Can Pet Dander Cause Eczema

How Do Pet Allergens Occur

Pet allergens are very light weight and small. They remain suspended in the air for a long time, much longer than allergens from cockroaches or dust mites. Because of their microscopic size and jagged shape, pet allergens easily stick to furniture, bedding, fabrics and many items carried into and out of the home. Animal dander is easily spread through the home and out to public places like schools and hospitals. 1 They can be found even in homes and buildings without pets. 1

What Is Pet Dander

Pet dander is composed of tiny, even microscopic, flecks of skin shed by cats, dogs, rodents, birds and other animals with fur or feathers. These bits of skin can cause reactions in people who are specifically allergic to these triggers.

Additional allergy triggers or allergens come from sources other than the animal’s skin. Proteins found in saliva, urine and feces from cats, dogs and other pets can cause allergic reactions in some people. The most common allergies are caused by the Fel d I protein from cats and the Can f I and Can f II proteins from dogs. Dried saliva containing allergens may flake off from an animal’s fur and become airborne, where it is inhaled by the allergic person. Dust from dried feces can be suspended in the same way. 1

Q 1: Where Can More Information Be Obtained

Nip Allergies in the Bub

Patient support organisations : www.allergy.org.au/patients/patient-support-organisations

ASCIA is the peak professional body of clinical immunology/allergy specialists in Australia and New Zealand

ASCIA resources are based on published literature and expert review, however, they are not intended to replace medical advice. The content of ASCIA resources is not influenced by any commercial organisations.

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Can Dog Allergies Cause Joint Pain

According to my research, dog allergies can cause joint pain and heres why.

The isolated proteins have the capacity to enter your body through your orifices and the pores of your skin. Once its inside, the protein can reach the ligaments and tendons, which are found in the joints of your bones.

Therefore, allergens have the power to trigger a mild adverse immune response and cause inflammation in the joint, which leads to pain. This is common in many people that suffer from allergies.

Q : How Does Eczema Affect People Of Different Ages

Eczema is a chronic health problem that affects people of all ages, but is most common in babies :

• Infantile eczema occurs in around 20% of children under two years of age, and usually starts in the first six months of life. Infantile eczema usually improves significantly between the ages of two to five years.
• Childhood eczema may follow infantile eczema, or start from two to four years of age. Rashes and dryness are usually found in the creases of the elbows, behind the knees, across the ankles and may also involve the face, ears and neck. This form of eczema usually improves with age.
• Adult eczema is similar to that of older children with areas of very dry, itchy, reddened skin at the elbow creases, wrists, neck, ankles and behind the knees. It can cause rough, hard and thickened skin, which may also have weeping areas. Although eczema tends to improve in midlife, and is unusual in elderly people, it can occur at any age.

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Symptoms Of Allergic Reaction To Dog Dander

When dead dog skin flies into your system, your body will try to fight it off at all cost by initiating symptoms.

The symptoms most common with an allergic reaction to dog dander are sneezing, facial pressure and pain, a consistent cough, along with a postnasal drip. More symptoms include nasal congestion, itchy nose, mouth, or roof of your mouth, in addition to itchy, watery, and red eyes.

The symptoms play a major role in defending your body from the foreign material that could harm you if it remains in your system.

What Causes Eczema In Dogs

Although the causes of canine eczema are often unknown the condition is often more common in certain breeds. For example Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds seem to be more prone to developing the skin infection.

With German Shepherds the eczema will normally start to develop on the dogs rump with the primary cause thought to be fleas with the initial irritation also possibly due to the anal glands becoming impacted. In relation to Golden Retrievers the most commonly affected area is under the ear on the side of the dogs face. Other breeds that are more common to the skin condition are Chinese breeds .

Although as previously discussed the primary cause of canine eczema is thought to be due to dogs being highly sensitive to flea bites it is also thought that food allergies and vitamin deficiency could be a cause. Eczema is also more common in warmer weather with some experts believing that this could be due to the higher proportion of mites occurring in warmer temperatures.

To help the vet come to an accurate diagnosis it is very important that a good picture is built up to exactly what the affected dog does in an average day or week. For example a dog that has developed a bad case of eczema may love to swim in ponds, lakes or rivers or run through bushy areas where thorns are likely to be found.

As with all dog and puppy health problems this condition should be treated quickly and accurately diagnosed .

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What Are The Symptoms Of Dog Eczema

Eczema symptoms in canines can vary depending on whether the condition is dry or wet eczema. The symptoms of eczema can often resemble other conditions symptoms, such as the mange or normal allergies. For this reason, it is important to get the advice of your veterinarian as they can determine the cause and tell you what the condition is. Eczema will usually worsen as your dog licks, chews and bites the affected. We have created a list of some of the possible symptoms that are associated with eczema in dogs.

• Scratching, chewing, licking and biting of the skin
• Severe itchiness and irritation

How Can You Help Your Child Manage Their Asthma

To help control your childs asthma symptoms and prevent flare-ups at home, you can:

• Identify and avoid known triggers, such as pollen and mold, by closing the windows when pollen levels are high or placing a dehumidifier in your childs room to prevent mold
• Keep an asthma diary to learn about early warning signs and track treatment effectiveness
• Take note of the signs of a flare-up, such as your childs mood, behavior, or complaining that they feel funny
• Make sure your child gets their yearly flu vaccine, as children with asthma who get the flu are at a higher risk for flare-ups

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What Kind Of Pets Are Safe For Children With Eczema

Most commonly, when children ask their parents for a pet, its a dog! This can be scary for the parents of eczema children because of the dander, oils, saliva, and fur.

But there are ways to ensure you find the most allergy-friendly pal for your little one.

When looking for a dog, use the following criteria:

• Get a smaller dog! It makes sense. The larger the dog, the more dander, oils, saliva, and fur. If you opt for a smaller dog, there will be less of all of the above allergens.
• Choose dogs with curly hair that dont shed! The dander gets tangled up in the curly hair. This prevents the dander from getting all over the house and all over your child.
• Youll want to make sure that you train your dog not to lick. This will prevent the spreading of saliva!

Cats are another option. Youll want to choose a breed with less fur. Similar to when choosing a dog. This will lessen the opportunity for allergens to spread around the house!

When choosing between long haired and short haired cats, opt for short because they shed lighter. Keep in mind that youll want to brush your cats outside of the house on a regular basis to prevent indoor shedding.

Is your eczema child asking for a sea creature? Maybe a fish or a turtle? Youre in luck! No hair or dander there! There will be minimal contact between your child and a water-based pet. This could be a great compromise if youre still uncomfortable getting a cat or a dog!

Pet Dander And Eczema And The Hypoallergenic Pet Myth

Before answering that tough question, lets first consider whether eczema can truly be caused by pets. As mentioned in What Triggers Eczema? With Dr. Peter Lio, a major contributor of eczema symptoms are allergens including pet allergens. When focusing on health conditions like eczema, allergies, and asthma, one of the most common allergens is pet dander. Dander is actually the animal version of dandruff! Dander is usually the cause of most animal allergies because it is so easily spreadable. It can attach itself easily to clothing or be inhaled.

Dander can appear in almost all animals, but that does not mean that dander among all species is equal. For example the dander levels between a heavily furred dog and a rabbit are very different.

Keep in mind that there is no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog or furry animal. Curly haired dogs produce next to no fur, but does that mean the most common allergen, dander, is reduced to? Not necessarily according to Mayo Clinic Some dog breeds are marketed as hypoallergenic because they dont shed fur or they shed very little. Because these dogs dont shed, the allergy-causing dander that sticks to their fur doesnt get released into the air or onto the floor as much as with a shedding dog. But while you may have less dog hair with a nonshedding dog, no dog breed is hypoallergenic.

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Stress Anxiety And Depression

It may be surprising to hear that your mental health plays a significant role in eczema, so you have to take care of yourself on the inside, too.

While emotional stress or anxiety itself wont cause eczema, they can play a significant role in your symptoms and trigger flare-ups. Studies also show that people with eczema have higher rates of anxiety or depression. To effectively manage your eczema symptoms, its essential to share information about your mental and emotional health with your provider because these conditions are often related.

If you have allergies, eczema, or other skin symptoms, our team can help identify your triggers and control your flare-ups. Contact one of our locations in Ogden, Utah, to schedule a consultation today.

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How To Treat Your Dogs Hot Spots At Home

If the dogs hot spot is small, non-painful, recognized early, and uncomplicated, it may be possible to begin treatment at home with over-the-counter products such as topical sprays, medicated shampoos, herbal therapies, and more. The important thing is to ensure that itâs a pet-safe product, in which case it never hurts to call your veterinarian for approval. Whatever you do, do not use human topical products, as they may be toxic to dogs when licked and ingested. For example, zinc oxide, which is often found in human skin ointments, can be toxic when ingested.

Here are some at-home treatment basics:

• If the area is small and non-painful, carefully and gently clip the fur that is covering the area â this allows air and medication to reach the wound.

• Keep your pet from licking the area. You guessed it, get out that cone of shame.

• Apply a warm, moist compress to the area three times daily for five to 10 minutes to keep the area clean, calm the tissues, and encourage good circulation. Allow the area to fully dry before applying anything topically.

• Use only pet-safe, veterinary-approved, over-the-counter treatments. As always, it is best to consult with your veterinarian prior to starting any home treatment.

• Do not place any bandages or wraps to cover the area â you want the area to âbreathe.â

• Alleviate the itching or irritation that started the whole thing in the first place â get to the bottom of the source. Otherwise, youâll be faced with a losing battle.

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Can Dog Dander Make You Cough

Yes, dog dander can make you cough. The coughing sensation is developed when the dog dander enters your nasal passages and throat and works its way down to your lungs.

Your lungs will realize the foreign material and do what it must to reject it and push it out of the body, hence the coughing.

In more intense cases, the cough could develop further into difficulty breathing, or become the onset for an asthma attack if you are in possession of the condition.

How Is Food Allergy Testing Interpreted

A negative result indicates that allergy is very unlikely to be the problem. A positive test means that the allergic antibody is present.

However, a positive result doesnt necessarily mean that youll have an allergic reaction, because theres a very high false positive rate with test results, which means that even though the test is positive, the patient might actually be able to ingest the food without difficulty.

This is why performing random screening in atopic dermatitis patients isnt particularly helpful, because youll find positive testing for foods that patients could actually eat. At this point, we need better diagnostic testing to figure out whats true allergy and whats not.

Currently, theres a peanut component test in which we look at the specific IgE to individual peanut proteins. Specific IgE to one component Ara h 2, is more associated with having peanut allergy than some of the other proteins. Patients can sometimes test positive for a general peanut specific IgE, but when you look at the components, youll find that theyre positive to the components that cross-react with pollens and other plants and negative to Ara h2. In this case the patient would likely tolerate peanut.

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Causes Of Eczema In Babies

Although the cause of eczema isnt completely understood, up to 10 percent of babies and toddlers have it. If you have a family history of eczema, asthma or hay fever, your baby may be more likely to develop it. Eczema in adults may not look the same in a child, which is why identifying symptoms and triggers is important to protect your babys skin. Triggers of eczema in babies may include

Irritants

• Many soaps, disinfectants and fragrances can make eczema worse for your babys skin.
• Common products that may cause flare-ups include detergents and dryer sheets, bubble baths and some shampoos, disinfectants such as chlorine, dyes and coarse fabrics such as wool and other rough materials.

Allergens

• Typical allergens such as dust mites, pet dander, pollen and mold can cause itchy, inflamed skin. Eczema is not an allergic reaction to a substance, but allergens or irritants in the environment can trigger it.
• Make your home an allergy-free zone by vacuuming and wet dusting frequently and keeping soft toys to a minimum and washing them often.Groom pets regularly.

Environment

• Extremes in temperature and humidity may trigger an eczema flare-up.
• Environmental triggers include very hot or very cold temperatures, high or low humidity, cigarette smoke and pollution.
• Keep your babys bedroom temperature between 68°F and 72°F and maintain even humidity in your home.
• Use a humidifier if the air in your home is dry.

Food

Abnormal or sensitive skin

Animals

Herpes virus infection

Genetics

What Causes Excessive Dog Dander

Excessive dog dander is typically caused by immune-mediated diseases, endocrine disorders, or allergies within the dog.

Skin infections are one of the most common triggers for amplified dog dander. Environmental factors such as trees, flowers, and pollen are also capable of speeding up the process of dog dander.

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Food Allergy And Atopic Dermatitis Points To Remember:

• Patients with atopic dermatitis frequently have food allergy.
• Food allergy testing is recommended for patients who have had allergic symptoms with ingestion of the food.
• Food allergy testing can be considered for children with severe atopic dermatitis who dont respond to aggressive skin care.
• False positive tests may result. If a test has a positive result, a food challenge may be needed to establish whether the patient is truly allergic to the food.
• Food challenges can also be used to determine whether patients are outgrowing their food allergy . Approximately 20 percent of patients will lose sensitivity to peanut and 10 percent to tree nuts, so food challenges can be used for these foods as well.

Can Kids With Eczema Have A Pet

The difficult answer is “maybe,” and it largely depends on the severity of their symptoms and how well they can be controlled. Thats because reactions are variable. Some kids can have eczema and be okay with a pet, while for others it causes symptom flares, says Edidiong Kaminska, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with Kaminska Dermatology in Chicago.

The culprit is not the fur but the dander, says Dr. Kaminska. Pet dander, as defined by the American Lung Association, is the tiny skin particles that are shed by animals with fur or feathers. While animals can bring pollen in from the outside via their fur, its not the hair itself that usually presents a problem.

In addition to dander, bacterial debris from the pets saliva can also cause allergy issues, says Sheilagh Maguiness, MD, associate professor, dermatology, and pediatrics at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and VP of education and career development at the Society for Pediatric Dermatology.

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