Having a pet allergy can be a frustrating!

Coping with a pet allergy.

You are in the market for a new pet. You are deciding between a cat and a dog. Which one should you choose? Plus, which breed should you choose? These questions need to be researched in order to find the best pet for your home. Most soon to be pet owners only consider whether the activity level and appearance of their pet. However, the major consideration that they should think about has to do with pet allergies.

Having a pet allergy can be a frustrating and uncomfortable condition. It is important to determine whether anyone in the household has any adverse reaction to pets. What are signs of a pet problem? Common signs are sneezing and wheezing when a pet is present. Skin dermatitis and itching.

Swelling of the eye and skin is also a side effect. For example, some people have been known to pet a long haired cat and then suffer from a bulging, weeping, red eye. In this case it is most likely that they have a problem related to pet dander. The dander on the cat was transferred to their hand when they were petting the cat. They then rubbed their eyes with the pet dander infested fingers.

Another example is contact with pet saliva. Certain breeds have saliva that has been known to cause contact dermatitis. For example, when pet saliva comes in contact with the skin it can cause hives. This is a reaction that can be calmed by antihistamines. However, a severe pet allergy is another story. The use of an epinephrine shot may be necessary.

It can be by specific breed of dog or cat. Some dog breeds do not shed and have been shown to be “hypoallergenic”. While other dog breeds can wreak havoc on individuals with even the slightest problems. Therefore, it is important to take this into consideration before finding a pet.

Consult your veterinarian and breeder to find out which breeds are best for your situation. Everyone in your household will thank you if you take the time to minimize the effects of a pet allergy. It will a more comfortable and positive situation for both pets and pet owners.

Also read our article about Allergy Dogs