Top Docs: 5 tips on pets and allergies

It's a conundrum that many households face: Should Lady the golden retriever or Cuddles the tortoiseshell cat get an eviction notice when a family member shows signs of an allergy to the pet?

Not necessarily, according to Long Island health experts. In some cases, the family's cat or dog -- or bird or hamster -- may be due for a reprieve. Here's what you need to know:

1. PET ALLERGIES WORK IN DIFFERENT WAYS

It's not clear why some people develop allergies to pets and things like dust, pollen and mold spores, said Dr. Gary A. Weinstock, an allergist-immunologist and associate attending physician at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset.

However, it is known that pet allergies aren't all the same. "In dogs, the most important allergens are in their dander -- like dandruff -- and their shedding of hair and fur just helps to spread the dander," Weinstock said. "In cats, the most important allergen is concentrated in their saliva, so when they clean and preen themselves, the saliva gets on their fur and the hairs will carry the allergen as they are shed."

Allergy testing is the way to determine exactly what's triggering a possible allergic reaction from a pet, said Dr. Sharon B. Markovics, who's board-certified in allergy and immunology and based in Manhasset. "Some patients believe they have a pet allergy when, in fact, it is the pollen and mold carried into the home on the pet that exposes the pet's owner to those allergens."

2. GETTING RID OF THE PET IS THE BEST SOLUTION, BUT . . .

Both Weinstock and Markovics said the preferred way to get rid of pet allergies is to get rid of the pet. "The best way to treat any type of allergy has always been to avoid exposure to the problem allergen," Weinstock said. "Medications can reduce and mask symptoms but do not prevent the allergic reactions from occurring."

However, he said that allergy injections can be a "very effective" method in the long-term. Even better, the injections can actually help the body adjust to exposure to allergens, allowing people to tolerate them more easily over time, he said.

3. CHANGING THE ENVIRONMENT CAN HELP

If you choose to keep a pet when someone is allergic, the animal should be restricted to an uncarpeted room that's not the person's bedroom, Markovics said.

To prevent symptoms, she recommends that the pet be washed regularly and kept off upholstered furniture, which can hold allergens, as much as possible. Vacuums with HEPA filters can help, too. "Combining measures may alleviate symptoms and reduce need for medication," she said.

Home may not be the only problem locale, however. "It's important to realize that animal allergens are present in schools, offices and public places," Markovics said. "An example is the cat-allergic child returning to school into a classroom with many cat owners. There is a significant risk of an asthma flare."

4. BE CAREFUL ABOUT 'HYPOALLERGENIC' PETS

Some pets, such as the so-called "hairless" cats, have been labeled as hypoallergenic because they produce less dander. But Weinstock cautioned that they can still exacerbate allergies.

"There is no such thing as a completely 'hypoallergenic pet,' " he said. "This is an unscientific old wives' tale/urban legend that can cause great disappointment if allergies subsequently occur. People can have widely varied symptoms from any given individual pet, but there is no way possible to predict whether or when an individual will react to a pet."

5 NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO PREVENT ALLERGIES IN THE FIRST PLACE

"Allergy research has not yet found out how to prevent allergy symptoms from developing from the ubiquitous environmental allergens, including dust, mold spores and pollens," Weinstock said.

One theory, known as the "hygiene hypothesis," suggests that early exposure in life to a variety of allergens through such activities as playing in the dirt may prevent allergies from developing, he said. But other research indicates that it's better to avoid the allergens in the first place.

ALLERGY & IMMUNOLOGY

Dr. Mitchell Boxer

2001 Marcus Ave.

Ste. N220

Lake Success

516-482-0910

Dr. Russell P. Cancellieri

596 Hampton Rd.

Southampton

631-283-3300

Dr. Robert N. Corriel

1129 Northern Blvd.

Ste. 300

Manhasset

516-365-6077

Dr. Bruce L. Edwards

700 Old Country Rd.

Ste. 105

Plainview

516-933-1125

Dr. Luz Fonacier

120 Mineola Blvd.

Ste. 410

Mineola

516-663-2097

Dr. Marianne Frieri

566 Broadway

Massapequa

516-541-6262

Dr. Stanley Goldstein

242 Merrick Rd.

Ste. 401

Rockville Centre

516-536-7336

Dr. Louis E. Guida Jr.

Bay Shore Allergy and

Asthma Specialty Practice

649 Montauk Hwy.

Bay Shore

631-665-2700

Dr. Paul Lang

1 Hollow Lane

Ste. 110

New Hyde Park

516-365-6666

Dr. Paul A. Lusman

120 North Country Rd.

Port Jefferson

631-928-4990

Dr. Sharon B. Markovics

1129 Northern Blvd.

Ste. 300

Manhasset

516-365-6077

Dr. Daniel L. Mayer

263 E. Main St.

Smithtown

631-366-5252

Dr. Brian Novick

30 Newbridge Rd.

Ste. 101

East Meadow

516-731-5740

Dr. Steven Satnick

900 Main St.

Ste. 102

Holbrook

631-588-4486

Dr. Marc Sicklick

123 Grove Ave.

Ste. 110

Cedarhurst

516-569-5550

Dr. Gary A. Weinstock

310 E. Shore Rd.

Ste. 207

Great Neck

516-487-1073

Dr. David Wertheim

Pro-HEALTH Care Associates

2800 Marcus Ave.

Ste. 202

Lake Success

516-608-2898

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