After bringing a new dog home, did you suddenly get up the next morning with different allergy symptoms, such as irritated and itchy skin, watery eyes, and a rash on different parts of your body? If this has happened, there is fairly high chance that you are allergic to your new pet. Unfortunately, you may not have realized that you suffer from pet allergies if you have never owned an animal before. If you want to figure out if you are suffering from an allergic reaction to your pet, you will need to undergo allergy testing.
What Is the Allergy Testing Process Like?
Many people do have allergic reactions to pet dander. Because such a reaction is quite common, allergy testing may be performed to determine if the different symptoms you are experiencing are caused by your new pet. The testing process involves pricking the skin to test for a reaction. Testing is not painful, and you will get to relax while waiting for the results. If you are allergic, a welt may appear on the skin, which gives you the answers you are looking for when it comes to figuring out if you are having an allergic reaction to your new dog.
Does an Allergic Reaction Mean the Dog Must Go?
You may feel concerned about the possibility of getting rid of your dog simply because of your allergies. While some people may choose to re-home their pets after finding out that their allergies are caused by the animals that live with them, not everyone chooses to do so. Although it is completely optional, there are a handful of things you need to consider. If the allergic reaction is not too severe, you may be willing to try to make things work while taking allergy medication that has been prescribed by your physician or recommended by your physician.
Aside from taking allergy medication to keep some of the allergy symptoms under control, you can take further steps to ensure that you can keep your new pet while still living comfortably. For example, you should use a pet vacuum each day to remove lingering hair and pet dander from the floors. You should avoid allowing the animal to sit on the furniture or in your bed. Make sure that you have a comfortable pet bed for your dog to use in a designated area. These simple tips could help reduce and prevent allergy symptoms.
If you have just adopted a new dog and are so excited about having a pet but are now suffering from somewhat of an allergic reaction, you should have allergy testing performed. Finding out if you are allergic to pet dander is important. While you may not necessarily need to get rid of your pet if you are allergic to the pet dander, you do need to know what you can do to keep those symptoms under control.