Animal allergy or allergy to animal hair.

Dog, cat, guinea pig, rabbit and horse but also the canary - all these animal can trigger the popularly known "animal hair allergies". Basically, there is no significant difference between an animal allergy and a pollen or house dust allergy. However, the problem is that many sufferers find it difficult to stay away from the allergy trigger. Because just also the own dog, the own cat or the own horse can be a trigger of the allergy. Since animals are loyal companions, especially in old age, when the children have moved out or perhaps even the partner has died, it is very difficult for those affected to part with the beloved animal.

Table of contents:

• Animal hair allergy or animal allergy: what is meant by it?
• Overview: Which animals trigger allergies?
• Symptoms: How can an animal hair allergy be recognized?
• Diagnostics: What tests can the doctor use to determine an animal allergy?
• Causes and risk factors: How does an animal allergy develop?
• Therapy: What treatment options are available?
• Animal hair allergy and seniors: What to watch out for?

The animal hair allergy, or animal allergy is one of the most perfidious forms of allergy that people can fall ill with: Because often it is the beloved own pet, to whose hair the owners react allergically. An animal hair allergy can also mean the end of one's career: People such as farmers, veterinarians, animal caretakers and researchers in life sciences but also riders inevitably have contact with animals. If they have to forego this contact, this often inevitably means that they have to reorient themselves professionally.

The problem with an animal allergy is that the allergens can be triggered not only by direct contact with the animal in question. Animal hair allergy is an inhalation allergy and not a contact allergy. This means that the allergens emitted by the animals can remain in the room air, in dust particles, but also on clothing, furniture, etc.. Therefore, sufferers can get allergic symptoms to animal dander even in public rooms or hotels, even if no animal has ever been there. Of course, it gets worse if the previous guest in a hotel room has been with an animal. Even products made of animal hair, such as horsehair mattresses, camel hair blankets or angora sweaters can cause allergic symptoms.

An animal allergy can basically be triggered by all animals that have fur or feathers. Whereby the allergies per se do not become through the animal hair itself. Rather, it is the sebaceous glands, dander, saliva and urine that sufferers are allergic to. Most common are animal allergies to cats, dogs and horses, as well as birds but also rodents.

• Cats

Cats are among the biggest culprits among animal hair allergies . On the one hand, this is due to the allergenic potential of a specific protein, the protein field [1] . On the other hand, cats also move freely through streets and even foreign gardens and sometimes - if windows are open - into foreign houses and apartments. Thus, they carry their allergens even into households where no cat lives at all. Allergen exposure in cats is independent of breed. However, there are individual variations from cat to cat in the number of allergens they produce. Researchers are not yet able to say what this is due to. What is known so far is that basically neutered males produce fewer allergens than unneutered ones. Also, cats with light fur "emit" a lower allergen load than those with dark fur.

• Dogs

In dogs, scientists have been able to identify several allergens. However, they are less aggressive than those of cats. In dogs, there are large differences between the different breeds. There may even be individual differences from animal to animal. Thus, it may well be that a person is allergic to one dog and not to another.

• Rodents

Rabbits, golden hamsters, tame rats and mice are also frequently kept as pets - especially in apartments. However, these rodents sometimes cause very strong allergic reactions. In particular, the allergens from rats and hamsters can cause severe asthma.

• Birds

Birds, such as budgies, can also be responsible for an animal allergy. The allergens that are particularly stressful are found in the feathers as well as in the droppings. Additionally problematic for allergy sufferers with birds is that house dust is retained in the birds' feathers. Therefore, birds are also unsuitable for house dust allergy sufferers. Moreover, in addition to the immediate allergy typical of an animal allergy, birds can also trigger another, delayed reaction: so-called bird lung. The allergen provokes an inflammation of the alveoli, from which an incurable pulmonary fibrosis can develop.

Basically, an animal hair allergy triggers the typical symptoms immediately after contact with the allergen. Therefore, the animal hair allergy is also classified to the so-called allergies of immediate type 2. Only the so-called bird lung represents a delayed type of allergy. Because here the consequences appear only after a long time.

The classic immediate symptoms of animal hair allergy include:

• Nose: The nose may itch and run, and a sneezing attack may occur. These symptoms may be confused with those of a normal cold.
• Eyes: The eyes are itchy and red, they may water.
• Bronchial: Shortness of breath and asthma attacks may occur.
• Skin 1: Animal hair allergy can cause hives, where itchy welts form on the skin. Neurodermatitis may also develop.
• Skin 2: Mild scratching from dogs and cats that causes the skin to swell severely can be a pet hair allergy symptom.
• Anaphylactic shock: This can lead to unconsciousness. It is a medical emergency.

An animal hair allergy can be confused with other allergies, especially pollen allergy as well as house dust allergy, as well as a long-lasting cold. An initial differentiation can be made on the basis of the following criteria:

• Differentiation from pollen allergy: In the case of an animal hair allergy, symptoms can occur throughout the year and intensify in the case of direct contact with the relevant animals.
• Differentiation from a cold: If a cold lasts for a very long time, an animal hair allergy should be considered, especially in the case of pet owners and regular contact with animals.

The diagnosis at the doctor begins with an anamnesis interview, in which the above-mentioned points are also discussed, as well as a physical examination. If the suspicion of animal hair allergy persists, further specific examinations can follow.

• Skin test or blood test

According to the Helmholtz Center, it is possible that the test solutions in some commercially available tests are so non-specific that they contain hardly any allergens or even none at all. The result would be correspondingly inconclusive. It therefore makes sense to pay attention to quality.

• Provocation test

Here, under medical supervision, a test solution with allergens is introduced into the nose or eyes.

• Molecular diagnostics

This is a very specific test, which is mainly used to identify so-called cross allergies. Cross allergies occur because there are allergens that occur in a very similar form in two different animals or even plants, etc.. Anyone who reacts to one allergen with symptoms usually also reacts to the cross-allergen.

In addition to the general risk factors for the development of allergies, there are some special features in animal hair allergies. In order to find the cause of an animal hair allergy and also for a suitable treatment, it is important to know these special features:

• Animal in your own household: if you have animals in your own household, you are constantly surrounded with the animal allergens. However, animal hair allergy sufferers are not equally allergic to all animals. And the intensity of the allergen exposure also plays a role in whether and how massive the symptoms are. If pets are kept indoors, the allergen load is regularly significantly higher than if the animals are kept in the garden.
• Occupation with animals: Anyone who has to deal with animals in a professional capacity is surrounded by the corresponding allergens every day. Also with occupations in the environment of animals it plays a role naturally whether the contact with the animals represents the emphasis of the activity and whether the activity is exercised in areas or predominantly outdoors.
• Animals in the immediate vicinity: However, an animal hair allergy can also be triggered if animals neither live in one's own home nor if there is occupational contact with animals. For many affected persons it is sufficient if animals live in an apartment building or even in adjacent houses and, for example, cats visit one's own garden or balcony. Because then the corresponding allergens are distributed through the air.

In the case of an allergy to animal dander, the remedy of choice is abstinence. This means abstaining from contact with the animal or animals that trigger the allergy. This is theoretically possible if the allergy is triggered by an animal from one's own household or if a profession or hobby involves animals. However, this is difficult to implement in practice: because there is a close emotional bond with one's own pet and also a hobby, such as horseback riding, is only reluctantly given up. And who has vocational contact to animals, can avoid this in practice usually only with difficulty.

Who decides nevertheless to the separation from the own domestic animal, because the symptoms are too heavy, should consider the following:

• After the animal has moved out, the objects with which the animal had direct contact (basket, toys, etc.) must also be disposed of.
• Curtains, carpets and other "dust catchers" must be thoroughly cleaned.
• It is strongly advised against the new acquisition of another animal, to which there is not yet an allergy to animal hair. This is because the risk that one will then develop quickly is very high.[3]

Reduction of allergen exposure
If contact with the animal cannot be completely avoided, efforts should be made to reduce allergen exposure. The measures listed below will help in this regard:

• Refrain from carpeting and rugs
• Smooth floors should be damp mopped regularly
• Curtains should be replaced by roller blinds that can be easily wiped down
• Dust catchers such as decorative pillows, stuffed animals and ornamental plants should be discarded
• Upholstered furniture should have removable and washable covers. Regular washing reduces allergen exposure. Animals have no place on upholstered furniture.
• The animal should not be allowed to enter the bedroom of the person affected.
• Bed linen and clothing should be washed frequently
• Hands must be washed thoroughly after each contact with the animal. The animal should not be allowed to lick the affected person
• Brushing the animal should be done outside the house
• It is important that the animal is washed regularly - as far as this is possible
• Equip vacuum cleaners with special anti-allergenic air filters
• Anti-allergenic air filters can reduce allergen exposure

Medicinal treatment
In case of acute symptoms or if the symptoms are not so severe, the following medications provide relief:

• Antihistamines
• Glucocorticoids

Specific immunotherapy (hyposensitization/SIT)
In principle, hyposensitization can also be used against an animal hair allergy. However, this is much more problematic with an animal hair allergy than, for example, with a pollen allergy. On the one hand, the success achieved is worse and on the other hand, the risk of side effects is higher.

In the following cases, specific immunotherapy may be considered after all:

• Allergen avoidance is not justifiable; This would be the case, for example, if this would mean giving up a job and another occupation without animal contact would not be possible.
• Efficacy for cat allergy and possibly dog allergy; for other animal species the efficacy is not sufficiently proven.

For seniors, especially if they live alone, pets can be of great importance.[4] A pet is a contact person and roommate. Dogs also ensure that masters or mistresses regularly get out into the fresh air and contact with other people is also facilitated. The renunciation of the domestic animal can have thus massive effects on the physical as well as psychological health. Seniors should therefore point out these points during the doctor's consultation. If necessary, a specific immunotherapy can then also be justifiable for these reasons. However, it is important to pay close attention to the effect of such a therapy on already prescribed medication or other existing diseases. In any case, it is important to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages carefully.