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Pet allergy is one of the most suffered by those who suffer from it, since sometimes they must find themselves in the situation of giving up their pets and looking for another home for them. Dog allergy is one of the types of allergy of animal origin and in this article we explain what it consists of and what options exist .
What part of the dog are we allergic to?
Dog allergy is usually a disease with localized symptoms , usually in the eyes in the form of conjunctivitis , and in the respiratory tract, from rhinitis to asthma . Although you can also get atopic dermatitis from contact with dogs, it is somewhat less common.
The prevalence of allergies to cats and dogs is increasing in populations where the presence of pets in the family nucleus is increasingly present. The particles of these pets (allergens) , however, are not only found in the houses they live in, but can be detected in many public places .
These animal-derived molecules are so small that they can remain in the air for long periods of time. Therefore, they can be spread throughout the house , inhaled or even carried on our own clothes .
Even after pets are no longer in our home, these molecules can remain for months or even years.
Does having a dog increase the risk of having allergies?
Some studies on the risk of developing allergies to cats and dogs have shown that early exposure to these pets can be beneficial in preventing sensitization and/or allergies. However, other studies have shown the opposite effect.
The general trend regarding the positive effects of pet ownership appears to be more consistent with dogs than with cats. Dogs have been shown to provide a certain preventive factor both in asymptomatic sensitization and in clinical allergies.
This contradictory effect that is usually found in the literature is due in part to a genetic predisposition that can increase the risk of developing allergies regardless of the presence of pets. Because of that, a general recommendation to keep pets to prevent allergies cannot be created .
What to do with the symptoms?
Mild symptoms such as rhinitis or conjunctivitis can be easily controlled with medication , although they continue to be bothersome. However, people who suffer from allergic asthma to dogs can suffer a serious attack if they come into contact with high concentrations of the allergen.
In general, the risk of having more severe asthma is directly related to being sensitized to cat molecules . For this reason, some mothers and fathers prefer to avoid pets, for fear that their children will develop asthma.
In the case of dogs , the relationship is not so clear due to lack of evidence and because it should not be assumed that it has the same mechanism on our immune system that cat allergens can have.
One thing is clear, and that is that it is not recommended to have pets if you suffer from allergic asthma , because it can be exacerbated in the presence of dogs or cats if you are sensitized to them. In the rest of the population , nothing can be recommended in general and it would be necessary to study each case.
What is the dog allergen?
An allergen is a molecule that is responsible for causing an allergy . Some people have a sensitization to some allergens, but have no symptoms . These people are not considered allergic and do not need to take any action . When symptoms do appear when exposed to the allergen, we speak of an allergy.
Dog allergens are found in their saliva , fur , and dander . The main allergen, to which the majority of people allergic to dogs react (more than 50%), is Can f 1 and is produced in the salivary glands. It receives this name because its origin is the domestic dog: Canis familiaris .
Although there are multiple factors that influence, it may be the case that a person allergic to dogs does not have serious symptoms with a specific dog. This is possible due to differences between the different dog breeds or between dogs , which produce more or less amounts of allergen. However, there is no known breed that is known to produce little or a lot of allergen.
Where is the dog allergen?
The greatest amount of allergen will be in the dog itself, and if it lives with us, we can find the allergen in any part of our house, especially in upholstered furniture , carpets and beds . Even if we don’t have a dog, it is possible to detect these molecules in the same places, although in much smaller quantities.
The concentration of allergen in houses with dogs can also vary, not only due to the dog itself (which produces more or less particles), but also due to cleaning and ventilation routines. Efficient ventilation can reduce the amount of allergen in the air, combined with carpet cleaning and linen changes can have a big impact.
However, for people with severe dog allergies , even public spaces can present a danger. Studies have detected dog allergens in public transportation , hotels , movie theaters , and hospital waiting rooms.
Treatment and options
The first recommendation for a person allergic to their dog is to try to find another family for their furry companion . From the most pragmatic point of view, if the amount of allergen is reduced, the symptoms will not appear (or will be less).
Even if the dog moves to another house, the symptoms may not go away for months , because the allergen can remain on our furniture for a long time if not thoroughly cleaned.
The use of filters that clean the air can be effective in some situations, although some studies present weak evidence . Bathing our furry friend more frequently can lead to an improvement, but the effect is lost in a few days and it can also be harmful to our pet .
This situation is often difficult to manage, especially if the allergy is discovered when introducing a pet to the home for the first time. Unfortunately, there are not many alternatives to this allergy, except the use of antihistamines and avoiding dogs. As always, when in doubt about diagnosis or treatment, we recommend consulting a specialist.
References:
Custovic and Simpson. Cellular and Molecular Immunology. Chapter 48: Animal Allergens. 9th Edition. 2017.
