can-dogs-be-allergic-to-cats[/caption]CAN A DOG BE ALLERGIC TO A CAT?
cally, there’s a slight chance you could end up with a dog that’s allergic to a cat, and gets sneezy, red eyed, itchy, and physically miserable whenever a feline is around.
THE ODDS OF HAVING A DOG WHO’S ALLERGIC TO YOUR CAT
It’s definitely rare for allergens from cats to cause problems for canines. It can happen, though (and, in fact, a dog could be allergic to certain humans). The only way to tell whether your dog actually has a cat allergy is to run allergy tests, which a vet probably won’t run unless it’s necessary to diagnosis an existing problem.
You can look at the types of dog and cat you’re considering bringing together, then make an educated decision about whether there could be a problem. For instance, if you have dogs who are highly sensitive to environmental factors such as smoke, perfume, or mold, they may have atopic or inhaled allergies. Dogs that are allergic to one environmental allergen may also have a reaction to other allergens. Their symptoms may also become worse when multiple allergens are present at once. If you have one of these sensitive canines, you may want to ask your vet whether bringing a kitty into the house could further irritate your dog.
Another factor to consider is the type of cat you might bring into a doggie home. While all cats shed and scatter dander, some breeds are considered hypoallergenic, which means they are less likely to cause an allergic reaction.
HOW TO MANAGE A PET-TO-PET ALLERGY
While no pet parent wants to consider getting rid of a beloved dog or cat, it may be something you should consider if your dog is having severe allergy symptoms. However, if you are vigilant about battling cat dander, your pets may still be able to coexist, allergies and all.
Cats may need to be washed at least once a week to manage dander. You’ll also need to use a HEPA vacuum daily to clean hair and dander off of furniture, carpets and floors, draperies, and any other surfaces. Air purifiers may also help. Talk to your vet about treatment options that can reduce your dog’s symptoms as well.
Can Your Dog or Cat Be Allergic to You?
Our pets can suffer from many of the same allergens that make humans miserable, including pollen, veterinarians say.
Spring has sprung, and with it the return of warmer weather, longer days, and one decidedly unwelcome guest: allergies.
It's also the perfect season to turn the tables and look at allergies from our pets' point of view. So for Weird Animal Question of the Week, we're responding to National Geographic's own Emily Tye, who asks: "Can catsbe allergic to dogs, or vice versa?"
We also wonder—can they be allergic to us?
"The answer to all of these is yes," says Raelynn Farnsworth, of Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. (See "Coughing Cats May Be Allergic to People, Vets Say.")
"It's rare, but dogs can be allergic to cat dander and people dander and vice versa. For everything."
Dander is made up of tiny cells shed from hair, fur, or feathers—and though you mostly hear it in relation to pets, humans produce it, too. Other common pet allergies include flea saliva and certain foods.
SICK AS A DOG
For dogs, the most common clinical signs are skin inflammation and itching, Farnsworth says. Other symptoms may include sneezing and runny noses. (Take National Geographic's dog quiz.)
Cats' allergy symptoms can manifest as miliary dermatitis, which shows up as little scabs or missing hair, typically around the head and neck area, though it can happen elsewhere, she says.
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It's always important to observe how long symptoms occur in your pet—for instance, year-round symptoms may indicate a food allergy or reaction to something else in their environment that's not seasonal.
Luckily, pets can be tested for a variety of environmental allergens—both seasonal and non-seasonal, says Christine Cain, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.
"We routinely test dogs for reactions to cat dander," she says. "This includes a small amount of allergen placed under the skin to test for reactions, just like in human allergy testing," Cain says.
Generally, veterinarians will look for common allergens "like dust mites and human dander, or things we encounter in the environment like feathers, sheep wool, or pollens," says Washington State University's Farnsworth.
Those are the usual suspects, but as with us, Farnsworth says, pets can be allergic to anything, and it can be difficult to figure out the culprit with general testing.
IT'S NOT ME, IT'S YOU
So what if your pet is allergic to you?
"It always makes owners kind of sad if their reaction is to human dander," Cain says, but happily the two of you don't have to part. (See "Why Do We Get Allergies?")
"If we have a patient that reacts to human dander, usually they react to other allergens as well," she says.
That means your vet can treat the pet's allergy, either with allergy shots or oral drops that contain small amounts of the problem allergens. This retrains your pet's system to ignore the allergen.
Of course, the cat might always be faking an allergy in hopes you'll get rid of the dog.
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