Why does pet allergy cause runny nose?

Small allergen particles from an animal can remain in the home and become airborne or attach to fabrics. In a sensitised person, contact with these particles can prompt the nasal lining to swell and release clear mucus. Congestion, sneezing, itching in the nose and post-nasal drip may occur alongside the runny nose.

Runny Nose is a very common presentation of Pet Allergy. Clear nasal discharge may also be caused by a viral illness, other environmental allergies, irritants or temperature changes, so it does not identify one cause by itself.

Reduce the amount of allergen reaching your nose by washing hands after handling a pet, changing clothes after close contact, and keeping the sleeping area free of pets. Regular cleaning of floors and soft furnishings can also limit allergen build-up. Saline nasal rinses may soothe some people; use clean water prepared as directed for the product.

A pharmacist or clinician can help choose an allergy treatment that fits your symptoms and health history. Follow the instructions for nasal sprays carefully, as technique affects where the medicine reaches.

Make an appointment if symptoms keep returning, disturb sleep, trigger wheezing, or do not improve after reducing exposure. Get urgent help for trouble breathing, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, faintness, or rapidly worsening symptoms after contact with an animal.

Ask whether the symptom pattern fits an allergy, how to use a nasal spray correctly, and whether testing or a referral would help clarify recurring triggers.