Why take our Dog Allergy Test?
Dogs are among the most popular pets. All across the world, people choose to live with these four-legged friends – but unfortunately, they regularly trigger pet hair allergy symptoms.
If you are interested in getting a dog, you should ideally check beforehand whether you are allergic to dog hair. Even if you already live with a dog, allergies can reemerge. Get to the bottom of any allergy symptoms so that you can do something about them. Untreated pet hair allergies that continuously trigger symptoms can increase the risk of allergic asthma.
How does the dog allergy test work?
To do the Dog Hair Allergy Test, take a few drops of blood from your fingertip with a lancet. You then send the sample on the dried blood spot card provided via a return envelope to our partner medical laboratory.
The laboratory will analyse your blood to see how high the number of IgE antibodies for canine epithelium is. Epithelia are cells in the upper layer of the skin that contain dog allergens.
What does the results report tell me?
The results indicate whether you are sensitised to dog dander and to what degree. Sensitisation is when your immune system overreacts when it encounters an allergen such as dog hair epithelium.
This does not automatically mean that you have an allergy. However, if you have additional symptoms when you are in a room with these animals, you probably have a dog hair allergy.
Which recommendations will I receive?
If you are allergic to dog dander, there may be some specific breeds or individual animals that trigger fewer allergy symptoms. The results report will give you more advice on how to deal with a dog hair allergy. For example, if you suffer from allergies, your first priority should be to avoid dog hair in your bedroom.
What happens when you have a dog allergy?
With an allergy, your immune system reacts to substances that are actually harmless that enter your body. This immune reaction then leads to typical allergy symptoms, such as sniffling, an itchy throat and skin rashes.
In the case of dog hair allergy, the substance responsible is dog’s epithelium – these are cells in the top layer of a dog’s skin. These allergens spread very quickly when dog hair is dispersed in the air and also on clothing.
How can you diagnose a dog hair allergy?
Dog hair allergy is considered a respiratory allergy. It therefore mainly affects the respiratory tract. As a rule, reactions are immediate. You will experience symptoms shortly after inhaling dog hair or getting it on your skin.
Typical symptoms of dog hair allergy include sneezing, runny nose and itchy throat; red, itchy and watery eyes; and swelling and redness of the skin. In the long term, an allergy to dog dander can develop into allergic asthma.
How do you treat a dog hair allergy?
Antihistamine tablets can suppress allergic reactions. But you should only use them for a short time. These medicines are therefore only a solution to take occassionally when you spend time around dogs.
Dog hair allergy can only be treated by hyposensitisation (specific immunotherapy). Doctors administer the allergen several times over a period of two to three years. Immunotherapy is not always successful. If successful, your immune system gets used to dog hair. The animal hair then causes very few, if any, allergic symptoms.
Who should NOT take the Dog Allergy Test?
The Dog Hair Allergy Test is not or only partially suitable for certain groups of people:
People with infectious diseases, like hepatitis and HIV, may not use the dog allergy test.
People with haemophilia should not take the test.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women should only take the Dog Hair Allergy Test under medical supervision. The given reference ranges and recommendations do not apply to people in this group; consult your medical professional for advice concerning your test results.
The dog allergy test is not intended for children under 18 years of age.
The test is not intended for diagnosing illnesses or disease. For example, if you suffer from extreme physical pain, consult a doctor.
