cause dissipation during cleaning, dust removal or other activities. Once pet allergens are floating, they can be suspended in the air for a long time.

3. What are the symptoms of pet allergies?

Allergens in cats and dogs can settle on the surface of the eyes and nasal cavity, causing symptoms such as itchy nose, congestion, itchy eyes and tears. Pet scratching or tongue licking can cause redness in the skin. It is common for you to touch your eyes after touching your pet.

If the allergen level is low or the sensitivity is mild, symptoms may occur after many days of contact with the pet.

Many fine particles in the air are small enough to enter the lungs of the human body. Sometimes, this exposure can lead to severe respiratory symptoms. People with high sensitivity may experience cough, wheezing and breathing difficulties 15-30 minutes after inhaling allergens. Sometimes acute urticaria in the face, neck and upper chest may occur.

Three of 10 asthma patients who have contact with cats can cause acute asthma attacks. Cat allergens can also cause chronic asthma.

4. How to diagnose pet allergies?

Doctors make a diagnosis of pet allergy based on your symptoms, signs, medical history and test results. Generally, serum allergen-specific IgE and allergen skin tests need to be based on helping determine the type of allergen.

Some people have difficulty believing that they are allergic to their pets. The doctor may tell you to leave your pet's home for a while to see if the symptoms are relieved. However, pet allergens can still trigger symptoms after a few months of leaving the pet, because pet allergens are often difficult to remove.

5. How to treat pet allergies?

The best treatment is to avoid contact with the living environment of a cat or dog. Pets are not allowed to enter the home. If possible, try to avoid visiting places with allergic pets. Strict avoidance of cats and dogs can relieve your symptoms so well that no medication is needed.

Keeping pets outdoors can have a certain effect on improving, but they cannot completely remove allergens from home. Another feasible measure is to choose pets without fur or feathers. For example, fish, snake or turtle are all available.

Pet allergies are sometimes a social problem, making it very difficult for patients to visit friends with cats and dogs (along with horses and other animals) at home. Especially for children, they cannot attend gatherings at friends' homes. However, you can seek help from an allergist and take some medications to prevent symptoms before going to these places. Anti-allergic drugs can usually be selected; nasal spray, inhalation of glucocorticoids and other drugs can be used to prevent it.

6. What should I do if I want to keep my pet?

Sending your pet away is the best treatment. However, if you still want to keep your pet, there are some measures to reduce exposure.

Keep pets away from the bedroom. Try to close the bedroom door to avoid pets entering the room and actively clean them. Consider using an air purifier with HEPA filter.

Animal allergens are sticky. Therefore, you have to remove animal favorite furniture, such as carpets, scrub walls and wooden furniture. Keep the furniture surfaces in your home clean and tidy. Keep the floor and walls unshaded.

If you must want carpets, you can choose a thinner type and clean them frequently. It is best to use something that is easy to wash and use hot water.

Wear a mask when using a vacuum cleaner. Because the vacuum cleaner can lift allergens stuck to the carpet and make the symptoms worse.

When the clothes you are wearing are exposed to pets for a long time, change clothes frequently.

Room heating and the use of air conditioning can speed up the spread of allergens in the room and require attention.

Using an air purifier with a HEPA filter helps remove pet allergens from the air in the room. Use at least 4 hours a day. But the air purifier cannot remove allergens stuck to the surface of the object.

Watching pets every week can reduce the amount of allergens in the air, but the value of this in reducing allergic symptoms is still unclear.

Ask people who are not allergic to wash the pet and clean the pet's box or cage.

Discuss the use of drugs with an allergist and consider specific immunotherapy (desensitization therapy).

Summary

We have found in clinical practice that some allergic patients are mostly allergic to mites in the early stage, but they develop pet hair dandruff allergies after adopting pets. The shortest one is within half a year and the longest one is within 8 years before pet allergies occur. Moreover, after pet allergies occur, the symptoms become more serious, such as asthma, and it often occurs acutely. Allergens in allergic patients will change (progress) over time, and the body will have an immune response to "substances" that have not been exposed to in the early stage, which will lead to allergies. Therefore, we recommend that people with allergies do not keep pets at home. If you have already shown allergies in your pet, it is recommended to get out of the allergic environment as soon as possible, clean the room thoroughly and remove allergens, and give the pet to others. In addition, it is to use drugs to control symptoms. If you want to continue to keep your pet, you need to prohibit pets from entering the bedroom as described in the article, use an air purifier, and treat pet allergen desensitization if necessary.