Allergic to cats or dogs but still want them as pets? Here's tips to help get relief.
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How to survive allergy season
Spring is almost here and so is allergy season. Here are five surprising ways to survive spring allergies.
Pet owners who suffer from allergies have a number of options to help relieve their symptoms, from grooming changes to medication.
An allergic reaction to a dog or cat can cause sneezing, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, hives and other symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic. The symptoms are the body's response to an allergen, such as pet dander.
"When you inhale the allergen or come into contact with it, your immune system responds and produces an inflammatory response in your nasal passages or lungs," the clinic said. "Prolonged or regular exposure to the allergen can cause the ongoing (chronic) airway inflammation associated with asthma."
Dr. Shaan Waqar said allergens come from a pet's saliva, dander and even urine. Waqar, an allergist at ENT and Allergy Associates in Plainview, New York, added there are ways for people to avoid a reaction.
The Cleveland Clinic, an Ohio-based medical research and treatment facility, said about 30% of people in the nation have pet allergies. The clinic added it's twice as likely for a person to be allergic to a cat than a dog.
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Small changes may help relieve pet allergy symptoms
Waqar notes that it's best to avoid bringing a pet home that will cause allergy problems. But existing pet owners may be able to make changes to their routine that can improve their allergy issues.
If people are having allergy symptoms caused by a pet, Waqar suggested restricting where in the home the pet can be. That includes keeping the pet out of bedrooms to avoid prolonged, overnight exposure.
If a person is petting a cat or dog, Waqar suggests thoroughly washing hands with soap and water. For the pet itself, he said regular grooming is needed.
Around the home, he said a vacuum with a HEPA filter can help cut down on allergens.
"They can help trap some of those very small particles that some of the other vacuum cleaners cannot, so that can be very helpful," he said.
Medication can help treat pet allergies
Over-the-counter and prescription medication can help, Waqar said. Those medications include oral antihistamines like Zyrtec and Claritin, and nasal sprays like Flonase, Nasal Court and Azelastine. He added people could experience side effects with the medications, the main one being drowsiness that he said accompanies oral antihistamines.
Doctors could prescribe a combination of antihistamine and steroidal nasal spray if a person isn't getting relief from the other medicated options. Beyond that, he said allergy shots can decrease a person's sensitivity to an allergen.
There are two phases to allergy shots: a build-up and maintenance. Waqar said the build-up phase typically requires weekly shots, then, under a doctor's direction, it converts to the maintenance phase, which would require monthly injections.
Ah-choo: Tired of suffering during allergy season? These tips from an expert may offer relief
"You're trying to maintain and hold that protection long-term for the patient, so that hopefully when they stop the allergy shots, the tolerance that they built will stay ‒ so that can be another really effective treatment," he said.
Are there allergy-free cats and dogs?
A truly allergy-free cat or dog does not exist, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
But there are some breeds known for being more tolerable for people with allergies. The American Kennel Club said less-allergenic purebred dogs do exist such as poodles, Yorkshire terriers, Bichon frise, Maltese and schnauzers.
Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at knurse@USATODAY.com. Follow her on X @KrystalRNurse, and on BlueSky @krystalrnuse.bsky.social.
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