Treatment for Pet Allergies
Q: I have been allergic to animal dander (dogs, cats, horses - you name it) my whole life, but as some cruel twist of fate, I am absolutely crazy about animals. Despite the itchy, runny nose, swollen eyes and mild asthma, I dutifully go to walk dogs at the SPCA for about 8 hours every weekend (in fact, since I walk them outside, I rarely have an allergic reaction). I know it sounds ridiculous, but there is nothing that gives me greater joy than to see a dog leaping and running and wagging its tail. Even as a child, when my mother told me to go play with my friends, I headed straight for the collies next door. On the other hand, everytime we went to visit my cat-crazy aunt, I had to make a decision between spending the entire visit outside in the snow or passed out from antihistamines under the coats in the spare room. Fortunately, claritin came along - and it seems to relieve all of my symptoms. Now that I'm all grown up and have given up my dreams of becoming a veterinarian, I really think it's only fair I should be able to get a dog. Is there any harm in using claritin everyday - and will it continue to work with constant exposure to an allergen (dog)?
A: Two responses: There is nothing wrong with taking long-term antihistamines, the side effects are immediate and obvious. There is some loss of effectiveness (subsensitivity or tolerance) that developed with chronic antihistamine use. Claritin is not that potent, so it wouldn’t be that hard to find a stronger replacement if necessary. Second point: depending on the age of Melissa, giving up on being a veterinarian may not be necessary. We have successfully treated a number of veterinarians with cat and dog dander sensitivity with allergen immunotherapy to dander over the years. Standardized cat allergen is very effective, and certain dog vaccines (not all) are likewise effective.