Pets can provide wonderful companionship and entertainment, whether they have fur, feathers, or scales. However, it is these same coats of fur, feathers, and scales that can bring about an allergic reaction in certain people. If you suspect that your pet is causing your allergies, consult an allergist to find out for certain. Allergy doctors can administer blood or skin tests to discover if you are sensitive to a wide range of allergens, such as pet dander, the most frequent cause of Animal Allergies.

The Initial Visit

Before your doctor makes a diagnosis, you might be asked to complete an extensive questionnaire concerning your symptoms and potential triggers. This questionnaire will assist your doctor in focusing in on a possible allergen by eliminating others, at the same time lowering the number of tests that he or she will have to run in order learn your specific sensitivities. While visiting with the doctor, he or she might ask some follow-up questions to fill in any gaps. Here, you will also be able to ask your own questions. Jot down some questions you have before your appointment, and bring the list with you. Judging from your medical history, the physician might arrange a blood or skin test to determine the triggers of your animal allergy.

Skin Testing

Skin tests are cost-effective methods of discovering an animal allergy. The skin is the most sensitive organ in the body, and will rapidly react to an allergen. The skin will also respond locally, meaning that an allergic reaction will happen at once and be easy to see. This fact allows doctors to identify allergens speedily and reliably.

With a skin test, a small amount of a possible allergen is pricked into or scratched onto your skin, often on the back or arm. If allergen is a trigger, a welt the size of a mosquito bite will appear at the point of contact, usually taking about 15 minutes. People with animal allergies are not usually allergic to just pet dander, so the doctor may test for several allergens at the same time. It's not the most enjoyable activity, but the information is priceless. Besides, the swelling dissipates in a half hour. If the results of these tests are unclear, the doctor may try again, injecting the potential allergen deeper into the skin. Don't use any over-the-counter allergy medications before you go in for testing, as antihistamines can hinder skin tests.

Blood Testing

Occasionally, particularly in cases in which symptoms appear as eczema or skin rashes, skin tests are not as easy to interpret. Your doctor may arrange a blood test referred to as a RAST (radioallergosorbent) if this is the case. RAST tests take longer to process, and are more expensive, but can be successful in locating your allergens.

What to Do When You're Allergic

Your primary line of defense against any allergy is avoidance. However, it's not often you will find a person with a sentimental attachment to a peanut or pollen, so steering clear of these allergens is easier than finding a new home for your pet.