They are not only our housemates, but also our friends and many people maintain a relatively close physical contact with their four-legged companion. This can lead to allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. According to estimates, more than ten percent of pet owners in Germany suffer from an animal hair allergy.
Triggers are not the animal hair
A common misinformation is that long-haired animals cause more problems for the allergy sufferer than short-haired ones. The trigger in animal hair allergy is in fact not the animal hair itself, but protein-containing components of the sweat, sebum, saliva or urine of our animal favorites. These remain attached to the hair and are dispersed in the air as dust. If they land on the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose or bronchial tubes, they can trigger an allergic reaction if the person concerned is sensitized to the respective animal species.
Animal hair allergies – causes
Allergies are generally understood as immune reactions to factors that are not harmful in themselves, some of which can cause severe stress to the organism in question. Allergies are always acquired, that is, they are based on the formation of antibodies, which in the case of an animal hair allergy is caused by the action of certain animal proteins on the organism. An indicator of the allergic reaction is the increase of the so-called IgE, an immunoglobulin, which can be measured in the blood.
Symptoms of animal hair allergy
Initial symptoms of pet dander allergy are:
- Reddened eyes
- Runny nose
- Hives
- Sneezing attacks
With continued contact with the animal, the condition worsens, there may be increased asthma attacks, which are manifested by a seizure-like, severe shortness of breath with a narrowing of the airways. An animal hair allergy is usually easy to recognize, since the respective symptoms usually occur immediately when the affected person comes into contact with the animal allergen.
Animal hair allergies: not only in pet owners.
However, many people develop an animal hair allergy without any contact with the respective animals. Here, a diagnosis is much more difficult to make. Especially in the case of a cat allergy, a small allergen contact is often sufficient, for example through neighbors or friends who keep a cat. Sensitization to cat dander can also occur at school or at the workplace, as cat allergens can cling to the clothing of cat friends and be transported further. In contrast to the classic “indoor allergies” (for example, allergies to dust mites or molds), the occurrence of animal hair allergies is therefore not limited to your own four walls.
Which animals frequently trigger allergic reactions?
Cats: The most important triggers of animal hair allergies are cats. Cat allergens are still in the home months after the animal has been eliminated due to their particularly good floating properties. The cat hairs are found in the suspended dust, on carpets, furniture n and wallpaper. Even rooms where the cat has never been are not free of cat allergens. Breed differences of cats may play a role in sensitization, as there are differences between the allgergenic structure of different cat breeds, sometimes even different cat individuals. Practically, this may mean that if a cat allergy is present, not every cat may cause an allergic reaction. Dogs: The dog, man’s best friend, also frequently triggers an allergy, but this manifests itself less aggressively overall compared to the cat allergy, i.e. only milder allergy symptoms occur. Again, allergy can be breed specific. Guinea pigs: Allergies to guinea pigs are not uncommon and can manifest as a relatively severe reaction. Here the allergen is a protein molecule found in urine. Birds: Birds can also cause allergies through their feathers and droppings. Bird mites can also be the cause. The allergic reaction to pigeons is particularly noteworthy. On the one hand, there is the “normal” allergic reaction to the pigeon antigen here, on the other hand, but fortunately rare, pigeon breeders in particular can fall ill with an allergy that is only conditionally related to the pigeons.In this case, substances specifically found in pigeon droppings and certain molds in a dried state constitute a dangerous dust that can lead to respiratory problems by disrupting the gas exchange that takes place in the pulmonary alveoli (“pigeon breeder’s or bird breeder’s lung“). If further contact with the animals is not avoided in this clinical picture, a life-threatening disease state may result.
How is pet dander allergy safely diagnosed and treated?
Animal dander allergy is suspected when one or more of the above symptoms occur on contact with an animal. Skin tests and antibody detection in the blood can confirm this suspicion. However, a completely reliable diagnosis can only be made when the patient is completely free of symptoms when avoiding the allergen in question. In exceptional cases, a provocation test is also performed. In this case, the suspected substance is applied to the nasal or bronchial mucous membranes under medical supervision.
Precautions and tips
Consider the following precautions and tips if you are a pet owner suffering from pet dander allergy:
- Wash your hands after each contact with the animal.
- Keep cats outside
- Keep bedrooms strictly pet-free
- Furnish apartment with little furniture and without carpets
- Wash and comb animals as often as possible
- Avoid physical contact with the pet as much as possible
- Vacuum cleaner with particularly powerful filter properties acquire and vacuum daily.
However, for severe allergies and in families with allergies, the strict advice is to do without a pet altogether or get rid of it. Although it is reported again and again that even without separation from the beloved pet a severe animal hair allergy could be overcome, but the people concerned risked a lot, because in case of doubt, it can also lead to life-threatening courses of disease. After removal of the pet from the household, upholstered furniture, carpets, mattresses and similar furniture should be subjected to intensive cleaning.
Removing pet hair from the home
Nevertheless, especially in the case of a cat allergy, there may still be an increased concentration of allergens in the apartment for many weeks. Sometimes in these cases it is necessary to remove carpets and redecorate, as well as to give away the furniture (especially upholstered furniture). If an animal hair allergy occurs despite avoidance of animal contact, the following advice should be followed:
- Mattresses and upholstered furniture filled with horsehair should be avoided.
- Angora wool from rabbits and goats, clothing made of alpaca wool, furs, sheepskins, textiles and carpets made of unprocessed sheep’s wool – also in the form of felt – and blankets made of camel hair avoid.
- Avoid feather beds in the presence of an allergy to feathers; allergizing here especially the fine dust that is produced when shaking out the beds. Often mistakenly a dust mite allergy is assumed.
- As bedding, washable blankets and pillows with polyester filling are suitable. The bedding should be washed frequently.
- Ask work colleagues, friends, acquaintances and relatives about any pets that may be present.
- Remove street shoes before entering the apartment.
- Refrain from smoking cigarettes, as the constant irritation of the respiratory tract makes it easier for allergens to attack the mucous membranes.
- Temporarily, antihistamines (spray, tablets, drops), anti-allergic eye drops or decongestant nose drops can provide relief; this also applies to situations where occasional contact with the animal allergen can not be avoided.
Severe cases of animal dander allergy.
In severe cases of animal dander allergy, specific immunotherapy should be considered so that the affected person has protection in case of accidental contact with the animal species in question. Specific immunotherapy may also be considered for individuals in whom avoidance of the allergen is impossible for a variety of reasons. It ensures hyposensitization of the patient by administering the allergen in increasing doses over a period of at least three years under medical supervision. This can cause the allergic symptoms to disappear completely. Possibly, however, only a better allergy tolerance occurs, which can also lead to a subjective improvement of the complaints.The efficacy of laser resonance therapy or raw food-rich diets has not been scientifically proven.
