Symptoms of dog hair allergy
One divides allergies into types 1 to 4. The dog hair allergy is counted as type 1, the immediate type. As can be seen from the name, contact with the allergen leads to an immediate allergic reaction.
The allergen, in this case therefore a certain protein, is wrongly classified as dangerous by the body of the person concerned. This leads to a reaction of the immune system, which releases certain substances that lead to a typical allergic symptom complex. Histamine plays a particularly important role here.
The symptoms often depend on the point of contact between the person and the allergen. If the allergens reach the eyes, for example, this can lead to itching, reddening and swelling of the eyes. They can also water or swell.
For dog hair allergy sufferers, the focus is usually on complaints in the nasopharynx area. The irritation of the respiratory tract causes frequent sneezing and itching of the nose. The mucous membranes usually swell and the production of mucous membrane secretions is stimulated.
Sneezing attacks occur frequently and sometimes a burning sensation in the nose is also described. In contrast to people with hay fever, in many cases the skin is also affected by a dog hair allergy. Patients get an itchy, reddened rash, in the course of which wheals can also develop (hives).
Feared late effects of a dog hair allergy are complaints in deeper areas of the respiratory tract. These occur mainly when the allergy has already existed for a long period of time and is not treated sufficiently. About one third of all untreated dog hair allergy sufferers are affected.
These patients then suffer additionally or also exclusively from a so-called allergic asthma. It comes to cough attacks and a whistling breath noise with difficulty in breathing. The symptoms are particularly severe if the affected person is in the immediate vicinity of a dog or in rooms where dogs are frequently present.
If a dog allergy sufferer comes into contact with dog hair, skin rashes can develop. Frequently, so-called hives, also known as hives, occur.Hives are small, usually roundish, whitish or reddish swellings that are very itchy. They are usually known from the touch of a nettle.
They usually disappear within minutes or hours, but can then reappear elsewhere. They will be described in more detail in the next section. Besides hives, so-called eczema can also occur.
Eczema is a skin change that shows small blisters, itching, reddish discoloration and scaling. As described, a common symptom of an allergy to dog hair is a skin rash. This can occur in different ways.
On the one hand, there is the typical itchy rash with small red spots on the skin. These can be limited to a specific area of skin or occur over a large area and in different parts of the body. The itchy skin tempts the patient to scratch, which can worsen the redness of the skin and also lead to swelling of the skin.
Another form of the rash is the development of wheals on contact with the allergens. Hives are punctiform or larger plateau-like elevations of the skin. They are reddened and may also itch.
They disappear after some time by themselves. Itching and redness can often be treated by applying a moisturizing cream. In general, you should avoid scratching if you have a rash, as this can cause the skin to react even more strongly and swell considerably.
In most cases, the rash then spreads even further. If the rash is very severe and in extreme cases even leads to open wounds, it should definitely be examined and treated by a doctor. Regular coughing is very common in people with a dog hair allergy.
The reason is the irritation of the mucous membrane in the lungs or throat, which is caused by inhaling dog hair components. Typical at the beginning is an irritable cough without much secretion of mucus. However, over time, especially if no therapy is given, an allergic asthma with mucus secretion can develop.
If there is an increased cough in the presence of a dog, the environment should be changed or an anti-allergic medication taken. It should not be forgotten, however, that coughing can also be caused by another cause, such as a typical cold, in allergy sufferers. If breathing difficulties occur in the context of a dog hair allergy, this is a sign of a very strong reaction.
It should prompt the immediate taking of medication such as an antihistamine and a visit to the doctor. Without treatment, severe shortness of breath can lead to loss of consciousness and death. Breathlessness is usually caused by inhalation of dog hair components or swelling in the area of the upper airways.
It can also be a sign of the beginning of a severe allergic reaction affecting the whole body, which without treatment can lead to anaphylactic shock. If one of the parents has an allergy, the risk for the child to develop allergies is also increased. The risk increases if both parents are affected.
So it can also happen that an allergy against the dog of the house occurs shortly after birth. Babies develop however only very rarely an animal hair allergy. Usually it starts only with small children from the 2nd or 3rd year of life.
The symptoms show themselves very differently. Symptoms such as burning or itchy rashes can appear on various parts of the skin. Eczema on the back, neck and face are also possible, as are watery eyes and rhinitis.
Especially dangerous for small children are respiratory problems caused by an allergy to dog hair. In addition to easy to hear rattling noises when breathing, the mucous membranes on the larynx can swell and eventually lead to life-threatening shortness of breath. First signs of a possible allergic reaction to the pet should be closely observed and finally diagnosed by a doctor.
Allergy tests are performed to confirm this. The symptoms in babies do not or only slightly differ from the symptoms of an older child or adult. In contact with dogs, their eyes water and itch.
Babies often touch their faces because of this. They sneeze and show sniffles. If there is increased inhalation of dog hair components, babies cough and can develop breathing problems. These are often noticeable by the baby’s restlessness.
