# Can you build up an immunity to pet allergens by long-term exposure? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 9, 2004, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-build-up-an-immunity-to-pet-allergens-by-long-term-exposure/223614 "2004-01-09T08:05:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![seriousart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@seriousart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seriousart)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-build-up-an-immunity-to-pet-allergens-by-long-term-exposure/223614/1 "2004-01-09T08:05:17Z")
When we first got our cat, I was sneezing all the time. But after a while (months) I seemed to get used to it, or at least, for whatever reason, I stoped sneezing. Same thing with my first cat as a kid. Allergic at first, stopped sneezing/ getting red eyes after a while. Only really have problems when I’m around a friend’s pet or if a really give my cat a big hug where she touches my face (then it’s a red eye issue). Thinking about getting a dog (a very shed-a-rific Golden Retriever, no less) and am hoping I’ll build up an immunity to it too (if that is, indeed, what’s happening). So can you build up an immunity, or is something else going on? ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-build-up-an-immunity-to-pet-allergens-by-long-term-exposure/223614/2 "2004-01-09T11:21:15Z")
> [@](#): > > So can you build up an immunity, or is something else going on? - - - I don’t know anything particularly about pet allergens, but for industrial chemicals, prolonged exposure is more likely to _increase_ allergic reactions, or cause allergies where none existed before. So I’d bet _no_. - Most people with pet allergies are only sensitive if they rub the dandruff in their eyes. So if you can keep the dandruff levels down and not rub your eyes after petting the animal, you can decrease the exposure. ~ ---
**Author:** ![trabi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecae2f/32.png) [@trabi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trabi)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-build-up-an-immunity-to-pet-allergens-by-long-term-exposure/223614/3 "2004-01-09T11:29:01Z")
As far as I know, the more contact you have with allergens the worse the allergy gets. This is certainly true of bee stings - a friend of mine who was stung, turned out to be allergic but survived was told by his doctor that the next one would be result in an even more violent reaction, and would be likely to kill him if he couldn’t get treatment within a very short time. I believe it’s also possible to develop new allergies to certain substances (photographic chemicals, for example) through prolonged contact with them. I wonder if perhaps you’re allergic to something else (pollen, for example) that the cat brushed against with its fur. Once whatever it was you were allergic to stopped flowering, then the cat would no longer bring it into the house. The only way to find out is to go and have an allergy test. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-build-up-an-immunity-to-pet-allergens-by-long-term-exposure/223614/4 "2004-01-09T12:55:07Z")
I have to disagree. In my personal experience, continued experience to a pet alergin will make you immune to it. I got a dog a couple of years ago that I was allergic to. Now he only bothers me if he scratches me or he’s been up on my bed. I can sit with him in my lap at watch tv without any problems. That’s also the theory of allergy shots, where you are actually receiving a serum developed of the things you are alergic to, thereby desensitizing you to it. E3 ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-build-up-an-immunity-to-pet-allergens-by-long-term-exposure/223614/5 "2004-01-09T13:19:40Z")
Major news outlet carried a story w/in the past six months re: Mild exposure when young can help you avoid developing allergies. Be back if I can cite it. Note: your body can develop an allergy out of no where, from something it comes into contact with everyday, and from something which is not a typical allergin. ---
**Author:** ![Quint\_Essence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/54ee81/32.png) [@Quint\_Essence](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint_Essence)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-build-up-an-immunity-to-pet-allergens-by-long-term-exposure/223614/6 "2004-01-09T13:27:52Z")
yes exposure can definitly reduce allergies and intolerance. In fact “allergy shots” given by a doctor work on that exact principle. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-build-up-an-immunity-to-pet-allergens-by-long-term-exposure/223614/7 "2004-01-09T13:38:02Z")
My wife had the same type of experience with our cats, it used to affect her but it doesn’t now. However, she still usually reacts to other people’s cats. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-build-up-an-immunity-to-pet-allergens-by-long-term-exposure/223614/8 "2004-01-09T13:57:12Z")
I believe the issue is different with animal dander and chemical allergens, and even bee venom. My wife and I got a cat several months ago…I submitted to a constant feline aversion until one day I realized I was not sneezing/red eyed/difficulty breathing…but when I go to other peoples houses I flare up once again. Just take the necessary precautions: No animals on the bed, in your clothes, and make sure they are brushed and or bathed, and vaccum a lot! that should be ok for you judging my your comments…