Can you be allergic to a pet even if the allergy test says you're not?

My skin allergy test showed no allergies to pet dander or anything like that (just to pollen). Yet sometimes when I'm near my dog I get asthmatic type symptoms. I've decided it can be 1 of 3 things:





1.) A coincidence that i get the symptoms (cause I get them at other times too).





2.) I am allergic to my dog and the test was wrong.





3.) The dog is bringing in pollen or something from outside (but he's an inside dog..)





Any insight? Thanks.

Can you be allergic to a pet even if the allergy test says you're not?
When did you have the allergy testing? Allergies can develop after exposure to the antigen, and if you had the testing prior to having the pet, then you hadn't developed the response yet.


You have several choices here: Get rid of the pet, make the pet an outside pet, or develop a plan so that you can tolerate the pet as things are. Assuming that you choose to develop a plan try the following: First - make your bedroom a no-pet zone. This is especially important during your peak allergy season(s). Consider putting a Hepa Filter in your room. Have a family member give the dog frequent baths. (Be sure to have them brush the dog thoroughly first.) I would suggest a bath a week. As you become more tolerant of the pet, the bathing can become less frequent. Have a family member dedicated to vacuuming and cleaning frequently to remove as much dog hair and dander from your environment. Make sure the vacuum has a hepa bag and filter. Add a Hepa filter to the room(s) that the pet stays in. Add Allergy filters to all your vents. Avoid spending time with the pet during your peak allergy seasons. When you are not having allergy symptoms, gradually increase your exposure to the pet.


Consider this a do it yourself "allergy shot" regimen. What allergy shots do is build up your tolerance to the antigen by exposing you to small doses at first and then gradually increasing your exposure. Beware though - once you develop a tolerance to this dog, this will not necessarily make you tolerant of all dogs forever.
Reply:Your dog has to go outside sometime, right? So 3 is possible. Plus you can develop allergies at any time, so you may be that way without even knowing.
Reply:im sure that you could be. but like you're thinking it could be things that the dog has tracked in.
Reply:I am allergic too, so I know what you mean. It could be that are allergic to a pesific type of dog (it has to do with the hair), but so far as I know an allergy test was never wrong, at least not with me.
Reply:You could be sensitive to your pet.
Reply:yea
Reply:If your dog goes outside and gets pollen on his fur, then you could be reacting to that. Seems like you already answered your own question.
Reply:There is a slight possibilty that the test was wrong.


but you are probally allergic to something else in your house.
Reply:Absolutely. It is not the actual pet that you are allergic to, it is what they carry in their fur!
Reply:wELL MAYBE YAH.
Reply:If you use any products on the dog, shampoo, flea powder, etc, it could be that.





Their hair also traps a lot of pollen and dust since they are on the ground a lot. Could be that, too.





Sometimes, just the hair or dander alone can be irritants, and not allergens, and cause asthma symptoms.
Reply:Well, I say #1, #3, and #4--- that your not allergic as far as skin contact, but are aiway or mucousal membrane sensitive. This means than your allergy to dogs isn't seen as hives or the like as would a skin contact/ skin testable allergy, but by a histimine reaction and swelling of the mucous membranes is seen..... could all be likely answers. Best wishes
Reply:it could ne that your allergic in a higher quantity then they tested you for - example





if i am around a dog outside i can pet %26amp; play with them no problems





if i am around a dog inside but the house is well ventilated or the dog is not always inside i am ok





if i am in a house with multiple dogs who spend a lot of times inside - i cant breathe %26amp; have an attack





if i am around a dog who is shedding in an enclosed area - i cant breath





it could be the concentration of the dog dander gettng to you





it could also be the shampoo used on your dog if you shampoo him





My suggestion bathe him regularly in a mild soap to keep the dander in check - i used baby shampoo on mine once a week as recommended by my vet!!
Reply:I think that your test were probably right. However there could be something on your dog that you are allergic to. Shampoo, flea collar etc.. My husband went through a similar problem. He is not allergic to dogs, but was allergic to a spray that the pet groomer was using on our dog.


I would check out those things. And if it is none of them I would think about being re-tested, in case you has a false negative reaction.


Good Luck
Reply:I would guess that your dog is bringing something inside that you are allergic to. If you have asthma or think you have asthma please see a Dr or go to the emergency room. Here are a few tips I have learned being a nurse and having asthma myself.....sticking your head in a freezer while in the beginning of an attack can help reduce the inflammation in your bronchial tubes, take a good antihistamine on a regular basis (sudafed or zyrtec-D), get a good vaccume and use it ;), when you feel an attack take it very seriously and get to a ER. If the symptoms only occur 'sometimes' that means you are prob not allergic to your pup.
Reply:I would say it is an outside allergy that your not aware of it just shows up when the dog is around. Did you shampoo your dog with different soap, flea power, new collar, even dogie treats you could be allergic to. I would say check your yard with out the dog there and see what brings it on when you are near it. Maybe the dog passes by the plant or tree and Carry's it in the house. Or you have an open window in your room that is near the source of the allergy. Could it be a mold allergy from around your house?
Reply:testing has to be extensive in order to find the allergy. you can be allergic to the pet hair not just the dander. the shampoo used on the animal. even though he's a house dog he still has to go potties. he could bring in something that stays in his fur. pollen, smog in the air and many things get on a pets coat. flea's can get on a pet and it can cause havoc as they bite you to. pesticides used on the lawn, plants can get on their fur roaming around during potties and it can be many things they pick up from going out for a bit.
Reply:Go get your self some 'Echinacea' from the health food store, or drug store. It relieves all the allergies, from what ever is bothering you. I take it once a week some times twice, but you only need one little black pull. Clears your sinus' and nasal passages, and helps with all sneezes and sniffles and tears and what ever goes with the allergy. I got 2000mg - 60 soft gel capsules. It is certified organic so you don't have to worry about addiction. Works great for me. I have allergies for decades. Hope this helps.
Reply:I am allergic to animal dander. Every time I move to a different region I have to be re-tested for allergens in that area. It is very possible that your dog is bringing in allergens on it's fur. And when you are around it or pet it, those allergens get on your hands. Pollen can get inside your house everytime you open your door. You can bring it in on your clothes or packages you carry in. Hope this helps.
Reply:I had a simular reaction with my cat for several years then a miracle happened my cat left home with my daughter and the allergy symptoms disapeared. We think it was actually the perfume added to the kitty litter that the cat , would of course track minute particles of around the house. Symptoms lasted a couple months then all of a sudden stopped after the usual spring cleaning .Btw when I visit my daughter the symptoms return.
Reply:it could be that your dog is bringing pollen in on it's hair or you could have a sensitivity to your dog, not quite an allergy or not strong enough in an allergy test to show as an allergy. When I had a skin allergy test the doctor who did it only told me that I had to worry about the allergies that showed up, not the ones that weren't bad as they were just sensitivities not allergies. So I have sensitivities now that I don't even know about because he didn't tell me what they were.





If you know what kind of pollen you are allergic to, trees, grass, flowers then you can keep your dog away from these if you are letting him/her out in your backyard or even taking him/her out for a walk avoid the allergens so you prevent the pollen that agravates your allergies. Also use an allergy spray for yourself or an allergy pill if you can't avoid the dog or whatever the dog is getting into.