Pet allergies come in two forms. Firstly, you can be allergic to a certain animal and secondly your pet may be allergic to something.

Firstly, if you have pet allergy then this doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t have a pet or have to avoid being around them. You just need to be careful and avoid certain activities to ensure that you can cope with your pet allergy better. If you therefore find yourself allergic to an animal then it is recommended that you.

• Avoid very close contact with the animal such as embracing it
  
  
• Ensure that your home has pet-free zones such as your upholstered furniture and bedroom
  
  
• Give your pet a weekly wash and ensure that they are groomed regularly by someone that isn’t allergic to them
  
  
• Vacuum your home with a micro-filter that picks up all the pets hair and minimise the use of rugs in your home which can retain your pets’ hair

Secondly, your dog or cat can develop an allergy just in the same way that you do. There are four main allergic reactions that can be suffered by your dog and cat which are described below.

1. Food allergy
Food allergies can develop over time and the tell-tale signs that your pet has a food allergy include scratching (due to skin irritation) as well as digestive disorders, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhoea. To treat this you will need to find what food is causing the allergic reaction and this isn’t easy. You can either try to find the food yourself by varying your pets’ diet or see a vet who can carry out a number of tests to try and find the food allergy. Once the food is found you should ensure that your pet no longer has this in their diet.

2. Flea allergy
Dog and cat flea allergies are quite common and if your pet experiences a reaction it will mean that they suffer from severe itching once the flea has bitten and their saliva has come in contact with their skin. Your pet will be scratching so much that they may start to bite and chew areas of their fur which then becomes removed. The best way to remove fleas is by locating the source of the fleas and removing your pet away from this area and use a flea treatment product that is recommended by your vet. Once the fleas are removed the allergy will disappear.

3. Contact allergy
Contact allergies means that the pet has come in contact with an allergic substance which can either be natural or man-made. The allergy usually manifests itself as either as a swelling, redness or result in loss of fur on your pet. There are a number of common allergies that are known such as allergies to plants, grass, flea collars etc. But the source of the allergy will need to be investigated and eliminated. Once the contact allergy has been located it will need to be removed from your pet’s environment.

4. Inhalant allergy
An inhalant allergy is linked to respiratory problems and is most commonly caused by factors such as dust mites, house dust, feathers and pollen. The signs that your pet may be suffering from such an allergy include excessive licking and scratching of the face as well as excessive chewing. This allergy can be hard to diagnose and therefore the most common way to find out what the allergy is, is for a vet to do a skin test. Once the inhalant is identified then your pet will need to avoid it. If this is not possible then there are medical shampoos that can be used or tablets that can help reduce the effect of the allergy.

It is therefore important to be vigilant against your own allergies as well as your pets’ allergies to ensure that you maintain a healthy living environment for you both.

Article by Sarah Wain, 9th December 2011. Content correct at the date of publication.

Back to Articles