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Pets are great. You can play, cuddle and go for walks with them. They also help against loneliness. But not everyone can enjoy having pets.
Some people are allergic to cats, dogs and other creatures, and this can cause severe physical reactions.
Allergies to dogs and cats affect 10 to 20 per cent of the population worldwide, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
But not everything you hear about allergies is true. Here are seven common misconceptions.

1. The fur is the problem.
Many people talk about an “animal hair allergy”, a first misunderstanding.
“I think the term ‘animal allergy’ is better,” says Anja Schwalfenberg from the German Allergy and Asthma Association.
This is because the animal hair is not the trigger for the overreaction of the immune system.
Patients react to certain protein building blocks, that is, allergens. These are mainly found in the animal’s dander, but also in its saliva, urine and hair.
For example, when a cat grooms, it spreads saliva containing allergens on its fur, which are released into the air.

2. An animal allergy is harmless
There are different levels of allergic reaction, “from banal itching in the eyes and nose – to death”, says Thomas Fuchs, an allergy specialist and professor of medicine at the University of Göttingen’s Medical Centre, in Germany.
Typical symptoms include itchy and/or watery eyes, itching and skin reactions, sneezing and a runny nose.
“In extreme cases, you can no longer breathe,” he says.
An allergic reaction does not always start immediately.
“It can happen that you’re just standing on someone’s doorstep and you immediately start coughing – without realising that there’s a cat in the house,” says Fuchs.
Animal allergies mainly affect patients who are otherwise prone to allergic diseases – such as hay fever, asthma or neurodermatitis.

3. The shorter the fur, the better
You cannot generalise like that.
“There seem to be very individual differences in allergen concentrations,” says Schwalfenberg. It is not the length of the hair per se that is responsible for triggering allergic reactions.
In studies in which the allergen content of dog fur from different breeds was analysed, there were large variations even within the same breed.
Allergy sufferers should keep their distance from male dogs in particular, as researchers have discovered that male dogs produce more allergens than females.

4. Hypoallergenic breeds do not cause problems
A study that tested the allergen concentration in the homes of 190 families with dogs concluded that even in homes with breeds that are labelled hypoallergenic, no lower levels of allergens were detected.
The examination of fur samples also revealed that the range of allergen concentrations within the dog breed itself was very high, but the differences between the breeds were small.
Also, hairless Sphynx cats or Chinese crested dogs would not really help patients either.
“If someone thinks they have to switch to [hairless] animals because of an allergy, that’s nonsense,” says Fuchs.
You might be sitting next to a cat owner in the theatre – and suddenly you start clearing your throat or coughing without knowing the cause.
Thomas Fuchs, allergy specialist and professor of medicine
5. Not having a pet of my own will keep me from having allergic reactions
This is wishful thinking, says Fuchs.
For example, if you think you will be immune to allergic reactions if you are by the sea or in the mountains, you are mistaken.
Particles from animals on an owner’s clothing are sometimes enough to cause allergic reactions. This can happen easily, for example while in a lift or riding a gondola on a ski holiday.
“Or you might be sitting next to a cat owner in the theatre – and suddenly you start clearing your throat or coughing without knowing the cause,” Fuchs says.

6. You have to just accept an animal allergy
No, there are ways to live better with an animal allergy. Anti-allergy medication, eye drops and nasal sprays can help to alleviate the symptoms.
For more severe symptoms, inhalers with anti-inflammatory agents for asthmatics can also help.
“The prerequisite for treatment is first of all to have a good diagnosis,” says Fuchs. Skin tests or special blood tests can determine whether you are “only” slightly sensitive or severely allergic.
Although allergy medication is generally well tolerated, says Fuchs, it can also cause side effects in the long term. For example, long-term treatment with cortisone can lead to osteoporosis, or bone loss.

7. If I give up my pet, the problem will be solved
If you have an animal allergy, experts recommend giving up your pet – “as much as people don’t like to say it, and as much as patients don’t like to hear it”, says Fuchs.
Even if they give up their beloved pet, they must expect itching, watery eyes and sniffles to persist even in its absence.
“Cat allergens in particular are highly airborne and remain in the air a long time,” says Schwalfenberg.
In studies, allergens have been found in homes even years after having no animal there.
Those who do want to keep a pet despite allergies can find good suggestions for reducing their exposure to their allergens at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America website, here.
Like what you read? Follow SCMP Lifestyle on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also sign up for our eNewsletter here.


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Allergic to your pet? 7 myths about cat fur, dog dander and hypoallergenic animals

Having a pet can trigger allergies, but not in the ways many people think. Photo: Shutterstock

There are several myths about pets causing allergies. They trigger allergic reactions in humans, but not in the ways many people think they do. Photo: Shutterstock

Animal hair is not the trigger for reactions; the allergens are in the dander and the saliva. Photo: Shutterstock

Typical symptoms of a pet allergy include itchy and/or watery eyes, itching and skin reactions, sneezing and a runny nose. Photo: Shutterstock

The length of dog hair does not affect allergic reactions. Studies of the allergen content of dog hair from different breeds showed large variations, even within the same breed. Photo: Shutterstock

Hypoallergenic pets, including the hairless Sphynx cat (above), have the same concentrations of allergens as non-hypoallergenic animals. Photo: EPA-EFE

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Allergens from pets have been found in homes years after the pets were removed. Photo: Shutterstock

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Do your eyes get itchy or start watering whenever you are near pets? Separate fact from fiction with these 7 myth busters


Do your eyes get itchy or start watering whenever you are near pets? Separate fact from fiction with these 7 myth busters.


Pets

Disease

Allergic to your pet? 7 myths about cat fur, dog dander and hypoallergenic animals

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Do your eyes get itchy or start watering whenever you are near pets? Separate fact from fiction with these 7 myth busters

1. The fur is the problem.

Do your eyes get itchy or start watering whenever you are near pets? Separate fact from fiction with these 7 myth busters