What To Do When You Love Your Pet But Are Allergic

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By Neil Chrysler

walkingdogDander is one of the most stubborn allergens that sadly comes with our little furry and feathery friends. This allergen is a microscopic, dandruff-like flake that comes from the skin as well as from saliva and urine proteins. Those are the causative agents that trigger your sneezing and wheezing when you are around certain animals. All of those little waste matter particles come from our pets, so for those who have an allergy problem it just seems as if there is no escape. The easiest solution to the problem is to part with your pet and find it a new home, but it is not the only option. Here is what you can do when you are allergic to your pets.

Work at Limiting Dander in the Home

You are not allergic to your pet, but rather to the dander that comes from its body wastes and excretions. Before you consider giving up your pet, try alternative measures such as giving its coat a thorough brushing after it has had some outside time. This will remove excess fur and flakes from the skin. Here are a few other dander removal alternatives that can help you keep your pets.

1. Desensitize Your Home

The aim here is to remove as much hair, dust and pet dander as you possibly can from inside the home. For this you can:

* Remove all rugs and try to work with just washable surfaces. Carpets and upholstered pieces are ideal hosts for the very elements you are trying get rid of – dander, dust and hair. Over time they can build on your carpet and furniture to a level that simply drives your allergies up the wall.

* Avoid fabric upholstery. Go for leather, rubberized canvas or plastic instead.

* Use anti-allergen washable covers on your mattresses, pillows and box springs.

2. A Good Air Purifier Makes a Wise Investment

An industrial-sized or a specialized model air purifier would do well to clear the air of the allergens that linger around your home. Opt for a mechanical rather than an electrostatic air purifier as the latter may add to you woes by producing another irritant – ozone. Change your air filters regularly.

bathtime3. Bathe the Dog Once per Week

Giving your dog a mild, hypo-allergenic bath at least once per week will greatly reduce the amount of dander you have to cope with. Try to use a special shampoo that is designed to neutralize pet dander.

4. Brush and Groom the Pet Between Baths

It would be best to do this outside, but if it is not convenient or possible and you must brush and groom your pet indoors, schedule it to be done before you vacuum the house. That will help to remove some of the loosened dander from your home. Remember to give the dog a brush after it has had some outside time. A quick-wipe using cleansing wipes for dogs would do well on such occasions.

There is no need to give up your pet at the first sign of an allergy. Work at removing the causative agent – dander – before you find your pet a new home. The outcome may amaze you and keep you and your pet happy.

References

http://www.mspca.org/programs/pet-owner-resources/living-with-pets/allergies-and-pets.html

http://voices.yahoo.com/what-allergic-pet-7969168.html?cat=53

– Neil Chrysler suffers from allergies too and writes on the subject, offerings his insights and tips on pet allergies and more on a variety of health blogs around the web. Click the link to find out about Benadryl spray.