{"id":15375,"date":"2020-09-17T09:00:56","date_gmt":"2020-09-17T13:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=15375"},"modified":"2026-04-03T08:44:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T12:44:11","slug":"best-allergy-medicine-for-pet-allergies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/best-allergy-medicine-for-pet-allergies\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the best medications for allergies to pets?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Picture this: You see a sign for free kittens<\/span>\u2014<\/span>their wide-eyed, fluffy faces are just too sweet and adorable to resist. Or, there\u2019s a friendly stray dog that looks hungry hanging around your backyard. Soon you\u2019ve got a new pet in your home, and it doesn\u2019t take long for the sneezing and itchy, watery eyes to start. You\u2019re allergic to your new cat or dog, and you\u2019re not sure if there\u2019s anything you can do about it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What is a pet allergy?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201c<\/span>Pet allergy occurs when our body\u2019s allergic system becomes activated with any pet dander exposure,\u201d says <\/span>Niha Qamar, MD<\/span><\/a>, allergist, immunologist, and co-author of <\/span>What? I Could Be Allergic to That?<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

What\u2019s dander? It\u2019s dead skin cells that are shed from pets, explains <\/span>Manan Shah, MD<\/span><\/a>, an otolaryngologist at <\/span>The Colorado Ear, Nose & Throat Group<\/span><\/a> in Lakewood, CO and co-founder and CEO of at-home allergy testing and treatment company <\/span>Wyndly<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPet dander is very light and can stick to clothing, skin, hair, and numerous other surfaces,\u201d Dr. Shah says. That means even households without pets can be exposed to dander if a pet owner enters their home, he adds.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, how many people are allergic to dogs and cats? According to a <\/span>2018 study<\/span><\/a>, as many as 10% to 20% of the worldwide population has pet dander allergies. While pet allergies are common, they\u2019re especially prevalent in people who have a family history of allergies, says Dr. Qamar.<\/span><\/p>\n

Besides direct contact with cat or dog dander, it\u2019s possible to have an allergic reaction to a pet\u2019s saliva, urine, sweat, or fur, which are all sources of allergens, says <\/span>Alex Schechter<\/span><\/a>, DVM, a veterinarian at <\/span>Burrwood Veterinary<\/span><\/a> in Royal Oak, Michigan. \u201c<\/span>Carpets, bedding, furniture, and clothing can all become stained with pet saliva,\u201d Dr. Schecter says.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to tell if you\u2019re allergic to dogs and cats<\/span><\/h2>\n

According to the <\/span>American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology<\/span><\/a>, symptoms of pet allergies include:<\/span><\/p>\n