Pet Allergies

What is a pet allergy?

The proteins from the hair, saliva or urine of household pets cause an allergic reaction that attacks the eyes and the airways, like hay fever, and can result in asthmatic symptoms. It may also cause atopic dermatitis or a nettle rash.

Most often the allergies are to cats, dogs or birds but other animals can be involved.

People who have had asthmatic bronchitis as children in a household with pets, especially a cat, are at a high risk of developing allergies towards cats as they get older.

What are the signs of pet allergy?

• Sneezing and a running or blocked nose.
• Eye problems such as itching and watering eyes or just sore red eyes.
• Coughing and wheezing,asthma attacks, problems breathing
• itchy skin, red patches, lumps spots or itchy rashes.

What should I do?

• Treat all pets with a anti-allergen solution
• Keep the pets bedding clean
• Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to keep allergen spread to a minimum
• Do not touch objects that are very dusty, such as old books and old clothes.
• Reduce your exposure to the allergens or even better, make people without allergies do the cleaning!

I'm allergic but I don't want to lose my pet, what can I do?

You can buy lotions that when applied to the animal remove the allergens from the coat reducing the amount realised into the atmosphere, moisturise the skin reducing the ammount of dander released into the atomsphere and preventing dry skin flakes, condition the coat leaving it glossy and healthy looking.