What should you know about allergies in pets?

The trigger is not usually the fur itself. Allergens can cling to fur, clothing, furniture and bedding, so symptoms may continue after an animal has left a room. A person may notice symptoms around cats, dogs or another animal, and the pattern can be different from one animal to another.

A pet allergy may affect the nose and eyes, and some people also develop cough, wheezing or worsening asthma symptoms. Sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes are common presentations of pet allergy, but these symptoms can also have other causes.

Keep the animal out of the bedroom and wash hands after touching it. Regularly clean soft furnishings, use a vacuum with effective filtration if available, and wash bedding. Ask another household member to groom the pet and clean its sleeping area when possible.

If symptoms continue, a clinician can review the pattern and discuss Allergy Testing or Allergy Medication. Do not start, stop or give a medicine to a child without checking that it is suitable and following the label or medical advice.

Arrange a medical review if symptoms keep returning, disturb sleep, limit daily activities or are difficult to control. Seek urgent help for severe breathing difficulty, swelling of the lips or tongue, faintness, or rapidly worsening symptoms after animal contact. These can signal a serious allergic reaction.

Ask whether your symptoms fit pet allergy, whether testing could identify a trigger, how to reduce exposure without giving up a pet, and which treatment is appropriate if you have asthma, are pregnant or take other medicines.