Dogs are man's best friend, being with him both on good days and also on bad ones. However, the most common pet can cause allergies due to proteins found in its skin cells, saliva or urine.
Although allergies are strong and not at all pleasant, this should not be an impediment to adopting a dog. Next, we will tell you what the symptoms are to know if we are having an allergic reaction and how they can be treated.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the immune system produces proteins known as antibodies, which protect a person from unwanted invaders that could cause illness or infection. When a person has an allergy, the immune system causes antibodies to identify an allergen as harmful, even if it is not.
When the person inhales or comes into contact with that allergen, the immune system responds and produces an inflammatory response in the nasal passages or lungs. This could lead to chronic inflammation of the airways if exposure to allergens continues for a long time.
Dogs have allergens in their skin cells (dander), as well as in their saliva, urine, sweat, and fur. Saliva and dander are easy to transfer, so they can stick to carpets, sheets, and clothing. In addition, dried saliva can be transmitted through the air. This is why you could suffer an allergic reaction without having a dog present at the time.
The symptoms that an allergic reaction to an animal could produce are divided into three:
Common symptoms caused by inflammation of the nasal passages:
Symptoms when allergies contribute to asthma:
Skin symptoms
People with pet allergies can develop skin symptoms, also known as allergic dermatitis. This dermatitis is a reaction of the immune system that causes inflammation of the skin due to coming into contact with an allergen. Some of the symptoms are:
Allergy should not be an impediment to depriving yourself of the company of animals. Allergic reactions can be treated with medications or new habits in the home to keep it clean and free of contaminants. However, it is always advisable to consult a specialized doctor if the person presents any of the symptoms mentioned above.
One of the medications to treat this allergy is nasal sprays with corticosteroids that relieve nasal discharge or congestion, in addition to helping treat inflammation. Decongestants are another way to help with the same problem.
Additionally, there are antihistamines that treat allergy symptoms by blocking the effect of histamine. These come in the form of chewable tablets, capsules, lozenges, liquids, nasal sprays, and eye drops; In addition, they can be injected. Antihistamines help with congestion, sneezing, itching, hives, runny nose, and more.
Another way to avoid allergies is by regularly cleaning the rooms, bathing the pet every week and eliminating polluting elements from the home with an air purifier.
