Did you know dogs can be allergic to humans? Here are the symptoms and treatments.

Allergies to pets are fairly common in the United States. Even if you have a dog or cat, you may even be allergic to your own pet. Allergy symptoms can be as mild as sniffling or as severe as coughing and rashes. While human beings may have allergies to dogs or even certain breeds of dogs, did you know that dogs can be allergic to humans too?

Dogs can indeed be allergic to you. This allergy is called human dander allergy. Just as people can react to the cells released from a pet dog’s skin, hair, or fur, so dogs can have allergic reactions to human skin cells released into the air. Dander is a normal part of life; although it is microscopic, our skin cells as well as our pets’ float throughout the air and enter our noses and throats on a daily basis. Yes, it may seem disgusting. Even so, the inhalation of human dander can produce allergic reactions in dogs.

Irritated  skin and lost patches of fur can appear on dogs for a wide range of reasons that have nothing to do with the rare case of a human dander allergy. However, if your dog or one you know is allergic to humans, he or she will most likely display the following symptoms:

Thankfully, there are effective treatment options for your dog should the symptoms prevail.

Because the instance of a dog allergic to humans is somewhat rare, it can be difficult to diagnose the allergy. It might get misdiagnosed as chronic dermatitis, or some other more  common allergy . It will take some testing to know what is causing your dog’s symptoms. 

Two main tests are available to test for allergies, the serum test and the intradermal allergy test. For the serum test, the veterinarian will take a small blood sample and check it for allergic reactions to different substances under a microscope. In the intradermal test, a specialist will inject allergens into the dog’s side while it is sedated to see what allergen causes a reaction. The intradermal test is better known for its accuracy.

In the case your dog does have an allergy to your dander, you have the option to give your pet immunotherapy shots or skin treatment through oral medication and special shampoos. Results may not come immediately, but with faithful treatment, improvement will show.  

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