It is possible to be allergic to any furred pet, including ferrets. Ferrets are mammals, and they are closely related to minks. The domestic ferret,Mustela putorius furo, is among the furred pets that some people keep in their homes in the United States.
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There have been several published reports describingferret allergiesin people who owned ferrets.Although it is fairly rare to own ferrets—the prevalence of allergies may be similar to other pet allergies, although this has not been studied.
Allergic symptoms would likely include symptoms ofallergic rhinitis,allergic conjunctivitis, andasthma. Some people have reported skin itching and rashes, such asurticaria, where the ferret touched their skin.
Diagnosis
There is a commercially available specific IgE ImmunoCAP test for ferret allergy.
In rare cases, an allergist may create a homemade extract for skin testing using any available suspected ferret allergens. This type of testing has not been validated and should be used with caution.
Causes
While ferrets are pets in some American households, there is little known about allergic reactions to these animals. The few studies performed on ferrets show that the proteins causing the allergies are found in the hair, urine, feces, and bedding material. Urine from male ferrets may contain the most potent allergen.
There are numerous proteins that can cause ferret allergy. Albumin, a blood protein, appears to be an important one. Albumin, while mainly found in the blood, may also be found in urine, feces, saliva, and hair/fur.
Who Is At-Risk
Anyone who has a history of hay fever orasthmamay be at risk for developing an allergy from exposure to ferrets. A ferret allergen was noted to be similar to a cat allergen in lab experiments; this could mean that some people with cat allergy may also have ferret allergy, but this has not been well studied in people.
Treatment
For people with ferret allergy, avoidance of ferrets is the mainstay of therapy.Allergy medicationsare likely to help control symptoms, but in many instances, symptoms may persist if the person continues to keep the ferret indoors.
There are no specificallergy shotsgiven for treating ferret allergies, but allergy shots using cat albumin may be helpful in some circumstances, due to the cross-reactivity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you know if you have a ferret allergy?
Symptoms can include sneezing, coughing, itchy skin, red or watery eyes, runny nose, and trouble breathing. If you suspect an allergy, contact your healthcare provider or an allergist who can help you with diagnosis and treatment.
Can a ferret allergy trigger asthma?
Yes, the proteins in dander from ferrets and other warm-blooded animals can trigger an asthma attack. If you have asthma and a ferret allergy, the most effective way to prevent an attack is to avoid being exposed to ferrets.
How can you help manage a ferret allergy?
If removing the ferret from your home isn’t possible, you can try other strategies. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter every week. You may also consider running an air purifier with a HEPA filter. Reduce the number of surfaces where allergens can build, such as rugs and curtains, and opt for bare floors and blinds instead.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.González de Olano D, Pastor Vargas C, Cases Ortega B, Perez-Gordo M, Moral Darde V, Vivanco F, Bartolomé B.Identification of a novel 17-kDa protein as a ferret allergen. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2009 Aug;103(2):177-8. doi: 10.1016/s1081-1206(10)60175-5. PMID: 19739435.American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Pet Allergy.Codina R, Reichmuth D, Lockey RF, Jaen C.Ferret allergy.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2001;107(5):927. doi:10.1067/mai.2001.114704Díaz-Perales A, González-De-Olano D, Pérez-Gordo M, Pastor-Vargas C.Allergy to Uncommon Pets: New Allergies but the Same Allergens.Frontiers in Immunology. 2013;4. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2013.00492Miller RL, Bochner BS, Feldweg AM.Patient education: Trigger avoidance in asthma (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate.Additional ReadingCodina R, Reichmuth D, Lockey RF, Jaen C. Ferret Allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol.Nugent JS, Whisman B, Hagan LL. Ferret Allergy: Identification of Serum Specific IgE to Albumin with Cross-reactivity to Cat. J Allergy Clin Immunol.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.González de Olano D, Pastor Vargas C, Cases Ortega B, Perez-Gordo M, Moral Darde V, Vivanco F, Bartolomé B.Identification of a novel 17-kDa protein as a ferret allergen. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2009 Aug;103(2):177-8. doi: 10.1016/s1081-1206(10)60175-5. PMID: 19739435.American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Pet Allergy.Codina R, Reichmuth D, Lockey RF, Jaen C.Ferret allergy.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2001;107(5):927. doi:10.1067/mai.2001.114704Díaz-Perales A, González-De-Olano D, Pérez-Gordo M, Pastor-Vargas C.Allergy to Uncommon Pets: New Allergies but the Same Allergens.Frontiers in Immunology. 2013;4. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2013.00492Miller RL, Bochner BS, Feldweg AM.Patient education: Trigger avoidance in asthma (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate.Additional ReadingCodina R, Reichmuth D, Lockey RF, Jaen C. Ferret Allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol.Nugent JS, Whisman B, Hagan LL. Ferret Allergy: Identification of Serum Specific IgE to Albumin with Cross-reactivity to Cat. J Allergy Clin Immunol.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
González de Olano D, Pastor Vargas C, Cases Ortega B, Perez-Gordo M, Moral Darde V, Vivanco F, Bartolomé B.Identification of a novel 17-kDa protein as a ferret allergen. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2009 Aug;103(2):177-8. doi: 10.1016/s1081-1206(10)60175-5. PMID: 19739435.American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Pet Allergy.Codina R, Reichmuth D, Lockey RF, Jaen C.Ferret allergy.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2001;107(5):927. doi:10.1067/mai.2001.114704Díaz-Perales A, González-De-Olano D, Pérez-Gordo M, Pastor-Vargas C.Allergy to Uncommon Pets: New Allergies but the Same Allergens.Frontiers in Immunology. 2013;4. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2013.00492Miller RL, Bochner BS, Feldweg AM.Patient education: Trigger avoidance in asthma (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate.
González de Olano D, Pastor Vargas C, Cases Ortega B, Perez-Gordo M, Moral Darde V, Vivanco F, Bartolomé B.Identification of a novel 17-kDa protein as a ferret allergen. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2009 Aug;103(2):177-8. doi: 10.1016/s1081-1206(10)60175-5. PMID: 19739435.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Pet Allergy.
Codina R, Reichmuth D, Lockey RF, Jaen C.Ferret allergy.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2001;107(5):927. doi:10.1067/mai.2001.114704
Díaz-Perales A, González-De-Olano D, Pérez-Gordo M, Pastor-Vargas C.Allergy to Uncommon Pets: New Allergies but the Same Allergens.Frontiers in Immunology. 2013;4. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2013.00492
Miller RL, Bochner BS, Feldweg AM.Patient education: Trigger avoidance in asthma (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate.
Codina R, Reichmuth D, Lockey RF, Jaen C. Ferret Allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol.Nugent JS, Whisman B, Hagan LL. Ferret Allergy: Identification of Serum Specific IgE to Albumin with Cross-reactivity to Cat. J Allergy Clin Immunol.
Codina R, Reichmuth D, Lockey RF, Jaen C. Ferret Allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol.
Nugent JS, Whisman B, Hagan LL. Ferret Allergy: Identification of Serum Specific IgE to Albumin with Cross-reactivity to Cat. J Allergy Clin Immunol.
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