Allergy to dog hair: how it manifests and how to prevent it
Allergy to dog hair: how it manifests and how to prevent it
Written by Silvia Capelli
September 7, 2023
Dog hair allergy is not so uncommon: many people suffer from it, and although they love animals very much, cohabitation can be difficult, if not impossible.
It doesn't just manifest through direct contact, but the allergens that cause the allergic reaction can be present on clothes and in cars, and be brought into the homes of people who have a dog.
How can you tell if you're allergic to dog hair, and how can you limit the problem? Is it possible to eliminate it entirely?
Unfortunately, immunity to allergens is very difficult to achieve, but there are various remedies that, in the case of a mild allergy, can allow us to live with a dog.
Let's see what they are, and how to recognize, tackle, and keep under control the annoying allergy to dog hair.
What are the causes of dog hair allergy?
The causes of dog hair allergy are generally due to immunoglobulins (IgE), a type of antibodies that react to contact with saliva, urine, and dander, triggering an immune system response.
In most cases, the presence of allergens triggers a reaction that affects the respiratory tract, causing sneezing and coughing.
There are six allergens currently recognized as responsible for dog hair allergy, named Can F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, and F6.
One of these proteins, Can F5, seems to be exclusive to male dogs and not present in female dogs.
Can F3 and F6 may indicate that the immune system reaction could also be triggered by other animals, such as horses, mice, and cats, or by consuming beef or milk.
Dog Hair Allergy Symptoms
Dog hair allergy presents with fairly easy-to-identify symptoms:
General malaise
Fatigue
Allergic rhinitis (inflammation of the inner part of the nose)
Dermatitis or urticaria (dog hair allergic dermatitis appears as small red patches similar to bites, or small bumps)
Itching
In milder cases, rhinitis and tearing are the most common symptoms, while skin reactions are rarer.
Generally, dog hair allergies do not become acute enough to require immediate medical attention, but should not be underestimated nonetheless.
Understanding Dog Hair Allergy
Unlike other allergies, dog hair allergy is not a direct contact allergy as often believed.
The allergic reaction can occur even by simply coming into contact with a dog owner, getting into a car or on public transport, or touching objects used by the animal.
It's triggered by allergens present in saliva, dander, and urine, not the hair itself.
Therefore, if the above-mentioned symptoms occur even in the absence of the animal, it could still be a dog hair allergy.
Dog Hair Allergy Remedies
As with all allergies, there are products that can help contain the allergic reaction. The most commonly used are:
Oral antihistamines
Topical antihistamines
Corticosteroids
Decongestants
Antihistamine eye drops
Before starting any pharmacological treatment, you must absolutely consult a doctor: DIY methods are not recommended and can be completely ineffective.
To understand if you are really allergic, it's better to undergo a dog hair allergy test, which can confirm whether there is a problem and how to best address it.
There are two types of tests:
Prick test, a skin test that involves pricking the skin and applying a drop of allergen to see if an allergic reaction appears.
RAST test, which checks if antibodies that activate against the allergen for which the test is done are present in the patient's body.
How can dog hair allergy be treated?
Treating dog hair allergy is quite challenging. There is a vaccine designed to acclimatize the body to the allergen by gradually exposing it to increasing doses over time.
Unfortunately, it's not always effective, and when it is, the treatment must be prolonged over a long period before achieving total immunity.
For this reason, it's better to understand how to limit exposure and prevent the allergic reaction.
Dog Hair Allergy: What to Do
Since prevention is the best way to limit the symptoms of dog hair allergy, here are some simple steps to follow:
Keep the house and common areas clean and sanitized.
Remove carpets, rugs, and other accessories that facilitate the accumulation of dander and dog secretions.
Frequently vacuum, preferably with a HEPA filter.
Wash hands often after touching the animal and the objects it uses.
Keep the dog, its bed, and its toys clean.
Avoid ozone-releasing ionizers.
Prevent the dog from entering the bedroom.
How to Tell if a Newborn is Allergic
Dog hair allergy in children manifests in the same way: if the child shows the symptoms described above, they might be allergic.
Discuss it with your trusted doctor, who will advise how to proceed to confirm the potential presence of a dog hair allergy.
Conclusion
Dog hair can cause allergies, that's a fact. And the major problem is that sometimes the issue is realized only when the animal is already part of the family.
Many animals are taken to shelters, abandoned, or given away because a family member is allergic.
For this reason, before adopting a dog, make sure every family member is exposed to an animal.
You likely have a friend who owns a dog, and it could be a good idea to offer to dog sit for a couple of days to rule out the presence of symptoms.
If cohabitation is impossible, avoid adopting, and if you love dogs so much that you can't do without them, choose a hypoallergenic breed.
If this post has been helpful in understanding the needs of your four-legged friend better, you won't want to miss our other posts about the health, care, and training of dogs. Come and discover them with us!
Disclaimer
The information provided on our site is of a general nature and does not replace the advice of a veterinarian in any way. To ensure a healthy and balanced diet for your pets, we recommend relying on the advice of a nutrition expert. They will be able to assess the health status and needs of the individual to create a balanced diet for each specific case.
