People are allergic to various things like dog hairs, saliva, dirt, pollen, etc. Believe it or not a huge percentage of pet owners are allergic to their very own pets. Dog allergies are pretty common. Approximately 37%-47% of American households have a dog. To Answer Your Question, Am I Allergic to My Dog? If you suspect youre allergic to your dog, the most official way to go about it would be to get an allergy test. Dogs secrete proteins that end up in their dander (dead skin), saliva, and urine. Skin tests involve placing a small amount of the allergen on or just under the skin and waiting for a reaction. The animal should not be allowed in the allergy sufferers bedroom or on the bed. What can I take or do to help with the rash that comes on my neck, arms and anywhere else that my do g touches. Blood tests assess patients' blood for certain antibodies that trigger allergies. You could sneeze up a storm around one pooch only to be much better around another. An estimated 15 percent of Americans are allergic to pets, notes the Partnership for Animal Welfare, and pet allergies can develop at any stage of life. If you have asthma, your symptoms may be more severe and you may have difficulty breathing. Dogs are fantastic, and they make amazing pets. Respiratory Irritation A runny nose and asthma-like symptoms are common signs of an allergy to dogs. Due to their long double-coats and frequent shedding of said coat, they are not the most ideal dog for a family that is prone to allergies. If you need an allergy skin test, your doctor might suggest you visit an allergist who is an expert in allergies. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in American literature from Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo. i have all these bumps around my neck (8) and some on my face (5) sometimes they look white and when i put lotion on it so you cant see the white it gets itchy i have a tea cup yorkie could be allergic or maybe its some kind of weird rash please help i dont kno what to do i only had this dog for about 2 months please help Allergies are quite common. Dealing With Allergies and Huskies. However, treatment often is easy and some dog breeds are allergy-friendly to sufferers. However, you can be allergic to your dog. I developed my cat and dog allergies after college, and for a long time I thought I was just sick all the time because I never even thought I might be allergic to my pets. If you're allergic to dogs, you might cough or sneeze every time you're near one of them. Dog dander gets everywhere, including places where dogs have never set a paw. Allergies can affect a person of any age, and dog allergens are present in a dog's skin, urine and saliva. Even if the allergies seem to be connected to your pet, your pets dander might not be the culprit. Allergic reactions occur when your body overreacts to substances you have inhaled or ingested. It is usually triggered by allergens such as pet dander or dust mites. A doctor pricks or scratches your skin with the potential allergen and if you have a reaction, youre allergic. Symptoms of dog allergies can include puffiness around the face, watery and/or swollen eyes, a runny nose, itching, and irritated skin. If you suffer from other allergies, you are at higher risk of being allergic to dogs, and a positive family history may also increase your chances. Of course, this may not be possible, and if you've had a dog in your home recently, you'll have to move out to avoid all traces of the allergen. In many cases, symptoms of a dog allergy are mild, and a person may still be able to live with a dog if they can manage their symptoms. Symptoms of mild allergies are generally manageable with the right treatment plan. There's no such thing as a completely hypoallergenic dog. That doesn't necessarily mean a life without dogs, however. Allergy skin and blood testing are both fairly accurate at detecting allergies, although false negatives and positives do occur. People with pet allergies sometimes even experience asthmatic symptoms -- think wheezing, shortness of breath, problems breathing, chest aches and chest tightness. If you start having these symptoms, wheezing or shortness of breath only when you are near a dog, you may be allergic to the dog. ok so i just got him 2 days ago hes a Cocker Spaniel hes a male dog born 02-20-2011 and my nose has been itchy and i have a runny nose. Although your immune system is only supposed to attack and expel dangerous things that could make you sick (viruses and bacteria), some people suffer from immune systems that target pollen or pet dander. Signs of pet allergy include those common to hay fever, such as sneezing and runny nose. Doctors often diagnose pet allergies by conducting allergy skin tests, nasal-lining examinations and blood tests. Allergies to cats are about twice as common as allergies to dogs. You can talk to your veterinarian about giving your pet a fatty acid supplement and multivitamin that can promote optimal skin health. I think that I allergic to short haired dogs. To lower the amount of dander a pet carries, bathe the dog once or twice a Rather, your furry friend may be bringing nature to you. Her areas of writing expertise include arts and crafts, literature, linguistics, traveling, fashion and European and East Asian cultures. Some people may also experience signs of asthma, such as wheezing and difficulty breathing.Most often, pet allergy is triggered by exposure to the dead flakes of skin (dander) a pet sheds. All canines shed varying amounts of allergens, however. If you are allergic to dog dander, that means that your immune system sees the dander as a threat to your wellbeing. If you suspect you are allergic to dogs, you'll want to see an allergist for a definite diagnosis and treatment plan. "What people are allergic to is the dander that sheds off of a pet's skin," Russell Hartstein, CDBC, CPDT-KA, a certified professional dog trainer and founder of Fun Paw Care, tells Bustle. Naomi Millburn has been a freelance writer since 2011. Allergic symptoms can range in severity from mild and annoying to life-threatening. To recap, Huskies are not a hypoallergenic dog breed. Ways to Reduce Allergens in Dogs If you have dog allergies and have a dog or plan on visiting a dog that you may be allergic to, there are ways to reduce your risk of having an allergic reaction. It is important to realise that, technically speaking, a person is not so much allergic to the actual dog, but to substances that the dog is releasing into the environment namely, proteins that the dog secretes through the skin, (microscopic skin flakes referred to as Dander), saliva and urine. but i'm allergic to pollen. For a person with dog allergies, life in a dog-loving country isn't easy. These allergens and dander float in the air and contaminate everything in the home. An allergy is your immune systems reaction to something that isnt actually dangerous. Severe symptoms call for emergency medical assistance. By Xiomara Iraheta. This means that even if you had a dog when you were younger, you may be allergic to dogs now. When exposure to dogs leaves you sneezing with itchy eyes and a stuffy nose, these are signs that you are allergic to dogs. Different breeds produce different dander, so its possible to be more allergic to some dogs than others. Allergic symptoms can range in severity from mild and annoying to life-threatening. dandRUFF. Pet allergies and environmental allergies have the same symptoms as pet allergies, including a runny nose, sneezing, and watery eyes.