Berlin - All of a sudden, someone breaks out in a rash, the eyes burn, the nose starts to run and the skin itches - a cat is on the prowl.

Allergies to pets are widespread. But if an allergy occurs, people do not always have to get rid of their pets, said Sabine Merz of Germany's federal veterinarian association in Bonn.

People, who already have a pet and have experienced some kind of allergic reaction to it, can try changing their daily routine. And for people with serious allergies, there are alternatives as some animals rarely trigger reactions.

Giving the animal away should be the last resort, Merz said. When the allergy is moderate, the sufferer should initially pay more attention to hygiene and rearrange their homes.

"Usually the allergens are not released by the hair, rather by saliva, body secretions and dander," said Merz.

With cats in particular, protein molecules bind with dust in the home and can remain present for months, but dusting or vacuuming helps. In the case of all other animals, Merz said it is sensible to wipe things down with a damp cloth.

"Ideally, it would be best to avoid wall-to-wall carpet and instead have laminate installed," said Merz, adding that animals should not be allowed into bedrooms.

A test can determine which animals a person is allergic to, the form the allergy takes and its severity. When a pet owner develops an allergy and continues living with his pet, the allergy can make a leap and begin to affect the lungs.

"The more frequent the contact, the worse the allergy becomes," said Wolfgang Harth, head physician of a dermatology and allergy clinic in Berlin.

"An allergy that initially affects only the eyes and nose could lead to huge problems all the way through to asthma," Harth said, adding that even when difficult, it's important to avoid contact with every animal that causes the allergic reaction.

Cats are often to blame for allergic reactions among human beings as they belong to the group of animals with the highest risk of triggering an allergy, Merz said.

This group also includes guinea pigs, rats, mice, golden hamsters, horses and cows, Merz added. Dogs on the other hand carry a medium risk, while most birds such as canaries have only a slight risk.

Some animals seldom cause an allergic reaction. These are usually animals without hair, said Joerg Turk of a Wiesbaden zoological centre. Amphibians, reptiles and fish are among them. But sometimes people are allergic to the animals' food. In such cases, another family member periodically can take over the job of feeding the fish.

When no solution can be found, it's a sad affair when a pet owner has to give up his or her beloved animal. It's also not always possible to replace the animal with one that doesn't cause a reaction.

"People who find rabbits neat, may not automatically like having a reptile," said Turk. (dpa)