Pet allergy is caused by the shedding of minute particles of fur and skin relatively known as pet dander. However some animals produce there allergens in urine or saliva, that may also cause allergies. These particles are so small that they can easily become airborne allowing them to be inhaled. However it is also possible for an allergic reaction to occur when an animal or object containing pet allergens comes in contact with a sensitised patient by simply touching.

Pet Allergies

Did you know that pet allergens (dander) have been found to be present in cinemas, buses and offices? This is because we obligingly carry the dander of household pets; after showing affection by cuddling or stroking. This enables the dander to be spread around in public places flaring up immune responses in those prone to pet allergies. Therefore your symptoms may remain at bay throughout the year. Experts suggest that a mask should be worn by severe allergy sufferers. This might seem to be a drastic measure however it is a prevention measure apart from antihistamine tablets or other synthetic drugs.

For those of you moving house with allergies to pet dander, be warned! Even after contact with an animal and its surroundings have ceased, the allergens may still be present on ceilings and walls. Therefore when moving ask if there have been any household pets. In which case you will have to clean the house inside and out preferably using non-chemical based detergents and steam cleaners which will help denature any allergens; having air purifiers will help in containing any airborne allergens.

What is pet allergy caused by?

Pet allergy is caused by the shedding of minute particles of fur and skin relatively known as pet dander. However some animals produce there allergens in urine or saliva, that may also cause allergies. These particles are so small that they can easily become airborne allowing them to be inhaled. However it is also possible for an allergic reaction to occur when an animal or object containing pet allergens comes in contact with a sensitised patient by simply just touching.

Find below a variety of domestic animals and their allergy triggers:

Cats: Skin, Saliva

Rabbits: Saliva, Urine

Dogs: Saliva, Skin

Gerbils: Skin, Serum

Rats: Urine

Hamsters: Skin

Guinea Pigs: Saliva, Urine

Mice: Urine

Horses: Skin

The systematic effect of pet dander on the body

The airborne dispersed pet dander which causes pet allergies is seen as a threat by the body. In response to this threat the body releases immunoglobulin E (IgE) to attack the invading allergens. This triggers mast (white) cells to release chemicals including histamine. Once released, histamine causes the airways to become constricted leading to breathing difficulties and symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is also referred to as a 'permanent cold' and can affect the quality of life by disturbing sleep, and reducing concentration and performance at school or work.

Pet allergy diagnosis

If you suffer from persistent cold like symptoms which includes a runny nose or allergic rhinitis which lasts longer than a week or two then you may be suffering from an allergic reaction. The question is; what is causing the allergic reaction to occur? This is when it is important to determine at which point you started experiencing the symptoms. In the case of pet allergies it may have been after being in a room which has been occupied by a pet or you may have cuddled or stroked or had contact with an animal at some point in the day. In any case you should consult a doctor for expert advice.

Often it is enough for the doctor to know whether you have an allergy just by taking into consideration when and where you developed your symptoms. However skin tests and blood samples can confirm the diagnosis.

Skin Test

Skin tests are carried out by injecting or applying a diluted extract into a tiny scratch or puncture made on the patients arm or back. The diluted extract may be of dust mites, pollens, pet dander or molds commonly found in the local area.

The skin test is one way of determining whether a patient has IgE antibodies in the skin which react to a certain allergen. A positive reaction to any of the allergens will appear at the test site as a raised red reaction (called a wheal) with a surrounding flush (called a flare). This reaction proves that there are IgE antibodies present to that particular allergen present in the skin.

Blood Tests

Skin testing is the most sensitive and least costly procedure to use in order to determine whether a patient has a reaction to a specific allergen. However this type of diagnostic testing should not be carried out on patients who suffer from widespread skin conditions like eczema as this may cause further reaction. Therefore in this case taking a blood sample to test for levels of IgE antibodies to a particular allergen in the blood would be a safer option. This diagnostic testing method is called RAST (radioallergosorbent test) and can be performed when eczema is present or if a patient has taken medications that interfere with skin testing.

Symptoms

The symptoms for pet allergies are very similar to the symptoms experienced by hay fever sufferers which includes red, itchy or swollen eyes, reddened area on the skin, runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, ears that become stuffed-up or itchy, post nasal drip, itching and hoarseness in the throat, coughing and wheezing and frequent bronchitis.

The reason we develop nasal stuffiness is due to the blood vessels in the local area around the nasal cavity dilating resulting in swelling, redness and inflammation which leads to the unpleasant symptoms as described. The blood vessel dilation is caused when the IgE antibodies bind to mast cells or basophiles, which cause these cells to degranulate and release histamine which latches onto nearby blood vessels causing them to dilate (widen).

Histamine irritates the upper respiratory passages, making them swell and causing sneezing.

The itchy and red eyes are caused by the activation of the immune system resulting in the release of inappropriate, high quantities of chemical mediators; the most common is histamine. These mediators are responsible for the symptoms of allergic reactions.

Tips for Prevention

Pet allergies also known as perennial allergic rhinitis can occur throughout the year compared to seasonal allergic rhinitis (Hay fever) which only occurs at certain times in the year. Therefore if you are allergic to an animal then it is best kept outside the house or not kept at all. However if letting go of your much loved pet is too traumatic then there are some allergy preventative measures which can be taken as detailed below:

• Try to limit the entry of your pet into the house; if this cannot be avoided then limit the entry of your pet to one room and never allow them into your bedroom as the dander may remain airborne for hours

• Wash your pets regularly at least 2 times a week. An added benefit would be to use pet shampoo which oxidises the protein molecules rendering them harmless. Remember to dry them properly afterwards.

• Wash your hands thoroughly after having contact with an animal

• Regular and intensive vacuum cleaning is considered useful to reduce the amount of mite (or pet) allergens. A vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filtration system should be used preferably to conventional vacuums as they help to avoid an increase in the airborne levels of mite allergens which come apparent after vacuuming. You may also want to consider treating your carpets (if you prefer this) and your soft furnishings with a powerful steam cleaner as the steam produced from these is capable of denaturing proteins found in allergens causing pet allergy.

• Clean the house regularly and have as little furniture as possible. Use furniture polish and electrostatic cloths and sweepers to reduce the amount of allergens that become airborne once disturbed

• Invest in carpet which can be cleaned regularly if you do not have hard flooring

• Also invest in sheets which can be washed regularly at 60C for example, the Allergymatters anti-allergy bedding , cotton sheets, washable mattresses and synthetic blankets and pillows. You should also avoid using woollen or cotton blankets.

• You should also only use plastic or wooden chairs and avoid upholstered furniture

• Try and avoid fabric curtains by hanging plastic curtains instead and ensure they are dusted everyday

• Air filtration systems or ionizers may also help in reducing the amount of air borne allergens by using HEPA filters or ions to attract the positively charged ions in the air. This frees the air from any air borne allergens. Air purifiers to consider include the Airfree , Lightair ion flow , Filtrete and Blueair range of air purifiers.

• Cleaning products such as the Allergymatters anti-allergen spray and Total hygiene spray may also help in reducing the number of pet allergens by oxidising the minute molecules and rendering them harmless.

Treatment

Defence in the body

If the preventative measures are not controlling your symptoms of perennial allergic rhinitis then it may be necessary to take medication. Effective medications that can be prescribed by a physician include antihistamines, decongestants such as anti-inflammatories, bronchodilators, anticholinergics, corticosteroids, Cromones and Leukotriene receptor antagonists.

Antihistamines counteract the effect of histamine, which is released by the mast cells and basophils in the body's tissues. This causes vasodilation of the blood vessels leading to allergy symptoms such as sneezing and itching in the nose, throat, and eyes. Antihistamines in this case help relieve the histamine-induced symptoms mentioned. Examples of Antihistamines are loratadine, cetirizine, chlorphenamine. These all contain the common chemical sodium cromoglicate and may come in the form of tablets, nasal sprays and eye drops.

A patient should always let the doctor know what other medications he/she is taking as antihistamines if taken with certain other drugs can have serious side effects.

Decongestants are a broad class of medications used to relieve nasal congestion. They generally work by reducing swelling of the mucous membranes in the nasal passages by triggering vasoconstriction allowing the trapped mucus to drain from your nose. This makes it easier to breathe. Decongestants can be taken either of two ways; by mouth (oral preparation), or as a nasal spray applied directly into the nose (topical preparation).

The most common decongestants found in many cough and allergy preparations are Pseudoephedrine, Phenylephrine and Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) .

Anti-inflammatories help reduce airway inflammation and decrease mucus production which may also help when relieving allergy symptoms. Examples of anti-inflammatories are Opticrom Allergy eye drops and Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) such as Aspirin , Ibuprofen , Oxaprozin and etc.

Bronchodilators are prescription medications which relax constricted or tightened airways. When the smooth muscles relax, the airways dilate (widen), making it easier to breathe and getting rid of mucous. Short acting inhaled brondilators include Salbutamol (Ventolin) and Terbutaline (Bricanyl). Long-acting bronchodilators include Salmeterol (Serevent).

Corticosteroids can be taken in a number of ways; by injection, orally (in tablet form), via an inhaler or it can be applied as a topical cream or ointment. They are powerful drugs that can quickly reduce inflammation and pain. However they have a number of side effects and should be used with caution

Intravenous Desensitisation in Allergy, also known as allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) has been identified as a specific treatment for people who have only one allergy. The procedure of desensitisation uses allergen-specific regulatory T cells which are injected into the patient; these are then assumed to suppress effector T cells directly mediating allergic inflammation. Although this type of medication is useful it will only suppress symptoms but do little to modify the long-term disease process.

Defense around the home

Many of those affected by allergies can be broken down into two distinct groups, seasonal (those affected by pollen and plants) and indoor allergies. Those suffering from either category can benefit from increased air circulation in the home or place of business. They should also keep their environment air conditioned and maintained at low humidity with the windows closed whenever possible. The following appliances may help in the process of alleviating or reducing the reaction caused by pet dander:

Air conditioning units can help in the reduction of allergies as they draw in the warm air from the surroundings which is filtered and cooled before it is released back into your environment. This ensures that the temperature within the room is cool and allergen free. Click to read a more in depth review of our air conditioners

Vacuums which are equipped with a HEPA air filter should be used as they avoid an increase in airborne allergen levels and keep dust mite levels to a minimum.

Air purifiers help reduce the levels of airborne allergens by passing ambient air through a special filtration system which gets rid of 99% or more of airborne allergens. For example the Blueair air purifier, filters 99.97% of particles down to 0.01 microns. It is also whisper silent and offers complete air exchange every 11 minutes in areas up to 52 square metres. This award winning Swedish design is on permanent display in the National Museum of Sweden. It is also great for night time or those sensitive to noise, the 501 is economical to run and has very quick change filters.

Steam cleaners also help in reducing allergens as they eradicate, kill and sanitise dust mites and their eggs, mould spores, germs and viruses. The Allergymatters SteamBee Vac and Detergent allows you to loosen deep down dirt, whilst the vacuum sucks it all up. This machine also allows you to add an eco-friendly detergent to loosen any stubborn stains. Alternatively if you are an allergy sufferer you can add our Allergymatters anti-allergen spray to completely free your home of potentially harmful allergens allowing you to relax in peace in a clean and fresh environment.

By following the steps above, pet allergy sufferers can best live a life free of the dreaded sneezing, itching, coughing, red and puffy eyes associated with allergies - and start enjoying life to the fullest.