Pet Allergies Treatment Specialist in Suffern and Monroe, NY

The easiest way to prevent allergic reactions to pets is to avoid keeping any pets in the home, but this is not practical for many people who enjoy sharing their home with companion animals. To reduce allergic reactions, you can increase the level of vacuuming, dusting, and laundering so that allergens don’t build up in carpets, on furniture, or on bedding. Keep pets out of bedrooms and off the furniture. Focus on frequent cleaning of pet bedding or habitats and cleaning or grooming the pet itself to reduce the hair and residue they can leave behind. You may want to consider air filters or purifiers to help clean the air in your home.

You should see a doctor for pet allergies if you have tried all the above tips but are still having symptoms or if the symptoms are becoming more severe. If you have asthma and are having more difficulty breathing, you should seek health care.

Pet allergies are allergic reactions to the proteins found in saliva, urine, or skin cells that are shed by animals with fur or feathers, called dander. Most pet allergies are to cats and dogs, but people can be allergic to many different animals, like birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters. About twice as many people suffer from allergies to cats as to dogs. Some furry pets shed less than others or have less fur, making them a better choice for someone who suffers from pet allergies, but no pet is truly hypoallergenic. It is possible for people to react to either dander, urine, or saliva, or several of them, or all of them.

When the tiny proteins are inhaled, the immune system recognizes them as something unfamiliar to the body and responds in two ways:

– By releasing chemicals called histamines, which work to fight off the invader and get it out of the body.

– By creating antibodies, which are chemicals that recognize the new material and remember it, if it enters the body again, the defense response can be quicker and sometimes stronger.

This is the usual job of the immune system: to defend the body against unfamiliar particles that may cause harm, like bacteria and viruses. Unfortunately, in the case of allergies, the cells of the immune system overreact to something that wouldn’t have otherwise been a threat.

Pet allergy symptoms are noticed after contact with a pet or sometimes just from being in a home where there is a pet. Symptoms usually begin quickly and include the following:

– Itchy, teary eyes
– Sneezing and runny or stuffy nose
– Pain from nasal congestion
– Coughing or wheezing
– Hives or a skin rash

For some people who are highly sensitive or have respiratory conditions like asthma, an allergic reaction to a pet can trigger a severe breathing problem or shortness of breath.

Your healthcare professional will complete a full assessment with you, where they will consider your symptoms and observations and do a physical exam. They may also do a test to confirm the allergy diagnosis. In an allergy skin test, they will place drops of a liquid containing extracted material from the allergen on your skin and then lightly prick it. If the spot swells and turns red, you are allergic to that allergen.

Conventional allergy treatment focuses on stopping the symptoms or avoiding the allergen. At Allergy & Asthma Care Rockland, located in Suffern and Monroe, NY, we know there are multiple ways to reduce allergy suffering and still enjoy companion animals. We practice multiple modalities, including conventional medicine and holistic modalities, and help you balance your healthy immune system by focusing on nutrition, acupuncture, and other supports.

If you have symptoms of pet allergies, reach out to us at Allergy & Asthma Care Rockland. To learn more about our services or to book an appointment, contact us or schedule online! We serve patients from Suffern NY, Monroe NY, New City NY, Spring Valley NY, Monsey NY, Airmont NY and Mahwah NJ.