Allergy to animals

We advise anyone who suffers symptoms of allergy when in contact with an animal to visit their GP, who may decide that referral to an allergy clinic is necessary. In a small number of cases, particularly among asthma sufferers, there can be the risk of a severe asthma attack. There have also been very occasional reports of the most severe, life-threatening form of allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). In such cases, avoidance of contact with the type of animal causing the problem is crucial, and referral to a specialist allergy clinic is advised.

If you have an allergy to an animal, it means you are hypersensitive to a substance produced by the animal. For example, in the case of cat allergy, the major cat allergen, known as Fel d 1, is a protein found on cat hair, produced by the sweat, salivary and anal glands. In the case of allergy to cat, dog or horse, skin flakes known as ‘dander’ also cause allergic reactions because they become merged with the animal’s saliva or urine.

Larger animals such as horses shed dander in the form of dandruff. This means you must not only avoid contact with the animal itself, but also with clothing, riding equipment or accessories that have been near horses.

Apart from cats, dogs and horses, there are other pets that produce dander and may trigger allergies for some people.  These pets include rabbits, mice, hamsters, rats, gerbils and guinea pigs. For some people, birds may also trigger reactions.

If allergy to animals is suspected, and especially when allergy tests confirm it, you are likely to be prescribed an antihistamine. You may also be advised to use a preventer (steroid) inhaler and nasal spray starting the day before any unavoidable exposure, for example a planned visit to a home where you know there is an animal.

For most people who don’t come into regular contact with the animal causing the problem, antihistamine tablets may be enough to relieve any passing symptoms that occur.

For those who are more severely or regularly affected, special nasal sprays designed to prevent symptoms and reduce the irritation and swelling in the nose may be prescribed.

Many people also use decongestants to help relieve a blocked nose. These come in tablet form, capsules or nasal sprays. Whilst over-the-counter decongestant nasal sprays may be helpful for occasional relief, they are not recommended for long term use as this can cause a worsening of the condition.

Some schools have introduced therapy dogs. As animals can cause severe reactions in some children, schools should consider how allergies can be safely managed – this is preferable to excluding the use of therapy dogs altogether. A risk assessment should be carried out before introducing an animal into school to identify and reduce the risks.