Allergy to Dogs

Are you allergic to dog dander? Becoming familiar with the dog dander allergies symptoms can help, but the only way to be sure is through an allergy test.

The two allergy tests used are skin prick tests and blood tests. If there isn’t a reason not to use the skin prick test, this is probably what your doctor will recommend. It gives you results much faster than a blood test.

You’re probably familiar with the classic symptoms of a pet allergy. Usually, these mimic signs of a common cold.

You might have watery eyes, a runny nose, a scratchy throat, or mild respiratory issues. But what other allergy symptoms are there? Many people find themselves asking, “Can an allergy to dogs or cats cause itchy skin and bumps?”

Read moreAllergic to Dog Fur or Dander

You might have heard that there are hypoallergenic dogs. These breeds of dog are supposed to produce no allergens, and therefore be suitable for people with dog allergies. Can you be allergic to a hypoallergenic dog? Many people find themselves asking this, along with, “Why am I allergic to hypoallergenic dogs?”

To understand these questions, first it’s important to define “hypoallergenic dog.” In truth, dander free dogs don’t exist. There is no dog that is truly hypoallergenic, because all dogs produce dander and saliva that contain allergen proteins.

Read moreAllergic to My Hypoallergenic Dog

For most people, dog allergies are a mild source of discomfort. They cause runny noses, respiratory distress, sneezing, and watery eyes. But the symptoms of dog allergies rarely escalate to a dangerous place. Can dog allergies cause anaphylactic shock? What would a life-threatening allergic reaction to dogs look like?

Read moreHas Anyone Ever Died From a Dog Allergy?

Many dog lovers suffer from allergies to their canine friends. There are few things worse than having an allergy to your pet or other favorite animals. You can’t occupy space with them without sacrificing some of your own health. This has led multiple people to ask: Is there a cure for dog allergies?

Studies show promise, although there haven’t been enough conclusive studies yet to show whether there’s currently a cure. As each year goes by, more and more research is done into dog allergies. Can you stop being allergic to dogs?

Read moreIs There a Cure for Allergy to Dogs?

When an allergen test is done through a blood test, the allergen will traditionally be labeled with a Class 0 to Class 6 ranking.

Class 0 indicates that the allergen level was undetectable, while Class 6 indicates that the allergen level had a strong positive.

Allergen results are determined based on the number of IgE antibodies in the blood specific to that particular allergen. For dog allergies, the IgE antibodies would correspond to proteins found in dog dander and saliva.

Read moreLevel 0 – 6 Allergy to Dogs

You may be surprised to find that many people experience allergies to other people’s dogs, without being allergic to the dog of their own. If you’ve had this experience, know that you aren’t alone. It is possible that a person might have an allergy to certain breeds of dogs and not others.

There are a few reasons for this. First, certain dog breeds are “hypoallergenic.” No dog is completely free of allergens, but hypoallergenic dogs produce less dander than the average dog, which leads to less intense allergic reactions.

In addition, the dog allergens in each breed come with slightly different characteristics. This means that not all dog allergies are the same; a person might become allergic to one breed without developing an allergy to another.

There’s such a great variety in dog allergens that an allergy test has to prove a person is allergic to at least 5 breeds before they can receive their accurate diagnosis. It’s entirely possible that your neighbor’s German Shepard causes your eyes to water, but your sinuses are completely clear around your Labrador Retriever.

Read moreCan I Be Allergic to One Type of Dog and Not Another?

How do you pick the best air purifier to help with pet allergies?

Do Air Purifiers Help Dogs With Allergies?

To understand this question, it’s important to understand how both pet allergies and air purifiers work. Contrary to popular belief, pet allergies aren’t caused by pet hair. Instead, they’re caused by your pet’s dander. This means that there is no truly “hypoallergenic” pet, as all pets shed some form of dander.

Read moreBest HEPA Air Cleaner For Dog Dander and Allergies

One of the hardest things is finding out you’re allergic to your pet. Allergies can wreak havoc on your system, causing watery eyes, a runny nose, an itchy throat, and shortness of breath. But before you think about rehoming your canine friend, you might want to consider an anti-allergen pet shampoo.

The goal of an anti-allergen shampoo is to reduce the number of allergens your dog sheds and tracks through the home. Allergens are found in the dander and saliva. Dander is the dead skin flakes that every dog naturally sheds.

Read moreBest Dog Shampoo to Help With Human Allergies