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Allergies to animals

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By Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC

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Animal allergies often are a respiratory allergy and rarely a skin allergy. Animal allergies produce symptoms of:

  • Hay fever (allergic rhinitis), such as itchy, watery eyes; sneezing; runny, stuffy, or itchy nose; headache and fatigue; dark circles under the eyes; and postnasal drip.
  • Wheezing, chest tightness, and coughing. These symptoms may mean a person has an allergic asthma condition.

When allergies are worse around pets, symptoms may be caused by your pet's dead skin (dander), urine, dried saliva, or hair.

  • Keep the pet outside of the house or at least out of the bedroom.
  • Consider finding your pet a new home if your symptoms are severe.

Credits

Author Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC
Editor Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor Tracy Landauer
Primary Medical Reviewer William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Last Updated July 11, 2007
Author:Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC
Last Updated: 07/11/2007

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