- Cats
- Meet the Need – Your Pet Can Give Blood!
- June is "Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month!"
- Which is Worse: Fleas or the Chemicals We Use to Rid Our Pets of Fleas?
- Horses
- Breeders' Cup Steroid Ban
- Managing Equine Cushing's Disease With Nutrition
- Kentucky Horse Park to Assist Kentucky's Hungry Horses
- Local News
- Upcoming Pet Adoption Day and Tribute at the Kentucky Horse Park
- KHC offers Equine ABUSE INVESTIGATION Training SEMINAR in eastern Kentucky
- Getting to Know Our Local Humane Society
- News From Around the World
- Michael Vick Case
- No Dogs or Cats Allowed in Attempts to Stop Flirting!
- Breeders' Cup Steroid Ban
Could I Be Allergic to My Best Friend?
05/30/2008 - By Dr. J.T. Fraker, MD
Surprisingly enough, the most common allergic symptoms are not that of pets but of hay fever, asthma and eczema. But don't despair, there are solutions and many people live with pets to whom they are allergic.
The question that daunts all animal lovers: could I be allergic to my best friend and if I am, does this mean that I have to get rid of him? Not necessarily. Lots of people have pets living with them and to whom they are allergic. The reaction you are having may also not even be because of your pet.
An allergy is a genetic condition causing the body to respond to harmless substances in the environment as though they were dangerous invaders. This response produces symptoms that may be mild to life-threatening in susceptible people. When the allergic person comes into contact with the offending substance, his body's immune system rushes to his rescue and begins to produce antibodies to fight off the invader. These antibodies alter the way in which the body reacts, and may produce allergic symptoms.
Surprisingly enough, the most common allergic symptoms are not that of pets but of hay fever, asthma and eczema. There is no standard way for an allergy to begin, and the onset may be sudden or gradual. For a person to become allergic to a substance, he/she must be exposed to it more than once, and generally that exposure is quite frequent. Often, symptoms develop after an unusual stress to the immune system, such as following a severe viral infection.
Because allergies can produce such a wide range of symptoms, there are a number of doctors, both specialists and general practitioners, in addition to allergists, who may be qualified to treat the allergic patient. For example, a skin allergy can be effectively treated by a dermatologist (a doctor who specialize in treating skin diseases. An internist who is concerned with lung disease may also be involved with allergies that affect the lungs. An allergist may be any physician trained in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies. There are general allergists who treat allergies throughout the body and specialty allergists, such as otolaryngologists (ear, nose and throat specialists), who specialize in a specific part of the body.
If you think you are allergic to your pet, make an appointment to see a medical practitioner but don’t do anything hasty. In the meantime, you can do some simple things around your house to cut down on allergens: bathing your pet, dusting, vacuuming, laundering clothes and bedding, replacing air vents, and even trying to keep your pet out of main living areas. Most importantly, don’t forget to keep the tissues handy.
For more information, visit www.aaoaf.org.
