Pet owners can develop allergy to pets with symptoms ranging from allergy or allergic rhinitis / conjunctivitis, asthma to allergic skin diseases like hives and eczema.
Despite popular opinion, there are no true “hypoallergenic” cats or dogs. In fact, when we have pet allergy, we develop allergic reactions to its proteins that are found in the saliva, skin flakes, danders, urine, and sweat glands. Short or long hair pets both can cause an allergy. Washing your cats or dogs would decrease its allergen for only a few hours. Removing a cat or dog from the house does not significantly decrease the amount of cat/dog allergens inside for another 4 to 6 months.
Treatment of pet allergy by desensitization is also not simple. In contrast to other aeroallergens like tree, grass, weed pollens or mold spores, the process of obtaining a complete antigen profile from the pets is difficult since pets allergens can be found in their hair which contains saliva, or skin and dander. The manufacturing process requires different proprietary techniques. Therefore, treating pet allergy requires an understanding of the quality of commercial available pet antigens.
If you or your family have or suspect to have pet allergy, please stop by for a discussion to see how we could help. Below are the services and treatments that we offer for this condition at Texas Allergy.
- Quality allergy test and allergy treatment
- Lung function test if there are signs of breathing problems or asthma
- Local anti-inflammatory medications to minimize systemic effects of oral medications
- Allergy shot, allergy drop and allergy tablet
