Even as symptoms of severe allergies became impossible to ignore, Zhang Yangwei firmly rejected the prospect of giving up his pet dog.

Zhang, 31, adopted a Shibu Inu dog in the autumn of 2021. "At the time, I knew I was allergic to cat hair but did not experience any discomfort when occasionally walking my friend's dogs. After I settled in Beijing, I decided to get a dog."

The first year and a half with his furry companion Echo was filled with joy and warmth as she trotted by Zhang's side on trips to parks, boutique coffee houses and seaside resorts. "I think we share the same smile," said Zhang.

In March of last year, Zhang began to experience shortness of breath when climbing stairs, which he chalked up to having a cold at first. But the telltale signs of allergies — sneezing more than 10 times upon waking up, runny nose and pain behind his eyes — continued to affect him.

"I had allergic reactions before, so I got suspicious and went to the hospital to have an allergy blood test administered," he said. The results showed that he has an extreme allergy to dogs. Pet allergies are often caused by proteins in pets' saliva, urine and dander, or pollen, dust mites and mold carried by their fur.

"When asked if I could give Echo away, my immediate reaction was 'That's impossible,'" he said. "I knew I must find other solutions to cope with the condition."

As a growing number of Chinese families raise pets, the number of people suffering from pet allergies — often caused by dogs and cats — has also increased, leaving them with the dilemma that their love for their pet and living with a health condition may not be reconcilable.

China had about 116.6 million pet dogs and cats in 2022, a 3.7 percent increase from the previous year. The increase is primarily driven by a 12.6 percent year-on-year jump in the number of pet cats, according to a white paper released by Petdata.cn, a data science company, in early 2023.

Nationwide, there were about 67.3 million pet owners, and the proportion born after 1995 was rising, as did the ratio of middle-aged and elderly pet owners.

The value of China's urban market for pet dogs and pet cats was 270.6 billion yuan ($37.34 billion) in 2022, a rise of 8.7 percent from 2021, the report stated.

Meanwhile, according to a study in 2019 led by the Allergy Center at Beijing Shijitan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, allergies to cat dander affect about 12.3 percent of people in China who said they were troubled by allergies, registering an uptick from the previous two years while allergies to dog dander dropped from 7.4 to 4.6 percent.

To meet patients' rising demands and promote standardized diagnosis and treatment of the condition, the center announced in early March that it will offer an outpatient clinic for pet allergies every Thursday.

"Over the years, an increasing number of Chinese families have begun keeping pets, and around 10 percent of patients visiting the department are found to have pet allergies," said Wang Xueyan, head of the center, during an interview.

Wang added that families that do not raise pets could also have allergy problems due to encounters with animals in elevators and other public spaces. Some people begin exhibiting symptoms after friends or family members who keep pets pay a visit.

Wang said that the pet allergy clinic now receives around 20 to 30 patients daily. "A large number of visitors are young and middle-aged adults. There are also many children, as well as couples without children, as this group is more inclined to raise pets," she said.

Reducing exposure to known allergens is the most effective way to cope with pet allergies. "A patient who kept parrots used to have an asthma attack whenever he came inside. He later quit the hobby and moved to a new home and all symptoms vanished quickly," she said.

However, most patients are hesitant or outright opposed to sending their pets away.

"I have patients who cry in front of me, devastated by the thought of re-homing their pets," she said. "In some cases, an allergic mother had to move out of her son's home and rent an apartment on her own because the son was unwilling to send his pet dog away. Some couples had to live separately or divorce because they refused to prioritize their partners over their pets."

Wang said that she understood patients' deep bonds with their pets. "Pets have an irreplaceable part in their lives," she said. "As doctors, we will strive to persuade them to minimize contact with pet allergens to protect their health."

"It is important to raise awareness about pet allergies and offer psychological consultations for allergic pet owners," she added.

Zhang visited several hospitals in Beijing and researched solutions to pet allergies in developed countries. "There were no magic cures and receiving allergen immunotherapy seemed to be the best and viable way for me to deal with it."

Allergen immunotherapy involves taking allergy shots regularly from low to high doses to teach the body to tolerate allergens. "Patient compliance is significant because the treatment typically lasts two to three years," said Wang.

Zhang said that he initiated treatment at Beijing Shijitan Hospital about a year ago.

"At first, I had to get the prescription from the Beijing Shijitan Hospital located about an hour's drive away from my home about once a month, and brought the shots back to community clinics nearby and received them once a week," he said. "It felt troublesome because of the long trip back and forth to the hospital."

"Now as the treatment regimen has changed, I only need to go to the hospital every few months."

Zhang said that he feels his condition has stabilized, although sometimes he still suffers from severe sneezes or breathing difficulties.

"I pay attention to my daily habits to mitigate allergic reactions, such as regularly cleaning my home and using air purifiers," he said. "But regarding doctors' suggestions that I should avoid hugging or kissing Echo, they are too difficult to follow."

Aside from treatment and medications, Wang said that it is important to stay positive and strengthen your immune system by ensuring sufficient sleep, exercising regularly and keeping a healthy diet.

Liu Xinyin, a 32-year-old in Jiangsu province, adopted a Pomeranian in 2016 despite constant allergic reactions to pollen and seafood. "I've liked animals since childhood and just wanted to give it a try to see if my love for her would prevail over allergies," she said.

Her allergic reaction got worse in 2018, but the turning point was when her baby son began showing serious symptoms — an all-over body rash and asthma.

"As difficult as the decision was, I decided to find a new owner for my dog because it would be unfair for my son to endure the discomfort and put him at a potential health risk," she said.

wangxiaoyu@chinadaily.com.cn

The Allergy Center at the Beijing Shijitan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University answers some common questions about pet allergies.

Q: What types of pets cause the most allergies?

A: Household pets, especially cats and dogs, are the most common that can trigger allergic reactions such as nasal congestion and itching, sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, cough and rash. Rabbits, parrots, squirrels and other animals can also cause allergies.

Q: How do you get pet allergies?

A: Allergens from animals are found in not only their fur but also in their dander, secretions and excretions, such as saliva, urine and sweat. Some people may even get allergies from using products made from fur or feathers.

Q: Can I be allergic to cats and dogs at the same time?

A: Research shows that cat dander is more likely to cause allergies. Among cat dander allergy sufferers, 30.6 percent are also allergic to dog dander, while 60.7 percent of dog dander allergy sufferers are also allergic to cat dander.

Q: How do I cope with pet allergies?

A: The most effective way is to avoid allergens, such as refraining from keeping pets or raising hypoallergenic breeds. It is also suggested to keep pets outdoors, prevent them from entering bedrooms and living rooms, bathe pets and trim their hair, as well as clean and replace pet supplies regularly.

Remember to wash hands immediately after touching pets and wash clothes and other fabrics regularly. Keep rooms clean, dry and well-ventilated. Using air purifiers is also recommended.

Q: What is allergy desensitization?

A: Allergy desensitization, or immunotherapy, involves administering allergens to train the body to not react to their presence, starting from low to high doses to alleviate allergic symptoms, reduce the use of other drugs and prevent reactions to new allergens. The course of treatment could last at least two years and the recommended duration is three to five years, with an efficacy rate of 60 to 80 percent.