By: Peter Garant
Several objects in the environment can be inhaled by pets and can trigger allergic reactions in dogs and cats. These objects induce the cells of the pets to release substances such as histamine. With histamine, the irritation begins.
The objects in the environment that cause this type of allergies are called allergens. Some examples of these allergens are the following:
· Pollen from the surrounding flowering plants
· Dusts that have accumulated in several areas in the house
· Mites and similar tiny creatures that survive and live on dust
· Molds, fungi, and other similar low forms of plants. The spores from these can be inhaled by pets
Pets, upon exposure to the above allergens will show several symptoms. Among dogs, the major symptoms are:
· Unstoppable itching in the face and in the feet
· Other itching and irritation in several parts of the body
· Occurrence of sores and discharges
· Loss of hair
Among cats, the symptoms of inhalant allergies are:
· Unspecific itching
· Intolerable itching in the face, neck, and thighs
· Inflammation and sores in different parts of the body
· Loss of hair
When the above symptoms are displayed, especially on certain seasons, such as spring and summer, dogs or cats are most likely affected by pollen allergy. To accurately determine the occurrence of inhalant allergies, pets should be taken to the vet. The vet will carry out a skin test to find out if, indeed, the dog or cat is suffering from inhalant allergies. Some vets also conduct blood tests, but the results of this type of test are oftentimes uncertain.
The best treatment is prevention of further worsening of the allergy. That is, the source of the allergens should be removed. Sometimes, this is easy if the allergens are dusts and mites that live in them. A good cleaning is all that a pet owner needs to do. But sometimes, removing the allergen could be difficult. That is, taking away the flowering plant may not be feasible.
Thus, owners resort to other treatments. Two of these allergy treatments are:
· Anti-itch medicines – These medicines suppress the production of histamines. These can be taken orally or gently rubbed on the irritated area.
· Allergy shots – These can make the pets less sensitive to the presence of allergens. Vets can provide these allergy shots.
Not all cats and dogs suffer allergies when exposed to pollen and other inhaled allergens. The reason for this is their heredity. Other pets have genetic characteristics that predisposes them to have allergies.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Allergic To Your Dog Or Cat?
By: Samuel Murray
Pets definitely help us live longer and healthier lives. This is especially true of the elderly and those of us who live alone. Pets make wonderful and faithful companions. They are always there for us. However, this relationship can become strained, and sometimes even be broken when someone in the household develops an allergy to a beloved pet.
Studies show that approximately 15% of the population suffers from an allergy to a dog or cat, and about one third of those with an allergy to cats choose to live in a household with a cat despite the allergy. Some allergy suffers live happily with a pet for a year or two before an allergy starts.
There are sometimes long term health ramifications of repeated allergy flair up's, especially for children. Repeated flair-up's can cause permanent lung damage in children. This should be carefully and thoroughly discussed with your physician. One of the ways to live happily with an animal you are allergic to is to decrease your exposure to the animal. Keep the animal outside if possible.
If the allergy sufferer only has a mild reaction to the animal there are ways for the two of them to live together in harmony, but it takes work. The animal should not be allowed in the allergy sufferers bedroom or on the bed. Keep the animal off of any upholstered furniture in the house as dander can be transferred to upholstered furniture. Use a room purifier to remove airborne animal dander. Remove carpets from the home if possible and replace with wood floors. Wash area rugs on a regular basis with warm water. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter in order to trap dander. The allergy sufferer should wash his or her face and hands after handling the animal. The animal can be bathed weekly in specially formulated shampoo that removes dander.
In some cases where the above methods and the use of over the counter antihistamines and decongestants do not help, the allergy sufferer may need to seek the help of an allergist. Immunotherapy can be thought of like a vaccination against your allergies. Given on a regular basis as shots, immunotherapy helps your body build up a natural tolerance to specific allergens.
With the use of the above methods you'll be able to live a long and healthy life with your pet!
Pets definitely help us live longer and healthier lives. This is especially true of the elderly and those of us who live alone. Pets make wonderful and faithful companions. They are always there for us. However, this relationship can become strained, and sometimes even be broken when someone in the household develops an allergy to a beloved pet.
Studies show that approximately 15% of the population suffers from an allergy to a dog or cat, and about one third of those with an allergy to cats choose to live in a household with a cat despite the allergy. Some allergy suffers live happily with a pet for a year or two before an allergy starts.
There are sometimes long term health ramifications of repeated allergy flair up's, especially for children. Repeated flair-up's can cause permanent lung damage in children. This should be carefully and thoroughly discussed with your physician. One of the ways to live happily with an animal you are allergic to is to decrease your exposure to the animal. Keep the animal outside if possible.
If the allergy sufferer only has a mild reaction to the animal there are ways for the two of them to live together in harmony, but it takes work. The animal should not be allowed in the allergy sufferers bedroom or on the bed. Keep the animal off of any upholstered furniture in the house as dander can be transferred to upholstered furniture. Use a room purifier to remove airborne animal dander. Remove carpets from the home if possible and replace with wood floors. Wash area rugs on a regular basis with warm water. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter in order to trap dander. The allergy sufferer should wash his or her face and hands after handling the animal. The animal can be bathed weekly in specially formulated shampoo that removes dander.
In some cases where the above methods and the use of over the counter antihistamines and decongestants do not help, the allergy sufferer may need to seek the help of an allergist. Immunotherapy can be thought of like a vaccination against your allergies. Given on a regular basis as shots, immunotherapy helps your body build up a natural tolerance to specific allergens.
With the use of the above methods you'll be able to live a long and healthy life with your pet!
Allergies to Cats
By: Ric Wiley
I am convinced my cat is allergic to me. If I was spending money on him, that was OK. If I was feeding him, that was OK, if I was making him comfy and tickling him under his chin, that was OK but if I expected him to show me any affection he had this allergy towards me. Remember, cats don’t have owners, cats own humans. One of the problems is that many humans who are owned by cats have allergies to them. This happened with Tigger and my wife who I originally got Tigger for but he adopted me and became my owner.
It wasn’t long after we had brought Tigger home that my wife developed a wheeziness when breathing. She went to see the doctor and after a quick examination he asked if we had a pet. That was it, he then explained about the skin of cats and how they shed particles of dead skin constantly, (as do humans), but my wife was breathing this in. It caused her to have to use an inhaler to help her breathing.
So what is the problem, well cats shed their dead skin and this gets into furniture, carpets and our bedding. When we walk through it, it stirs itself up as tiny dust particles and if a person is allergic to cats it gets breathed in and causes problems for humans. All cats produce these allergy causing compounds and not only is it found in dead skin but oil producing glands on your cat produce a protein allergen which also causes the problem. It is worse in male cats but female cats and cats, which have been neutered, are not as bad as an un-neutered male cat.
What can you do about it? Well you could get rid of your cat but I don’t hold with that but it may be best for you but please please make sure you re-home your cat to a good home where it will be well loved. Do not ever just dump it. You would not dump a child and your pet is like a child to you. Treat it as one. You could just accept you will have to use medication for the rest of your cat’s life or you could try a simple remedy.
You may find that your breathing is worse when you lie down in bed and sleep with your cat. If this is the case try banishing your cat from his bedroom. Take control again. It will not be nice as your cat will keep meowing outside his room and scratching at the door trying to get in but this method does work and after a few weeks he or she will be happy to sleep elsewhere. Try getting your cat its own bed and put this somewhere away from your bedroom.
You have to be tough with this and if you have slept with your cat it is hard, but you have to remember your health is important. Your cat will not be bothered about your health but you need to be.
Do not think about this, just do it. It is better that having to re-home your cat, just think of the distress it will go through not seeing you again and having to adapt to a new family.Your cat is very important but so is your health. Just remember this information should you need to, even though it may not be nice to hear. Your cat is very important but so are you and others in the house.
I am convinced my cat is allergic to me. If I was spending money on him, that was OK. If I was feeding him, that was OK, if I was making him comfy and tickling him under his chin, that was OK but if I expected him to show me any affection he had this allergy towards me. Remember, cats don’t have owners, cats own humans. One of the problems is that many humans who are owned by cats have allergies to them. This happened with Tigger and my wife who I originally got Tigger for but he adopted me and became my owner.
It wasn’t long after we had brought Tigger home that my wife developed a wheeziness when breathing. She went to see the doctor and after a quick examination he asked if we had a pet. That was it, he then explained about the skin of cats and how they shed particles of dead skin constantly, (as do humans), but my wife was breathing this in. It caused her to have to use an inhaler to help her breathing.
So what is the problem, well cats shed their dead skin and this gets into furniture, carpets and our bedding. When we walk through it, it stirs itself up as tiny dust particles and if a person is allergic to cats it gets breathed in and causes problems for humans. All cats produce these allergy causing compounds and not only is it found in dead skin but oil producing glands on your cat produce a protein allergen which also causes the problem. It is worse in male cats but female cats and cats, which have been neutered, are not as bad as an un-neutered male cat.
What can you do about it? Well you could get rid of your cat but I don’t hold with that but it may be best for you but please please make sure you re-home your cat to a good home where it will be well loved. Do not ever just dump it. You would not dump a child and your pet is like a child to you. Treat it as one. You could just accept you will have to use medication for the rest of your cat’s life or you could try a simple remedy.
You may find that your breathing is worse when you lie down in bed and sleep with your cat. If this is the case try banishing your cat from his bedroom. Take control again. It will not be nice as your cat will keep meowing outside his room and scratching at the door trying to get in but this method does work and after a few weeks he or she will be happy to sleep elsewhere. Try getting your cat its own bed and put this somewhere away from your bedroom.
You have to be tough with this and if you have slept with your cat it is hard, but you have to remember your health is important. Your cat will not be bothered about your health but you need to be.
Do not think about this, just do it. It is better that having to re-home your cat, just think of the distress it will go through not seeing you again and having to adapt to a new family.Your cat is very important but so is your health. Just remember this information should you need to, even though it may not be nice to hear. Your cat is very important but so are you and others in the house.
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