It’s very common for humans to find themselves allergic to dogs, cats, and other animals, but have you ever wondered if your furry family member may be allergic to you? It seems a bit odd to consider our pets sneezing or scratching because of us, but just like cats, dogs, and other animals, humans produce dander and other allergens too! Read on to explore common animal allergies, signs to look out for, and how to manage your pet’s allergies.
Can Humans Be Allergic to Animals?
Allergies happen when your immune system overreacts to a substance (allergen) that may not cause a reaction in other people. Common allergies for humans include pollen, pet dander, and foods like nuts, eggs, and shellfish. With a majority of households having a pet, it may seem uncommon for humans to be allergic to animals, but that’s not the case.
Allergies to cats and dogs specifically have been said to impact anywhere from 10 to 20% of the world’s population. These allergies may appear to be the results of your pet’s fur, hair, or feathers, but are most commonly due to pet dander and saliva. Typically, pet allergies result in sneezing, watery eyes, a stuffy nose, itchy skin, or rashes, but can result in more severe symptoms for some.
If you’re someone who knows you have an allergy to a particular pet, you don’t have to give up owning a furry friend altogether. There are certain pets that may be a bit more allergy-friendly for you, and strategies such as using an air purifier may make things more manageable.
Can Pets be Allergic to Humans?
While it may not be the most common allergy for dogs, cats and other animals, yes, animals can be allergic to humans. Most often, allergens like fleas, foods, household chemicals, and pollen produce allergy symptoms in dogs and other pets, but human dander can result in similar symptoms.
Just like our pets shed skin flakes (dander), humans do as well. If an animal is sensitive to these, it may result in allergy symptoms. However, it may take a while to diagnose, as other common allergens may need to be ruled out first. Allergies to human dander are considered environmental allergies and luckily tend to be mild, with serious life-threatening reactions being extremely rare and far more common with food allergies and insect bites.
If a pet is already prone to allergies, they may be more likely to experience an allergy to humans, with about half of the 20% of dogs with symptoms of allergies showing signs of human dander allergy as well.
Signs of Allergies in Pets
Just as the causes of allergies in humans and pets can be quite similar, the symptoms of allergies in pets tend to closely mimic those that humans experience. This includes:
- Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
- Itching
- Hot spots
- Sneezing
- Watery eyes
- Runny nose
- Diarrhea
- Hives
- Ear Infections
- Respiratory Issues
If you notice any of these symptoms in your pet, it’s best to take a trip to your vet. Your vet can help you pinpoint the allergens causing the symptoms (even if that’s you!) and find the proper treatment for your pet.
Diagnosing Human Allergies in Animals
So you’ve noticed some allergy symptoms in your pet and you’ve booked them an appointment with your vet. What can you expect? First, your vet may try to pinpoint the source of your pet’s allergy by ruling out some of the more common allergens for their species. Typically, this means running blood tests, scratch (or skin prick) tests and potentially trying an elimination diet.
Many vets would agree that blood tests are not as reliable, but your vet may still run some labs in order to rule out other causes of your pets symptoms. If an environmental allergen is suspected, a scratch test may be performed. Scratch tests involve putting a small amount of the allergen on the skin (with a small needle prick) and monitoring for hives, dermatitis and other allergic responses.
If food is a potential trigger, your vet may have you trial an elimination or low-allergen diet for a set amount of time – typically a few weeks, before slowly reintroducing common trigger foods. This will help you to determine specific foods that may be contributing to your pet’s allergies.
Just like in humans, pets that suffer from allergies to one allergen may be more likely to react to others. Therefore, this process may need to be repeated later on if one allergy seems to be under control, but symptoms return, or if you’re finding it difficult to manage your pets symptoms despite proper treatment and precautions.
How to Manage Your Pets Allergies
Our pets are part of the family, which is why it can be so difficult when we find out we’re allergic to them—or they’re allergic to us! Before considering rehoming your pet, there are a number of ways that you may be able to manage your and your pet’s allergies.
Outside of your vet’s recommendations, there are a number of additional steps you can take to help improve allergy symptoms, especially if your pet is allergic to you and other environmental allergens.
Something that makes a big difference to air quality and thus allergy symptoms for humans and animals alike is a good-quality air purifier. Air purifiers can help reduce the number of airborne allergens, providing some relief. Similarly, regular vacuuming and dusting will help minimize the amount of dander sitting around and being stirred up regularly in your home.
Bathing and grooming your pet (but not too often!) can help remove any excess allergens that may be clinging to their fur after a long day of rolling around on your floor and other surfaces where allergens collect. If you’re allergic to your pet’s dander or they’re allergic to you, keeping your pet out of your bedroom can be a huge help and will save you from needing to change your bed linens daily.
Conclusion
Just like we can be allergic to animals, they can just as easily be allergic to us. While symptoms can be troublesome at first, most allergies can be easily managed with treatment from your pet’s vet and minor changes to your lifestyle and pet’s routine.
