The miseries experienced because of pet allergies that is, the itchy eyes, fits of sneezing, runny nose, and stuffy head of dust and indoor mold allergies are virtually indistinguishable from the signs and symptoms of other perennial allergies. Although less common than respiratory difficulties, hives are another well-recognized manifestation of an allergy to pets. They frequently occur as a result of direct contact with pet allergens. For example, they may break out when allergens get on the hands from petting the pet or touching other contaminated surfaces, or in places where the animal has licked the skin or a rough tail has abraded it.

To determine whether Fido is the cause of your problems or just the scapegoat, your doctor may recommend allergy testing. This usually involves skin tests or a specialized blood examination known as the RAST (see Appendix A). It is understandable when pet owners continue to deny emphatically that their pet is the root of their suffering, even when they are faced with the corroborating evidence of lab tests. A trial separation for the pet and the pet owner of several weeks might fail to prove to the owner that the pet is at fault because it can take several months before household levels of pet allergens fall to levels that they no longer provoke significant allergy symptoms. Moreover, some pet owners become so accustomed to their symptoms at home that they recognize a worsening only when they visit the home of someone else who owns a pet; this can make the allergy link to their own pet all the more improbable to them.