I'm allergic to animals, what can I do?

1. Cats: This antigen is the most potent known: a cat can walk through a carpeted home once, and antigen from the cat can be found in the carpet 5 years later.

2. Dogs: Yes, you can be more symptomatic around one dog than another; this could be due to allergy to multiple dog allergens in the pelts and hair of certain species of dogs. There is no such thing as a "hypoallergenic dog;" it is not worse to have a longhaired dog than a shorthaired one from an allergy standpoint.

3. Hampsters, Rats, Mice, etc: While we do not test specifically for these, the tendency to develop additional hypersensitivites to furry animals is high if there is alerady a known allergy to another type of animal. We do not recommend any indoor furry animals for patients with allergic tendencies.

4. Reptiles: While certainly not as problematic to most people with allergies, it is possible to become sensitized to the urine, saliva, or dander of any animal. Repeated scratches from the animal, or direct contact with the skin, speeds the sensitization process.

5. Fish: No problem as long as the tank is kept clean and mold-free. We worry about fish bowls (unfiltered water), which tend to get moldy and need frequent water changes. The bedroom is not a good place for the fish.

6. Horses: Lots of these animals are in RPV, RHE and RH. Many allergic people as well; degree of severity symptoms is variable. No allergy shots are available for this at this time (no literature to support efficacy of immunotherapy for horse). Avoidance, bathing after contact, and preventative medications for usual symptoms are recommended.

Treatment:

• Keep animals out of the house if serious allergy; if milder, just keeping them out of the bedroom may suffice.
• Wash animals weekly if possible to reduce antigen exposure
• Spray with "Allerpet-C (cat), -D (dog), or -B (bird)," "Allerpet Wipes," or similar product to reduce exposure to allergen from dander.
• Never sleep with an animal on the bed if there is a positive skin test reaction to it, even if symptoms are minimal at this time. It is likely that symptoms will worsen with continued exposure.
• Use a HEPA air filter.