A pet hair allergy or allergy to pets is an allergic reaction and hypersensitivity disorder to the hair, dander, feces and urine of pets. However, sweat, feathers, sebum and saliva can also trigger a pet dander allergy. Probably the most common form of this allergy to pets relates to cats. Allergic reactions to rabbits, dogs and birds are significantly less common.
What is a pet hair allergy?
The prick test is an allergy test to check for allergic reaction to pollen or animal hair, for example. Here, possible allergic substances are dripped onto the skin, which is then lightly pricked with a lancet. After 20 minutes, the redness of the skin and the size of the wheal are assessed. Animal hair allergy refers to allergic reactions in humans to contact with hair or feathers from a particular animal species. The reaction may be to either one or a few species of animal. However, multiple allergies to many different animal species are also known, and are collectively referred to as animal hair allergy. The symptoms resemble the typical allergic manifestations and provide for example runny nose and strong sneezing. About 40% of all allergy sufferers suffer from an animal hair allergy, among other things.
Causes
The animal hair allergy is in a narrower sense not a true allergy to the hair of the respective animal, but to allergens that are also found, among other things, in saliva, urine or the dander of the animal species. The allergic reaction is most often triggered by the allergic person coming close to the animal and inhaling the allergens in this way. For example, an animal stall may be empty, and yet fecal matter in un-cleaned stalls is already enough to trigger allergic symptoms. Often, dust particles or hairs that are suspended in the air and inhaled are also enough. As with any other allergy, the allergens usually enter the body through the nasal mucous membranes and are unnecessarily classified by the body as dangerous. Because of this, the human immune system launches a strong defense against the allergen, resulting in the symptoms. An animal hair allergy can either be present since birth, but it can also develop spontaneously and seemingly without any apparent cause.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
Animal hair allergy can cause completely different symptoms depending on the patient or the allergen. The most common are signs of illness similar to those of a cold. After contact with animal hair, there is often a scratching sensation in the throat, and in affected patients the mucous membranes also often swell. This leads to a runny or blocked nose. Many allergy sufferers also have to sneeze violently and frequently. The eyes redden and can become very itchy and watery. Many allergy sufferers complain of a dry, irritating cough after contact with an animal to which they are allergic. In more severe cases, shortness of breath or bronchial asthma may also occur. Those affected then complain of problems when exhaling. Depending on the predisposition and the type of contact with the allergenic animal, symptoms are also observed on the skin. Then redness, swellings or even extensive eczema appear. Symptoms on the skin occur frequently especially when the animal hair is in contact with the skin for a longer period of time and when the skin is already injured or diseased. Even small scratches on the skin caused by an animal can trigger the above-mentioned symptoms of the skin. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, concentration disorders or problems falling asleep are also possible as effects of an animal hair allergy in the further course.
Disease progression
If the animal hair allergy has existed since birth or is already known, the symptoms appear quickly after the first contact with an allergen. Upon entering an animal’s stall or petting a pet, the allergy sufferer begins to develop severe rhinitis, sneezing, and possibly skin redness. When the allergy first sets in, which often happens with children, the patient may initially be symptom-free with the animal for some time. The symptoms appear spontaneously and suddenly, and direct contact with the animal intensifies them. The allergy test will produce a positive result, even if it was negative a short time ago.After the initial onset of symptoms, animal dander allergy will become noticeable in the future whenever the patient comes near the allergen or the carrier animal. In severe cases, more severe symptoms such as respiratory distress or asthma may develop over time.
Complications
In all cases, animal dander allergy is not expected to cause serious complications. Provided that the patient is aware of his or her condition, avoids the allergy-causing substances, and has also learned how to react in the event of an acute attack, there is no serious risk to the health or even the life of the affected person. Nevertheless, even if treated, an animal dander allergy can worsen over time. In these cases, the symptoms such as rhinitis and reddening of the skin intensify, and there may also be shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting. However, severe complications are to be expected at most if the patient does not know that he or she is allergic to a particular pet and unexpectedly suffers a severe attack. In these cases, in addition to the typical accompanying symptoms, the patient may experience a panic attack accompanied by shortness of breath and rapid heartbeat. In the worst case, the affected person suffers a shock that can result in a life-threatening circulatory collapse. In this case, the patient’s life is in danger. In addition to physical complaints, an animal hair allergy is also regularly accompanied by psychosocial problems. Many people are very stressed by the separation from a pet; in the case of a close emotional bond, the separation can even lead to depression requiring therapy. In addition, it often comes to emotionally stressful disputes within the family, if an animal is no longer tolerated in the common living and living area because of an allergy or should even be given away.
When should you go to the doctor?
Constant sneezing, dripping nose and itchy skin near hairy animals are a signal that the affected person should have a medical examination. Most of the time it is not a dangerous restriction, in which the patient’s breathing can be sensitively affected if he comes into contact with the allergen. However, the diagnosis of animal dander allergy also means that the symptoms of the disease can only get better if contact with animals is avoided from now on. Exceptions are animal species or breeds, which are harmless for animal hair allergy sufferers, because they do not have hair or have hair that does not cause allergy symptoms. Although most sufferers themselves will already suspect that they are suffering from an animal hair allergy, a confirmed diagnosis is important for two reasons. First, the doctor can rule out the possibility that it is another disease and that the occurrence in connection with contact with animals was a coincidence. Furthermore, if an animal hair allergy is suspected, the doctor will also test for other potential allergenic substances, since allergies often occur together with others. As a sufferer, this gives you the assurance that you have not accidentally come into contact with another allergen of which you were previously unaware.
Treatment and therapy
Treatment of any allergy involves avoiding contact with the allergen as much as possible. In the case of a mild pet hair allergy, pet ownership is not yet ruled out – daily cleaning of carpets, rugs or textile pet equipment is required to keep the living space allergen-free. Another person should brush the pet regularly or clean its living space in a manner appropriate to the species so that dander or fecal matter cannot further aggravate the pet hair allergy. In severe cases, the animal must be surrendered – for example, if meticulous cleaning of the living space has not brought any improvement in the condition. Cats, in particular, must be surrendered immediately if allergic reactions become apparent, because the allergens associated with them cannot be eliminated by ordinary cleaning. Other people must be notified of the pet hair allergy and must not wear clothing with dangerous pet hair attached.
Aftercare
In principle, no special aftercare is required for animal hair allergy. This is due to the fact that the allergic symptoms subside as soon as the causative source is no longer within the patient’s reach. It is basically not possible to cure the animal hair allergy.Depending on the severity of the allergic reactions, a mild allergy can be treated and suppressed with anti-allergic drugs, even if the triggering animal remains in the patient’s environment. In most cases, however, follow-up care is given here to the extent that a steady inventory of the anti-allergic therapy and the agents used, as well as their dosage, is made. An allergist can evaluate and adjust the examinations and the dosage of the medications used. In the case of severe allergy to animal dander, it is essential that the patient not have further contact with the trigger. When there is no more contact with the animal hair, the symptoms completely resolve within a short time. After acute treatment, it is generally not expected that special aftercare will be necessary for the patient. Here, it is the patient’s own responsibility to ensure that contact with the trigger does not occur again, as the symptoms of the disease would immediately reappear in full expression.
This is what you can do yourself
In everyday life, symptoms of an animal hair allergy are best avoided if the allergen in question is avoided. However, this is not always possible, because contacts with different animals can also arise unexpectedly. In the area of self-help, however, those affected by an animal hair allergy can still do a few things to alleviate their individual symptoms. For example, there are over-the-counter antihistamines available in pharmacies in the form of juices or tablets, which are also well tolerated when used as directed within a manageable time frame. Such products can also be taken before an expected contact with animal hair in order to prevent the typical symptoms of the allergy from arising. The so-called desensitization therapy is often helpful for everyday life. The specialist can advise here whether such a therapy is suitable for the individual complaints. Since an allergy is a partly severe reaction of the immune system, there are no possibilities to treat an allergic shock without medical help. Precisely because an allergic shock can also cause the airways to swell, those affected must be able to assess their symptoms well. Friends and relatives should also be informed in order to be able to act quickly in an acute case in everyday life. Severe allergic shock is always a medical emergency that requires rapid medical attention.
