If someone you know has been diagnosed with an allergy to dogs, you may be wondering just how serious it is. What exactly are the symptoms of allergy to dogs? How severely will you or your loved one be affected by an allergy to dogs?

Knowing the facts can help you to decide whether your, or your loved one’s allergy to dogs is a reason to avoid dogs altogether, or whether you can find ways to live with an allergy to dog. It also helps to know what you’re getting into, and when you should begin thinking about making tough decisions.

Mild Symptoms

Mild symptoms of allergy to dogs include a scratchy throat, runny nose, and sneezing. It can be annoying, but is easily treated with anti histamines, and by implementing a few subtle changes to your lifestyle. This kind of allergy to dogs is not a concrete reason to re home your dog, or avoid all contact with dogs, unless you want to.

Severe Symptoms

Severe symptoms of an allergy to dogs can include serious respiratory ailments. If you notice your, or your loved one’s experiencing difficulty breathing, wheezing or anything similar, even up to twelve hours after being around a dog, you probably have a severe allergy to dogs on your hands. This type of allergy may not be treatable, however, and if you do have these symptoms of allergy to dogs, you may need to consider not having dogs in your home.

Treating Allergy to Dogs

Except for the most severe allergy to dogs, most are treatable, if you really want to keep pets. The secret is to find a specialist in the treatment of allergies, and in particular, allergy to dogs. New treatments are being developed all the time, and a treatment plan made up of several medications, therapies, and actions within your home.

What Causes Allergy to Dogs?

Another important secret to finding a way to treat allergy to dogs, is to know what causes it. The first thing you should know is that allergy to dogs isn’t called by hair. It’s a combination of proteins in the dog’s saliva, and dander, or dead skin, that cause the symptoms of allergy to dogs. For this reason, even hairless breeds can induce symptoms, although usually to a lesser extent. Shaving your dog won’t help!

When this fine dander becomes airborne, it lands on the eyes, nose and is breathed into the throat. The body’s immune system reacts to this dander, and the allergen, by causing the symptoms we know as allergy to dogs. It’s for this reason that air filters, vacuuming, and wiping your dog with a damp towel are recommended treatments to the symptoms of allergy to dogs. By doing these things, you minimize the amount of dander, and your chances of reaction.