What You Need to Know About Cat and Dog Allergies

Cat allergies are common. They come around as the reaction to the cat allergen that is known as Fel d 1. It is normally found in the cat’s saliva, the fur, dander from the sebaceous glands in the skin, as well as in the anal sebaceous glands. The other allergens along with the cat’s albumin can also be found in the blood and urine.

The allergy to cats is definitely common. At least 25% of the population is suffering from this kind of allergy. In fact, this type is more common than the dog allergy. It is obvious that cats can’t be generally bathed so this likely heightens the potential of the risks.

The Problem behind the Allergy to Cats

The cat allergen is largely produced because of the usually non-neutered male cats. The allergens are basically controlled by their hormones. The dander is by and large airborne, commonly found in public areas, and is sticky. They can be present in these areas even in the absence of the cats.

The reason behind is that these allergens obviously stick to the clothes of those cat pet owners and then they get shed in the public facilities and places.

The cat dander particles are relatively too small in size. When it is present, the person gets to inhale it into the deepest parts of the lungs so that provokes the allergic reaction. Allergic asthma is commonly triggered by the cat dander. Thus, those who have cats at home but are allergic to them have higher risks of developing the asthma symptoms.

Controlling the Symptoms for Your Sake

The most possible therapy for those who have cat allergies is that of avoiding any contact with cats. There are several allergy medications which you may take provided that they have been prescribed by your doctor but then again it will help if you adhere to some other precautionary measures.

Below are other tips on how you can control the symptoms and reduce the chances of getting exposed to the cat allergens.

Be sure to have the cat neutered.

If possible, bathe your cat once or twice within the week. It will also help control the symptoms if you wipe the cat with a wet cloth everyday.

Take away the cat from the bedroom. Keep the bedroom doors and the air vents closed at all times.

Station the cat in the garage or in any other part which doesn’t have carpets on the floor.

Buy a HEPA equipped vacuum cleaner and frequently vacuum the sofas, doorstep rags, and carpets.

If your budget allows it, better buy the HEPA room air cleaner.

Research about the dust mite avoidance tips and follow them.

Vacuum the hard floors, clean all curtains and bedding, and steam clean the carpets and other upholstered furniture sets.

Change the heater vent and air conditioner filters from time to time.

For desperate measures, get rid of your pet cats especially when the allergic reactions persist and turn uncontrollable.

Take note that the cat dander normally persists in a range of months up to years. Even when the cat has long been gone, the effect remains unchanged. Thus, it will be wise to keep up with these precautionary measures to protect your health as well as your family’s. So, say no to cat allergies!

Dogs Suffer From Allergies Too

It is not only human beings who suffer from allergies. Dogs do too. In fact, many people are not aware that there are about 20% of cases in the United States where dogs suffer from severe allergy reactions caused by different types, such as flea allergy, food allergies, inhalant allergies, and atopic dermatitis.

The same with human beings, dogs suffering from allergies experience similar signs and symptoms. Cases usually vary but they are normally marked by the following:

Discoloration of the skin
Persistent itching
Sneezing
Coughing
Wheezing
Mucus discharge
Nausea
Lethargy
Vomiting
Diarrhoea

Some people ignore when their dogs develop some signs and symptoms such as above; however, dog allergies are serious conditions which should be taken cared of. If these are not properly addressed, it can be fatal to dogs, just like how human allergies can be life-threatening to people.

Treatments and Consultations

There are some over the counter medicine preparations which can be used for treating allergy conditions. You can normally purchase such from any pet supply shop. However, in most cases, it is a wise move if you consult the right person first before you give your pet any medications or treatments.

First, some of the signs relating to allergic reactions can actually be symptoms of other serious ailments. Second, if allergic reactions are severe, over the counter preparations maybe insufficient or not the proper one to treat the condition and may even trigger more serious health problems of the dog.

Therefore, bringing it to a trusted veterinarian is the best course of action that you can take before anything else. Veterinarians should know what really is happening with your dog. Though the above symptoms and signs are related to suffering from allergies, there are some chances that your dog does not suffer the same condition.

Even if you are sure that your dog is suffering from allergies, you still want to medicate it properly and only the veterinarian can give you that. They can perform certain tests to prove if it were really allergy conditions, how serious they were, and what proper medication or treatment should be applied. These tests will also be the right method to identify what type of allergy exists with your dog; therefore, will be recommended only the right treatment and strategies to avoid them from occurring again in the future.

If the dog is found to be allergic to some foods, it will be the veterinary who will know what and how to restrict your pet’s diet to abort foods that trigger the reaction. Also, if the dog has developed flea dermatitis condition, this will be provided with proper treatment and preventative measures. Similarly, the veterinarian will be able to give your dog the right prevention methods to avoid inhalant allergies to be triggered.

Dogs are like humans that have the desire to live comfortably and healthily. In the same note, dogs do suffer the same condition and can be deadly if not properly addressed with. But when certain conditions occur, and you know what to do, your pet will live a happy and long life with its masters and friends. Playing doctor each time allergies happen always never makes a wise decision.

Because the only persons qualified to diagnose, determine, and provide medications are the veterinarians, just what the qualified physicians are to the human beings.

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Allergies with Bill & Sheila