Animal allergies

Allergy, which is considered a disease of the civilized world, can develop in response to the impact of literally any factor. The number and range of allergens, of which modern medicine currently counts more than 450, increases every year. An allergic reaction in itself is already a problem for an allergy sufferer, but an allergy to animals sometimes turns into a real drama - after all, the question of separation from a pet arises.

An aggressive response of the immune system can be provoked by almost any kind of animal – rabbits, dogs, guinea pigs, cats and even birds or fish. Most often, an allergy to animals is an allergy to cat or dog fur. In fact, the reaction is not caused by the fur itself, but by microscopic particles of the animal’s dermis, saliva or other components of the pet’s vital activity.

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Which animals do not cause allergies?

Despite its rather long history of development, animal allergies have not yet been fully studied. Every five to seven years, doctors offer new treatment methods that are really effective at first, but after a few years, the allergy transforms and attacks humanity again. Animal allergies are indicative in this regard. Previously, it was believed that an aggressive reaction could be provoked by animal hair, felinologists and cynologists actively took up the breeding of hypoallergenic animal breeds. The joy of allergy sufferers knew no bounds, but after a fairly short period it turned out that both hairless cats and dogs still provoke allergic reactions in their owners. Thus, it became obvious that hair is not the culprit of allergies, and it was established that the allergen is a specific microprotein contained in the saliva and skin particles of animals. Since neither a cat nor a dog can exist without skin, active efforts to breed sterile animals in terms of allergies have died down a little. As doctors sometimes joke, the safest animals for an allergy sufferer are aquarium fish. Time disproves this joke too, over the past ten years the number of allergic reactions to fish has increased threefold. Of course, the fish themselves are not guilty of anything, the allergic response from the immune system is provoked by food and special chemicals for aquarium water. Thus, neither the famous sphinxes (hairless cats), nor the "naked" dogs - Chinese or Mexican crested, can be absolutely safe for a person prone to allergies. The choice is not great - either do not get an animal at all, or try to overcome the allergy in possible, effective ways.

How does animal allergy manifest itself?

• Allergic rhinitis.
• Sneezing, characterized by multiple repetitions - from 5 to 15 times in a row.
• Itching of the skin - local or widespread.
• Increased lacrimation and allergic conjunctivitis.
• Swelling of the body, mainly the face or limbs.
• Dry, frequent cough, coughing fits can be multiple – from 10 to 20 times in a row.
• Attacks of suffocation, asthma.
• Atopic dermatitis.
• Hives.
• Quincke's edema up to anaphylactic shock.

Animal allergies can manifest themselves within a few minutes of direct human contact with an animal, and symptoms reach their peak within 2-3 hours. Those who encounter allergies for the first time begin a period of so-called sensitization (acquaintance) with the allergen, and most often the symptoms appear in the following sequence:

• Conjunctivitis.
• Rhinitis.
• Hives (urticaria).
• Itching at the site of contact with the allergen.
• Hyperemia and swelling.

In sensitized allergy sufferers who already have "experience" with allergic reactions, the reaction occurs within 15-20 minutes and most often manifests itself in the form of respiratory symptoms - coughing, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, bronchospasm. Asthma attacks can develop within half an hour to an hour after contact with the animal.

Animal allergies can manifest themselves even without direct contact with a pet; the allergen can be a high concentration of Fel d 1 or Can f 1 antigens in the room where the cat or dog is kept.

Which animal allergens are dangerous?

Sadly, the craze for cats, the fanatical desire to photograph them and publish pictures of pets in all possible places in photographs may end, at least for allergy sufferers. The fact is that the most active and dangerous allergens are allergens of the feline family. Allergists have identified more than 10 aggressive antigens that cats secrete. The most “popular” and widespread is the allergen protein (glycoprotein) Fel d 1, which is found in the skin epithelium of the animal, in sebum, sweat, and urine. Almost everyone who is diagnosed with an allergy to animals has a formed immune response to this allergen in the form of aggressive immunoglobulin IgE. The cat allergen, Fel d 1, is microscopic in size and is easily carried in the air space of the room, getting completely unnoticed into the human respiratory system. It should be noted that cats are considered more allergenic than cats, they have much more aggressive glycoprotein. Neutered cats are the safest in terms of allergy provocation. Also, cats and tomcats produce another allergen, which occupies the second line of the list of the most active antigens of animals. This is a specific albumin - Fel d 2, secreted by the saliva of the animal, it is also contained in dandruff or blood serum of the cat.

Dogs secrete an antigen called Can f 1, or less commonly Can f 2. These allergens are found in dog dander and skin particles.

Animal allergies can be cross-reactive, for example, an existing allergic reaction to cats is combined with intolerance to dogs, horses or tigers, leopards. As for wild predators, it is not difficult for an allergy sufferer to minimize contacts with them. But dogs and, less often, horses are much closer to humans. Are there animals that are absolutely safe in an allergic sense for humans?

Treatment of animal allergies

First of all, let's listen to the advice of "experienced" allergy sufferers who were able to find a compromise between their love for animals and allergic reactions. The recommendations are as follows:

• If possible, avoid using carpets, heavy curtains and woolen bedspreads in the interior, in a word, anything where allergens can concentrate.
• Determine the area where your pet will live and try not to let it into other rooms and areas.
• Buy a good, high-quality air filter that will remove microscopic substances from the surrounding space, including animal allergens and household allergens. The filter must be dry, an ionizer that produces ozone is not suitable, it can only worsen the allergic reaction.
• Perform wet cleaning of the premises daily.
• Wash your hands and face more often, take a shower.

As for traditional treatment methods that animal allergies involve, any allergist will tell you - getting rid of the animal is the main method of therapy. Indeed, classical allergy treatment begins with the elimination (removal) of the allergen, excluding contact with the allergen. Neither washing the floors, nor daily combing or washing the animal will rid you of a severe allergy, this is a reality that must be accepted. Perhaps, having worked hard and cured the allergy, after some time you can try to get a pet again.

Among the methods offered by modern allergology, in addition to standard treatment with antihistamines, desensitization or immunotherapy is effective, when the human body is “trained” to adequately respond to the identified allergen. The treatment is long-term, requiring patience, but very effective.

If an allergy to animals has brought drama to your home and you had to give your pet away to good hands, don't be upset. Perhaps the love that the cat that was removed from you doesn't need is needed by a turtle or a lizard. They don't have any fur at all, they feed mainly on plants, and the medical world doesn't yet know about allergies to amphibians.