How to recognize animal allergies

Allergy to animals is a disease that affects both adults and children. According to statistics, it affects about 15% of people. It is impossible to completely cure allergies, but it is quite possible to relieve its symptoms and increase the body's resistance.

Symptoms of animal allergies

The most common allergen is wool, but sometimes a negative reaction occurs to saliva, down or feathers. A large number of people are allergic to cats, especially neutered cats. Dogs are somewhat less likely to cause allergens, and the safest in this regard are animals of long-haired breeds.

Allergies can manifest themselves in different ways, but in general they are characterized by the following symptoms:

• rhinitis, which is an allergic runny nose;
• rashes and skin itching;
• suffocation that comes in attacks;
• hives;
• swelling;
• persistent dry cough or sneezing;
• conjunctivitis and severe tearing.

In addition, asthma is a common symptom. In the most severe cases, Quincke's edema develops, leading to anaphylactic shock.

It doesn't take long for an allergy to make a person feel sick. It often begins to appear immediately after contact with the animal, but the symptoms are most severe after two to three hours.

Allergies to animals in children

Children are allergic to pets very often. Usually the allergen is wool. Symptoms of the disease usually include redness of the skin, difficulty breathing, constant sneezing, and swelling of the mucous membranes.

This problem can even affect infants. The main manifestation of the disease in the youngest is atopic dermatitis. In this case, the entire face, and sometimes the body, becomes covered with a rash, and swelling of the larynx develops.

Treatment of animal allergies

The first advice that any doctor will give when asked about treating allergies is to urgently get rid of the animal. But this is often impossible: you can throw away a blanket made of sheep’s wool, but you can’t do that with a pet that has become a member of the family. Of course, if the allergy takes forms that are dangerous to health, the dog or kitten must be given away. In other cases, you will have to be patient and start therapy.

Medicines for this disease can be taken only after consultation with an allergist. Usually prescribed drugs are Loratadine, NazolSpray, Suprastin, Zodak. Other topical products that relieve symptoms such as runny nose, itching, or sneezing are also suitable. If respiratory functions are impaired, the Beredual inhaler will be a good assistant in treatment.

If allergic rhinitis occurs, you need to use medications that constrict blood vessels: they relieve swelling of the mucous membrane. The duration of their use should not exceed five days. Then addiction sets in, and your health may become even worse.

To ensure that allergy symptoms appear as rarely as possible, you should follow the recommendations of experienced dog and cat lovers who could not part with their pets:

• If possible, it is better to give the animal a separate room. As a last resort, you need to give him a corner and under no circumstances let him on the bed.
• The entire living space must be wet cleaned every day.
• You need to wash your hands, wash your face, take a bath or shower often.
• If possible, it is better to remove carpets from the house, especially long-pile carpets, woolen blankets and other items where the allergen may be hidden.
• It's worth spending the money, but purchasing a high-quality air filter, only a dry one. With its help you can get rid of microscopic harmful particles, including allergens. An ionizer is not suitable for this purpose, since allergy symptoms may only worsen.

In addition, it is necessary to ventilate the room as often as possible, wash bed linen, and periodically change blankets and pillows or send them to dry cleaning. It is necessary to monitor the health of the animal, get the necessary vaccinations and undergo periodic examinations by a veterinarian.

Allergy is a complex disease that requires long-term treatment. If your health condition worsens, you should immediately consult a doctor. If allergy symptoms appear constantly, the animal will have to be given into good hands.