Screening and diagnosis

If you experience persistent sneezing, watery eyes and runny nose, your doctor will likely recommend a puncture, prick or scratch (percutaneous) skin test to determine whether your signs and symptoms are caused by an allergy.

In this test, tiny drops of purified allergen extracts — including an extract for pet dander — are pricked or scratched into your skin's surface. This is usually carried out on the forearm, though it may be done on the upper back in children.

Your doctor or nurse will clean the test site with alcohol, and then use a sharp instrument (lancet) to introduce individual extracts into your skin's surface. This causes only little, if any, discomfort.

The drops are left on your skin for 15 minutes before your doctor or nurse observes your skin for signs of allergic reactions. If you're allergic to pet dander, you'll develop a red, itchy bump where the pet dander extract was scratched into your skin.

The most common side effects of these skin tests are itching and redness. These usually subside within a few hours, although they can persist until the next day.

Your doctor may also recommend allergy blood tests, especially if the allergy skin tests can't be completed.