Finding out you’re allergic to your furry little friend isn’t any fun, but neither is living with allergies day in and day out. Pet allergies can leave you feeling drowsy, sneezy, and overall very ill. While some animal inducing allergies can be managed with the right over-the-counter medication, some are so severe that you may want to consider whether or not you can continue living with your pet. If you don’t have a pet and are still struggling with allergies, here are some ways to indicate if your symptoms are being caused by animal interactions or other means.
Common Allergy Symptoms
Identifying whether you’re allergic to animals requires that you stay aware of when your symptoms arise. Most animal allergy symptoms are common to other allergies, but if you notice they only come about when you are in specific places where there is animal dander, you may have an animal allergy.
Common symptoms of animal allergies include:
- Runny or itchy nose
- Sneezing
- Itchy or watery eyes
- Coughing
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Congestion
These symptoms are often caused by an inflammation of the nasal passage, making it harder to breathe in many cases. More serious side effects should be given closer attention and you may want to consider seeking professional allergy treatment. In NYC, Dr. Mayank Shukla, voted best pulmonologist by Castle Connolly’s top doctors in 2018, is able to treat these more serious symptoms, as well as more common side effects. These serious symptoms may appear on your skin or manifest as asthma or a sinus infection.
Skin Symptoms
Skin symptoms, or allergic dermatitis, are caused by a skin inflammation from the allergens. Your skin may appear red and itchy, or you may develop eczema or hives.
Asthma
If you already have asthma, you may experience frequent attacks or wheezing if you come across these allergens. It’s important that you stay aware and keep your distance from animals that affect you. Even if you don’t have asthma currently, many people will experience difficulty breathing, coughing, or shortness of breath with an animal allergy. If this is the case, you may want to consult a professional for allergy treatment in NYC.
Sinus Infection
If your pet allergies are causing constant congestion and inflammation of your nasal passages, eventually your sinuses will become blocked. When this happens, bacteria has no-where to go and often lingers, causing infection or sinusitis. A sinus infection can cause severe pressure to the head, chronic congestion, dizziness, watery eyes, and more. Don’t let a sinus infection rule you — seek professional allergy treatment in NYC as soon as possible.
Causes
Pet or animal allergies are often caused by an allergic reaction to the dander, or dead skin, living on and shed by an animal. In many cases, it can also be caused by an animal’s saliva. Unfortunately, just avoiding contact with an animal isn’t enough. Because animals shed their dead skin cells and fur, any habitat where an animal resides could be a source of allergic reaction.
When an allergic reaction occurs, it is basically your immune system trying to fight off these allergens by producing antibodies. In this situation your body identifies these allergens as harmful and tries to protect you from them, even though they aren’t harmful, and thus causes inflammation.
There are many ways to treat allergies with over the counter products, but more severe cases should be handled by a doctor. If you are suffering from animal allergen symptoms and just can’t seem to get relief, you may want to consider allergy treatment in NYC. Dr. Shukla can help identify and treat your allergies, no matter the cause. For a consultation or to learn more, visit our website or call us at (917) 746-3431.
