Signs To Know You’re Allergic To Your New Puppy 

Having a puppy isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, especially when you could be allergic to one. Pet induced allergies can be very dire and hence, puppy interaction is always important before the acquisition. This is done to rule out any possibility that the potential owner may be allergic to the puppy. However, if you’re not about to find out if you’re allergic to your puppy by contact or self-experiment, here are some signs that’ll help you know whether or not you’re allergic to your new puppy.  

Causes and symptoms 

First off, dog allergies are caused by dander, an allergen that most dogs carry around in their saliva, dead skin, fur, or urine. Because each dog is different, it’s possible to be more allergic to some dogs or dog breeds than others. Most of the time, these allergens can be airborne and could find its way into the lungs or eyes of the owner, thus causing further damage. Nevertheless, here are some symptoms of dog allergies: 

• Redness of skin, or possible breakouts especially after getting licked or kissed by a dog. 
• An asthma attack for asthmatic owners. 
• Itching and swelling around the nose and eyes. 
• Runny nose and red eyes.  
• Hives. 
• Shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing after allergen exposure. 
• Rash on neck, face, and chest. 
• Eczema, for children. 

Allergy testing 

Now, thanks to the advancement of science and medicine, there’s a way one can test for puppy allergies, thus ruling out the potency of assumptions. These tests are carried out in a medical facility and they’re designed to find out if one has puppy allergies or not and here’s how it’s done. Your doctor or physician could use your blood or a skin sample for this. This piece of your genetic material will generate your chances of being puppy allergic when tested for the presence of Immunoglobulin E or IgE, an allergen-specific compound. However, enough of the time, owners may not be allergic to their puppies per se, they could be allergic to what their puppy has picked up on its fur, like pollen or molds. Hence, testing is important before puppy adoption.  

Control  

However, while important, the tests aren’t always 100% conclusive, hence your doctor or physician may recommend living with your new puppy for a while to see how you react even after the tests. Now, if the tests are in and you’ve tested positive for dog allergies, it’s not the end of your relationship with your puppy. Both parties can come to some kind of cohabitation agreement like the owner treating his/her allergies with Antihistamines like Zyrtec, Astelin or Loratadine. Decongestants are also recommended for individuals with pet allergies and of course nasal steroids. For the puppy, you can decide to keep them outside your bedroom or and of course getting air filters on the vents.  

It may be difficult to love your new puppy when they literally make you sick, and although dog allergies can be controlled, you may still need to keep some distance from them. However, there are certain dog breeds which are hypoallergenic and you can find them all at PremierPups