Dog and Cat Allergy Treatment: When the Pet You Love Makes You Sick
Dog and cat allergies can be treated with a combination of exposure reduction, symptom medicines, asthma care when needed, and allergen immunotherapy for suitable patients. The first step is confirming what you react to—and whether the problem involves your nose, your eyes, your skin, or your breathing.
For many families, though, the first question is more personal: “Does this mean we have to give up our pet?”
The cat that changed Jeffrey’s breathing
In my book, Dr. Dean Mitchell’s Allergy and Asthma Solution, I describe Jeffrey, a pharmacist in his early forties who enjoyed tennis and basketball. When he came to see me, he had recently been hospitalized after a severe asthma attack.
He had been treating his chest congestion as lingering bronchitis. What he had not connected to his breathing was a change at home: his wife had brought home a cat about three months earlier, and the cat often slept in their bedroom.
His congestion was worse when he woke up and eased while he was at work.
That detail mattered. Allergy testing showed a strong reaction to cat dander. We addressed his breathing with prescribed inhalers and discussed removing the cat. When he and his wife returned to ask about treatment, we discussed immunotherapy.
Jeffrey chose sublingual allergy immunotherapy. In the manuscript, I describe his improvement over the following year and report that he did not have another severe asthma attack during the course described.
That is one patient’s experience, not a promise about anyone else’s outcome. But it illustrates why I ask about what has changed at home before assuming a lingering cough is just another infection.
What actually causes dog and cat allergies?
A pet allergy is an immune reaction to proteins associated with the animal. Those proteins can be found in saliva, skin flakes called dander, and other secretions. Fur can carry allergens, but fur itself is not the whole explanation.
That is why a short-haired cat or a dog that sheds very little can still cause symptoms. There is no reliably allergy-free dog or cat breed. Individual reactions vary, so choosing a pet by its “hypoallergenic” label is not a treatment plan. ACAAI: pet allergies
Allergens can also travel on clothing and collect in furnishings. You may react in a home where the animal is in another room—or where an animal lived previously. AAFA: dog and cat allergies
How do you know whether your dog or cat is the trigger?
Dog and cat allergy symptoms can include sneezing, a blocked or runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, and skin reactions. Some people also develop coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath. ACAAI: symptoms
Notice the pattern: Do you feel worse after visiting a particular home? Does congestion improve when you are away? Did symptoms begin after a pet moved in?
Those observations are useful, but they are not a diagnosis. Pollen, dust mites, and other exposures may be part of the picture too.
An evaluation combines your history and examination with appropriate testing. Skin-prick tests and allergen-specific IgE blood tests can help identify sensitization. Results must be interpreted alongside what actually happens when you are exposed. AAFA: diagnosis
For more about the process, see our allergy testing guide.
How can dog and cat allergies be treated?
Reduce exposure while you work on treatment
If you keep your pet, make the bedroom a pet-free space. Consider a HEPA air purifier and reduce furnishings that collect allergens, where practical. These steps can lower exposure, but they do not make a home allergen-free.
Whether reduced exposure is enough—or whether the pet needs a different home—depends on how severe your symptoms are and how well they respond to care. Mayo Clinic: managing pet exposure
The aim is to make an informed decision that takes your health and your attachment to the animal seriously.
Treat symptoms and protect your breathing
Antihistamines, nasal corticosteroid sprays, and appropriate eye drops can help control allergy symptoms. Asthma symptoms may require inhaled medicines and a separate management plan. ACAAI: treatment options
Medicines can be useful while you and your clinician work out a longer-term approach. Needing an inhaler around your pet is a reason to discuss your breathing—not something to push through.
Consider allergen immunotherapy
Immunotherapy aims to reduce sensitivity to the allergens identified as relevant to your symptoms. It involves repeated, controlled doses over time rather than simply taking medicine after a reaction starts.
Allergy shots are an established option. At Mitchell Medical Group, I also use liquid sublingual immunotherapy—drops placed under the tongue—for selected patients with dog or cat allergies. We discuss the treatment’s evidence, practical demands, alternatives, and risks before deciding on a plan. ACAAI: immunotherapy; our drops program
Daily treatment can be appealing when repeated office visits are difficult. That convenience still requires consistent dosing and follow-up.
What should you know about allergy drops for pets?
Liquid allergy drops are not FDA-approved in the United States; their use is off-label. They are different from FDA-approved sublingual tablets for certain grass, ragweed, and dust-mite allergies. Those tablets do not treat dog or cat allergy. ACAAI: shots, tablets, and drops
There is clinical research on cat-allergen drops, but it should be described accurately. A 2007 randomized trial enrolled 50 people with cat allergy; 33 completed the study. After one year, the active-treatment group had fewer symptoms during a controlled cat-exposure test than the placebo group.
That finding concerns the particular cat extract and regimen studied. It does not prove that every compounded formulation works equally well, and it cannot establish results for dog allergy. Alvarez-Cuesta and colleagues, 2007
Immunotherapy is not risk-free. Mouth symptoms and allergic reactions can occur, and serious reactions require prompt treatment. Your clinician should explain what to do if you react. Asthma control is also part of deciding whether immunotherapy is appropriate. SLIT clinical guidelines
Ask what improvement would look like in your case, how it will be measured, and what happens if treatment does not help.
Can treatment help you live with your pet?
For some people, yes. The question is whether treatment and exposure reduction can bring symptoms under acceptable control.
Jeffrey’s experience gives that question a human face. His wife wanted to keep the cat. He needed to breathe safely. Understanding the trigger allowed them to discuss an actual treatment choice.
In a March 2026 conversation, I also described patients returning for follow-up and telling me they could now have a dog or cat again after progressing through treatment. Those individual experiences are meaningful, but they do not replace evaluation or guarantee the same result for another family.
If you have severe difficulty breathing, seek emergency care. Do not wait for allergy drops or an appointment to address an acute breathing problem.
Dog and cat allergy care in New York City and Long Island
If symptoms are affecting your sleep, your breathing, or your ability to spend time with an animal, start with a clear diagnosis.
At Mitchell Medical Group, we evaluate dog allergies and cat allergies and discuss treatment based on your history and test results.
Request a consultation at our Manhattan or Rockville Centre office to discuss what is appropriate for you.
Frequently asked questions
Can dog and cat allergies be treated?
Yes. Treatment may combine reducing allergen exposure, medicines for nasal or eye symptoms, asthma care when needed, and allergen immunotherapy for suitable patients. The plan depends on your symptoms, testing, and medical history.
Can I keep my pet if I have allergies?
Sometimes. Exposure reduction and treatment can help some people live with a pet, but keeping the animal is not safe or practical for everyone. Asthma severity and how well symptoms are controlled must guide that decision.
Are there truly hypoallergenic dogs or cats?
No dog or cat breed is guaranteed to be allergy-free. Allergens come from animal proteins, including those in saliva and skin, rather than simply the amount of fur a pet sheds.
How are dog and cat allergies diagnosed?
A clinician combines your symptom and exposure history with an examination and, when appropriate, skin-prick testing or allergen-specific IgE blood testing. Test results need to fit your symptoms; a positive result alone does not tell the whole story.
Are allergy drops FDA-approved for dog or cat allergies?
No. Liquid sublingual allergy drops are not FDA-approved in the United States and are prescribed off-label. FDA-approved sublingual tablets target certain other allergens, not dog or cat allergy.
How long does pet allergy immunotherapy take?
Immunotherapy is a long-term treatment rather than immediate relief. Improvement may develop over months, and treatment commonly continues for several years. Your clinician should explain the schedule and how your response will be assessed.
Can a pet allergy cause asthma symptoms?
Yes. In susceptible people, exposure to dog or cat allergens can trigger coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath. Breathing symptoms need medical assessment; severe breathing difficulty requires emergency care.
About Dr. Dean Mitchell
Dr. Dean Mitchell, MD is a board-certified immunologist at Mitchell Medical Group in New York City and Rockville Centre, Long Island. He is the author of Dr. Dean Mitchell’s Allergy and Asthma Solution and the host of The Smartest Doctor in the Room.
This article provides general education. An individual treatment plan requires a medical evaluation.